PERFORMANCE OF LIGHTWEIGHT FOAMED CONCRETE USING

LATERITE AS SAND REPLACEMENT

KHAW YONG HUI

A report submitted in fulfillment the

requirement for the award of degree of
Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources

Universiti Malaysia Pahang

December 2010

ABSTRACT

Lightweight foamed concrete (LWC) has been successfully used and it has
gained popularity due to its lower density than conventional concrete. It is created by
uniform distribution of air bubbles throughtout the mass of concrete. Recently, most
studies on LWC concern on the influence of filler type and the particle size of sand
on the strength. In this study, the strength of LWC with density 1400 kg/m 3 was
produces due to different percentage of laterite as sand replacement. Four series of
LWC mix designs with ratio 2:1:1 comprises of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% as sand
replacement (by total weight of sand) were considered. Two types of testing were
conducted namely compressive strength and modulus of elasticity (MOE). The tests
were prepared in order to determine the effect of using different percentage of laterite
due to different curing ages. The results revealed that, increasing the percentage of
laterite as sand replacement, the strength improves significantly due to compressive
strength and MOE for all mixes. It also indicated that the curing ages significantly
affect its strength. However, it is noted that the optimum mix design to produce
LWC-Laterite was obtained by using 5% of laterite as sand replacement.

vi

ABSTRAK

Konkrit buih berongga (LWC) telah digunakan secara meluas dan mendapat
sambutan yang baik kerana ketumpatannya lebih rendah berbanding dengan konkrit
biasa. Ia dicipta dengan pengagihan yang seragam dari gelembung udara rnelalui
jisirn konkrit. Pada masa kini, kebanyakan kajian telah dijalankan terhadap konkrit
buih berongga yang mempengaruhi kekuatannya dari pelbagai segi jenis dan saiz
butiran pasir. Dalam kajian mi, kekuatan mampatan konkorit buih berongga dengan
ketumpatan 1400 kg/M3 telah dihasilkan dengan rnenggunakan perbezaan peratusan
latent sebagai pasir gantian. Empat siri konkrit buih berongga telah disediakan
dengan campuran nisbah 2:1:1 akan diggantikan dengan peratusan latent yang
berbeza iaitu 0%, 5%, 10% dan 15% sebagai pasir gantian daripada jurnlah berat
pasir sebenar. Dua jenis ujian dijalankan iaitu kekuatan rnarnpatan dan modulus
elastik. Perlaksanaan ujian mi adalah untuk menentukan kesan-kesan dan
penggunaan peratusan latent dengan masa pengawetan yang berbeza. Keputusan
danipada kajian mendedahkan, kekuatan mampatan dan modulus elastik konkrit buih
berongga meningkatkan apabila peningkatan peratusan latent sebagai pasir gantian.
Peningkatan masa pengawetan akan mempengaruhi kekuatan mampatan konknit buih
berongga. Walaubagaimanapun, didapati rekabentuk campuran yang optima untuk
menghasilkan konkrit buih berongga dengan latent adalah campuran yang
mengandungi 5% latent.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

ITEM

PAGE

TITLE
DECLARATION

11

DEDICATION

111

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

iv

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

vii

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

xli

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study

1.2 Objective of Study

1.3 Problem Statement

1.4 Scope of Study

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Historical Development of Lightweight Foamed
Concrete
2.2.1 Application of Foam Concrete

8
8

2.3 Compressive Strength

11

2.4 Factor Affecting the Compressive Strength of Foam

Concrete

12

viii
2.4.1 Different Density of Lightweight Foamed
Concrete

12

2.4.2 Different Curing Day

13

2.4.3 Effect of Compressive Strength Due to

Different Percentage of Fly Ash

14

Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Concrete

14

2.5.1 Fire Resistance

15

2.5.2 Modulus of Elasticity

15

2.6

Material Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

16

2.7

Advantages of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

17

2.8

Introduction of Laterite

18

2.9

Properties of Laterite

19

2.9.1 Density of Laterite

19

2.9.2 Specific Gravity

20

2.9.3 Durability

20

2.9.4 Crushing strength

21

2.5

CHAPTER 3

2.10 Properties of Shape and Texture

21

METHODOLOGY

23

3.1

Introduction

23

3.2

Material Selection

25

3.2.1 Cement

25

3.2.2 Water

26

3.2.3 Sand

27

3.2.4 Laterite

28

3.2.5 Foamed Agent

29

Preparation of Specimen

29

3.3.1 Preparation of Specimen

30

3.3.2 Determination Weight of Raw Materials

33

Mix Proportion

33

3.4.1 Foamed Concrete Mix Design

33

Curing Method

34

3.5.1 Air Curing

34

Sieve Analysis Testing

34

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

ix
3.7 Liquid Limit Test

35

3.8 Plastic Limit Test

37

3.9 Compressive Strength

38

3.9.1 Compressive Strength Testing Procedure

CHAPTER 4

38

3.10 Modulus of Elasticity

39

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

41

4.1

Introduction

41

4.2

Particle Size Analysis of Laterite

42

4.3

Atterberg Limits Analysis of Laterite

44

4.3.1 Plastic Limit

44

4.3.2 Liquid Limit

45

Effect of Compressive Strength of LWC-Laterite

due to Different Curing Ages

46

4.4.1 Compressive Strength of Lightweight

Foamed Concrete Due to Different Curing
Ages

47

4.4.2 Discussions on Effect of LWC-Laterite at

Different Curing Ages subjected to
Compressive Strength

51

Compressive Strength of LWC due to Different

Percentage Laterite as Sand Replacement.

54

4.4

4.5

4.5.1 Discussion on Effect of LWC-Laterite at

Different Percentage of Laterite subjected to

Compressive Strength
4.6
4.7

57

Discussion on Modulus of Elastic of LWC-laterite

at Different Curing Ages

60

Discussion on Modulus of Elastic of Foamed

Concrete with Laterite as Sand Replacement due to
Different Percentages

61

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

64

5.1 Introduction

64

5.2 Conclusion

65

5.3 Recommendations

66

REFERENCES

67

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO

TITLE

PAGE

1.1

Numbers of Cube Specimens Replace with Laterite

1.2

Numbers of Cylinder Specimens Replace with Laterite

2.1

Application of Foamed Concrete

10

2.2

16

3.1

The Typical Properties of Lightweight Foamed

Concrete
Numbers of LWC-Laterite with Density of 1400 kg/M3

30

3.2

Weight of Raw Materials for LWC in 1m 3

33

4.1

Sieve Analysis Data of Laterite

43

4.2

Result on Plastic Limit Test for Laterite

44

4.3

Result on Liquid Limit Test for Laterite

45

4.4

Result on Compressive Strength at 7 Days of Curing

Age

47

Result on Compressive Strength at 28 Days of Curing

Age

48

Result on Compressive Strength at 60 Days of Curing

Age

50

Summary Result on Compressive

LWC-Laterite at Different Curing Ages

53

4.5

4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10

Strength

of

Result on Compressive Strength of LWC with 0% of

Laterite

54

Result on Compressive Strength of LWC with 5% of

Laterite

55

Result on Compressive Strength of LWC with 10% of

Laterite

56

xi
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14

Result on Compressive Strength of LWC with 15% of

Laterite

57

Summary Result on Compressive Strength for

LWC-Laterite at Different Percentage of Laterite

59

Summary Result on Modulus of Elasticity for

LWC-Laterite at Different Curing Ages

60

Summary Result on Modulus of Elasticity for LWCLaterite at Different Percentages of Laterite

62

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO TITLE
2.1

Compressive Strength
Concrete Mixture

PAGE
Development

of

Cellular
14

2.2

Laterite Soil distribution of world

18

2.3

Shape of Laterite

22

3.1

Flow Chart of Progress

24

3.2

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

26

3.3

Water

27

3.4

Sand

27

3.5

Laterite

28

3.6

Protein Foams Tend to have an off white color

29

3.7

Steel Mould of LWC Cube

31

3.8

Steel Mould of LWC Cylinder

32

3.9

Analysis Test Equipment

35

3.10

Atterberg Limit Test Equipment

36

3.11

Compressive Strength Test machine

39

3.12

Modulus of Elasticity Machine

40

4.1

Grain Size Distribution Curve for Laterite

43

4.2

Graph on Penetration Cone versus Moisture Content of

Laterite

46

Compressive Strength of LWC-Laterite at 7 Days of

Curing Ages

48

Compressive Strength of LWC-Laterite at 28 Days of

Curing Ages

49

Compressive Strength of LWC-Laterite at 60 Days of

Curing Ages

50

4.3
4.4
4.5

xlii
4.6

Compressive Strength of LWC-Laterite- at Different

Curing Ages

53

4.7

Compressive Strength of LWC with 0% of Laterite

54

4.8

Compressive Strength of LWC with 5% of Laterite

55

4.9

Compressive Strength of LWC with 10% of Laterite

56

4.10

Compressive Strength of LWC with 15% of Laterite

57

4.11

Summary Result on compressive Strength

LWC-Laterite at Different Percentage of Laterite

4.12
4.13

for
59

Modulus of Elastic for LWC-Laterite at Different

Curing Ages

61

Summary Result on Modulus of Elastic

LWC-Laterite at Different Percentages of Laterite

63

for

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Background of Study

Concrete is known as a common material which is widely used in the

construction industry, from basic work to multi-storey building and mega structure.
Concrete is a material where mixture by cement, water, and aggregate (fine and
coarse) which must be workable, resistance to freezing, chemicals resistance, low
permeability, wear resistance, and economy (Metha & Monteiro, 2006).

Lightweight foamed concrete was used nearly a century ago in the special
precast application of autoclaved aerated concrete, with the first reported applications
being two apparently independent initiatives in 1923, one in Denmark the other in
Sweden. In this application, the entrained gases is actually produced by the
generation of hydrogen gas using powdered aluminum in a slurry mix made alkaline
by the inclusion of Portland cement and sometimes lime addition
(Beningfield et al., 2005).

2
Lightweight foamed concrete based on this concept began to adopted in the
early 1980's and at that., time take up began to accelerate in much of Europe with
Germany in particular leading the way. Within the UK specifications began to appear
in the early 1990's and the market has continued to grow rapidly, with current
estimates of perhaps 300,000 in to 350,000rn3 per annual used in the UK (Gaimster
et al., 2005).

Aldridge (2005) stated that, lightweight foamed concrete is more popular

usage in the construction field due to reduce the cost, lightness and easy to work in
this field. In its basic form foamed concrete is blend of sand, cement, and water (the
base mix) and a pre-formed foam, which in itself is a mixture of foaming agent
(either synthetic or protein based), water and air.

Lightweight concrete also know as foamed concrete which is lightweight

material formed by entrapping or generating small bubbles of air into Portland
cement mix by mechanical or chemical means. Lightweight foamed concrete with
density from 400 kg/rn3 to 1800 kg/m3 can be produced strength up to 12 MPa.
Characteristics of lightweight foamed concrete is depends on the mix design there
are however a number of general properties which are constant across a range of mix
designs are high strength to weight ratio, low coefficient of permeability, low water
absorption, good freeze/thaw resistance, high modulus of elasticity, low shrinkage,
thermal insulating properties, and fire resistance.

This study is important to determine the performance of lightweight foamed

concrete by adding various percentages of laterite as sand replacement by weight of
sand and determine compressive strength of it and determine the effect of using
different percentages of laterite as sand replacement to lightweight foamed concrete.

3
1.2

Objectives of Study

The objectives of this study are:

i. To determine the compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete with

different percentage of laterite (LWC-Laterite) as sand replacement.

ii. To determine the modulus of elasticity of lightweight foamed concrete with

different percentage of laterite (LWC-Laterite) as sand replacement.
iii. To determine the effect of using different percentage of laterite as sand
replacement to lightweight foamed concrete.

1.3

Problem Statement

The ways to control the density of lightweight foamed concrete become

difficult. By using different quantities of foamed agent will affect the strength and
quality of foam concrete.

Through this problem, one of the solutions suggested is the use of laterite as
sand replacement with a portion by total weight of sand. Lightweight foamed
concrete can be made cheaper by replacing some of sand with laterite.

Currently, problem is every construction was using the river sand as their
main material to construct the element of building that be less of river sand in green
mother nature. In this study, using the laterite as sand replacement could be use to

4
overcome this problem. To determine the optimum percentage of laterite as sand
replacement to get the maximum strength of the lightweight foamed concrete.

1.4

Scope of Study

In this study, the lightweight foamed concrete were produced to investigation

the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity using different percentage of
laterite as sand replacement. The percentage of laterite as sand replacement by total
weight of sand such as 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. Laterite were mixed with cement,
fine aggregate, water and foam agent. The design of density for lightweight foamed
concrete must be obtained is 1400 kg/M3 with mix proportion ratio 2:1:1 comprises
of cement to sand to water ratio 0.5. Otherwise, the lightweight foamed concrete
without sand replacement were design as a control mix.

36 cubes concrete were prepared to be test on compressive strength and

36 cylinders are prepared to be test on modulus of elasticity. Minimum three samples
will be prepared for each parameter and the sample must accordance to
BS: 1881: Part 108: 1983 for 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. For cubes and cylinder have
the dimension 150 mm x 150 nm-i x 150 mm and 150 mm x 300 mm respectively. All
the specimens were tested after expose to air curing at 7, 28, 60 days. The number of
sample prepared as shown in Tables 1.1 and 1.2.

After the specimens matured at the followed curing days, the compressive
test and modulus of elasticity was conduct in the FKASA Laboratory. The method of
testing is according to the BS: 1881: Part 116: 1983.

Table 1.1 Numbers of Cube Specimens Replace with Laterite

Mix

Mix Design

PrOPortlOfl

Cement: sand:
water

1400 kg/m'

2: 1 :1

Percentage of
laterite "
(Control)
5
10
15

Numbers of sample (cubes)

7 days

28 days

60 days

3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3

Table 1.2 Numbers of Cylinder Specimens Replace with Laterite

Mix
Mix

Design

1400 kg/M3

proportion

Cement: sand:
water

2: 1 :1

Percentage of
laterite ')
(Control)
5
10
15

N
Numbers of sample (cylinder)

7 days

28 days

60 days

3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3

3
3
3
3

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1

Introduction

Conventional concrete made with natural aggregate originating from hard

rock has a high density lies within the range of 2200 to 2260 kg/M3 and represents a
large proportion of the dead load on a structure. According to BS: 8110: Part 2: 1985
classifies the lightweight foamed concrete is one with a density of 2000 kg/M 3 or less.
Lightweight foamed concrete can be gaseous or foamed concrete that uses specially
prepared chemicals; it can be a no-fines concrete that uses ordinary gravel or crushed
stone, a normal-weight aggregate concrete with an excessive amount of entrained air,
or a concrete that is made from lightweight aggregates.

Lightweight foamed concrete is a class of aerated concrete. Aerated concrete

can be classified according to the methods and agents used to introduce air in the
concrete. Aerated concrete can be produced by introducing air entraining agent, gas
forming chemicals and foaming agents. Concrete which is aerated using foaming
agent is known as lightweight foamed concrete. Foaming agents can be synthetic
based or protein based.

7
The use of lightweight foamed concrete offer many benefits and
advantageous particularly cost saving, fast completion and easy application
compared to other materials such as steel and timber. Lightweight foamed concrete is
characterized by its low compressive strength and high insulation against heat and
sound. The compressive strength and other functional properties of lightweight
foamed concrete are greatly influenced by the amount of air content introduced by
foaming agents.

The application of lightweight foamed concrete in civil engineering works is

very broad as it can be used in almost every parts of building from the superstructure
right down to the substructure, including wall panels and roofing. Any conventional
panels or masonry units used for load and non-load bearing walls using normal
concrete can be replaced directly by foamed concrete panels and units. Very low
density lightweight foamed concrete can be used as thermal and sound insulation
panels, filtering media and floating blocks for fishery purposes.

Lightweight foamed concrete can also be used to cast elements for

architectural purposes, pottery, void filling, trench reinstatement, foundation raising
and swimming pool. In highway construction, lightweight foamed concrete can be
applied as soil filling for sub-base, bridge abutments and bridge embankment. It is
worth noting that the use of lightweight foamed concrete is popular in other countries
such Europe, Japan and United Kingdom.

8
2.2 Historical Development of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

Romans in the second century where 'The Pantheon' has been constructed
using pumice, the most common type of aggregate used in that particular year
(Samidi, 1997). Since then, the use of lightweight foamed concrete has been widely
spread across other countries such as USA, United Kingdom and Sweden. In UK,
10 years ago the usage of lightweight foamed concrete has grown more rapidly than
any other "special" concrete product. Lightweight foamed concrete can be defined
as a type of concrete including an expanding agent in that it increases the volume of
the mixture while giving adding qualities such as fallibility and lessened the dead
weight (Zakaria, 1978). Lightweight foamed concrete is 87% to 23% lighter than the
conventional concrete with. a dry density from 300 kg/M3 up to 1840 kg/m3 . The
main specialties of lightweight foamed concrete are its low density and thermal
conductivity. Its advantages included reduction of dead load, faster building rates in
construction and lower haulage and handling costs.

2.2.1 Application of Foam Concrete

Rudnai et al., (1963) and Narayanan et al., (2000) stated that lightweight
foamed concrete also includes in structural elements, non structural partitions and
thermal insulating materials. Manufacturers developed lightweight foam concretes of
different densities to suit the above requirements. The density of lightweight foamed
concrete ranges from 300 kg/M3 to 1800 kg/M3 and these products were used in
trench reinstatement, bridge abutment, void filling, roof insulation, road sub-base,
wall construction, tunneling etc.

9
According to Gao et al., (1997) noted that self weight represents a very large
proportion of total load on the structure, and there are clearly considerable
advantages in reducing the density of concrete in concrete construction. A decreased
density of concrete for the same strength level permits a saving in dead load for
structural design and foundation.

Lightweight foamed concrete can be applied in the field of construction such

as: in lightweight bricks or blocks for high-rise buildings, in panels and partition
walls of various dimensions either pre-cast or poured in place, cast in-place for a unit
of low cost terrace houses and bungalows, in all types of insulation works, including
cavity walls, in roofing and ceiling panels, in sound proofing application, in pre-cast
industrial and domestic building panels, both internal and external, in pre-cast or inplace exterior wall facades for all sizes of buildings, in foundations for roads and
sidewalks, in sub-surface for sport arenas, e.g. tennis courts, in infihl sections
between beams of suspended floors, in aircraft arresting beds, in crash barriers, in
explosion-resistant structure, in highway sound barriers and in floating barge, jetties,
walkways, fish cages and floating homes.

Lightweight foamed concrete (LWC) has several and always increasing

applications in all types of construction work. Some of the most common
applications are shown in Table 2.1.

10
Table 2.1: Application of Foamed Concrete
Source: Neville, 1985
Applications
Lightweight and insulating cements for floors foundation, for
heat insulation and slope for flat roofs, rigid floors foundation,
tennis courts foundation, interspace concrete filling, raceways
insulation;
300 to 600 kg/rn3

thermo

insulating

blocks,

steel

structures

fireproofing, tunnels and pipelines compensating mass, dumps,

foundation and coverings land reclamation and consolidation
underground cavities infill and all types of infill where an
elevated thermal insulation is required.
Stables and pig-sties foundations;

600 to 900 kg/M3

industrial foundations,

partition and tampooning slabs, ceiling slabs, concrete and

Lightweights Concrete mixed panels.
Blocks for outside walls, slabs for partitions, concrete and light

900 to 1200 kg/ml

weight concrete mixed panels for covering, foundations for

elastic floors.
Prefabricated panels for civil and industrial buildings plugging;

1200 to 1700 kg/M3

walls casting, gardens ornaments.

In Malaysia the first major application of lightweight foamed concrete in

Malaysia is at the SMJ\RT tunnel project in Kuala Lumpur. The lightweight foamed
concrete specified was density 1800 kg/rn3 which achieved compressive strength of
3 N/mm2 at the age of 28 days. Otherwise lightweight foamed concrete inert, finely
divided materials such as powdered waste plastic, rice husk and other locally
available biomass are also being experimented. The composition is proposed to be
injected at prescribed locations with innovative precast lightweight hollow-core
concrete pile to effect replacement of portions of the soft soil.. The system is expected
to provide cost effective geotechnical solution as the surrounding soft ground
becomes compacted while foamed concrete solidifies in situ. Foundation system with
the utilization of used tyres are being experimented in some housing project in
Malaysia. Successful deployment of-the system is expected -to -provide a fast. track

11

method for affordable quality assured housing. The system is applicable for the
homeless people who urgently need a decent shelter. Technical specification has:
been prepared for an industrialized building system complying with modular
coordination (Lee, 2005).

2.3

Compressive Strength

Kearsley (2000) stated that the compressive strength decreases exponentially

with a reduction in density of foamed concrete. The compression strength will be
influenced by the specimen size and shape, the method of pore formation, direction
of loading, age, water content, characteristics of ingredients used and the method of
curing. According to Aldridge (2005) found that, the mixture ratio between the
cement, water and sand, curing regime, type and particle size distribution of sand and
type of foaming agent used also will affecting the strength of foam concrete.

Kearsely (2000) noted that dry density of foam concrete between 500 kg/m3
and 1000 kg/rn3 , the compressive strength decreases with an increase in void
diameter. For densities higher than 1000 kg/M3, as the air-voids are far apart to have
an influence on the compressive strength, the composition of the paste determines the
compressive strength. Jones et al., (2005) reported that small changes in the water to
cement ratio does not affect the strength of foam concrete but the compression
strength increased due to higher water and cement ratio.

12
2.4 Factor Affecting the Compressive Strength of Foam Concrete

The compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete is depend on many

factors such as the sand to cement ratios (s/c), curing duration, water to cement ratios
(w/c) and particle size distribution of sand. In this present section, the factor affecting
the compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete will be discussed.

2.4.1 Different Density of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

Hamidah et al., (2005) studied on compressive strength of lightweight

foamed concrete mix of different sand cement ratio and curing conditions was shown
the compressive strength of lightweight foamed concrete increases as the density
increases and sand-cement ratio decreases. That is means lower-density lightweight
foamed concrete can achieve a strength equals to higher density foamed concrete by
increasing the cement content. Otherwise cheaper mix of foamed concrete would
only be possible at higher sand content. In a lower density foamed concrete, the
amount of sand also limited to avoid segregation and collapse of the mix.

Generally, the density of a porous media is dependent on the amount of pores

and pores Size distribution in the media. It would have been expected therefore, that a
higher density foamed concrete would record a higher compressive strength therefore,
that a higher density foamed concrete would record a higher compressive strength
due to its lower porosity. Narayanan (2000) studied the relationship between pore
Size and compressive strength. They concluded that the compressive strength is
dependent on the amount or distribution of pores and pore sizes. The size and the
amount of pores influence the compressive strength of a porous material, with
smaller size air pores leading to higher compressive strength (Tang, 1986).

13

2.4.2 Different Curing Day

For lightweight foamed concrete (LWC), curing plays an important role for
strength development. In this study, the compressive strength was tested at different
curing condition of the LWC, which are water and air curing. The samples were
cured in three different ages before test the specimen, namely 7 days, 28 days, and
90 days.

Once more it proves that the strength for air cured sample is higher than
water cured sample (Shan, 1995). More Durable Concrete Good concrete, properly
cured, has fewer pores and crevices where water can enter, freeze, expand and crack
the concrete. Air entrainment helps make more durable concrete, but its use must
also be accompanied by proper curing.

Improper curing can easily the strength of even the best lightweight foamed
concrete by 50%. Curing simply means keeping the water in the lightweight foamed
concrete where it can do its job of chemically combining with the cement to change
the cement into tough "glue" that will help develop strong, durable concrete. Good
curing means keeping the LWC damp and above 50 F (10 C) until the foamed
concrete is strong enough to do its job (Anon, 2009a).

14
2.4.3 Effect of Compressive Strength Due to Different Percentage of Fly Ash

The strength development with time of all the foamed concretes as shown in
Figure 2.1. Overall strength between 0.5 MPa and 2 MPa were observed, exception
of Portland cement with the 70% Fly Ash after 90 days of curing. Portland . cement!
Fly Ash mixes achieved strengths greater than that of the reference Portland cement
concrete. In addition, whilst the Portland cement foamed concrete strength remained
fairly constant between 28 and 90 days, the strength of the Portland cement / Fly Ash
mixes contained to increase beyond 28 days (Papayianni, 2005).

2.5
C-

PC/60%FA
PC/40%FA

(:1

1.5
L3

Ref. PC

0.5
0

0
7-d.

284

90-d

E, DAYS

Figure 2.1: Compressive Strength Development of Cellular Concrete Mixtures

2.5

Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

Mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete is more related to the

samples size and shape, method of pore formation, direction of loading, age of
samples, characteristic of the ingredients were used and method of curing.