A Study on light weight concrete using chemical admixtures

Abstract

Concrete is a construction material composed of cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other cementations materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate (generally a coarse aggregate made of crushed rocks such as limestone, or granite, plus a fine aggregate such as sand), water and chemical admixtures This chapter presents the detailed experimental programmed of this investigation. It includes materials and pumice stone used a detailed methodology of experimental programmed, mix proportions, specimen details, and test set up. The details of the tests conducted to ascertain the basic properties of constituent materials, the tests conducted on standard specimens and the experiments conducted using structural components are also explained. 0ne of the disadvantages of conventional concrete is the high self weight of concrete. Density of the Normal concrete is in the order of 2200 to 2600 kg/m3. This heavy self weight will make it to some extent an Uneconomical structural material. Attempts have been made in the past to reduce the self weight of concrete to increase the efficiency of concrete as a structural material. The light-weight concrete as we call is a concrete whose density varies from 300 to 1850 kg/m3.This project deals with the development of two types of lightweight concrete the one using lightweight aggregate (Pumice stone) and the other water floating type using zinc powder, aluminium powder. as an air entraining agent. This also shows the importance of water/cement ratio as in first type of concrete it relates to the smoothness of the surface and in second one it is a major factor which controls the expansion of concrete. This work presents the results of an experimental study investigating the effects pumice for light weight concrete on the mechanical properties of concrete. Experimental program consisted of compressive and tensile strength a test was carried out this study aims to investigate the compressive and tensile strength of light weight concrete, incorporated with zinc powder and aluminium powder at various dosages. For this, a drop weight test was performed on the 7 days and 28 days cured Plain and light weight concrete samples as per the testing procedure. The main aim of this experiment is to study the mechanical properties of light weight concrete of M20 grade with zinc powder added to concrete in different proportions i.e. 0.4%, 0.5%,0.6. Aluminium powder added to concrete in different proportions 0.5%,1.0% and 1.5% zinc powder with water cement ratio of 0.42. There are many advantages of having low density. It helps in reduction of dead load, increases the progress of building, and lowers haulage and handling Costs. The weight of a building on the foundation is an important factor in design, particularly in the case of weak soil and tall structures. In framed structures, the beams and columns have to carry load of floors and walls. If floors and walls are made up of light-weight concrete it will result in considerable economy. Another most important characteristic of light-weight concrete is the relatively low thermal conductivity.