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What Is Lightweight Concrete | Properties of Lightweight Concrete | Uses of Lightweight Concrete | Advantages & Disadvantages of Lightweight Concrete

All About Lightweight Concrete

What Is Lightweight Concrete?

What Is Lightweight Concrete?

It can be defined as a type of concrete that includes an expanding agent that increases the volume of the mixture while giving additional qualities such as nailability and lessened the dead weight. The main specialties of lightweight concrete are its low density and thermal conductivity.

Also, Read: What Is Refractory Concrete | Advantages & Disadvantages of Refractory Concrete | Properties of Refractory Concrete | Application of Refractory Concrete

Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is prepared using lightweight aggregates or low-density materials such as volcanic pumice, clay, slate, shale, scoria, tuff, and pellite.

Concrete is considered to be Lightweight Aggregate Concrete if the density is not more than 2200 kg/m3, compared to standard concrete which is 2300-2400 kg/m3 and a proportion of the aggregate, should have a density of less than 2000 kg/m3.

How much does Concrete Weigh?

A cubic foot of broken concrete weighs 75 pounds, this weight comes from the weight of fine and coarse aggregates mixed with the cement.

Weight of Concrete per Cubic Foot:

Weight of solid concrete per Cubic Foot is 150 pounds per cubic foot.

Normal Weight of Concrete:

A normal concrete can weigh between 140 to 150 Lbs/ft³ due to the presence of heavier aggregates in the natural state.

Weight of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

  • The lightweight concrete weight is typically around 115 pounds per cubic foot, compared to the average concrete weight of 145 pounds per cubic foot.
  • The low weight of the lightweight concrete is due to the use of lightweight fine and coarse aggregate. When the complete aggregate is replaced with lightweight aggregate, the weight reduces the concrete density by approx. 10 pounds per cubic meter.
  • For example, a concrete slab of 1 square foot of 1.5 inches thick, standard concrete weighs 18 pounds. The same section made of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete weighs approx. 14.5 pounds.

Density of Lightweight Concrete:

  • In the construction site, the fresh density of Lightweight concrete is a function of a proportionate mixture of air content, water retention, particle density, and moisture for Lightweight Concrete.
  • ACI 213 specification of structural grade Lightweight Concrete states that an equilibrium dry density of Lightweight Concrete ranges from between 90 to 115 lb/ft³.
  • Studies have shown that high quality of Lightweight Concrete absorbs very little water and thus retains its low-density content.

Properties of Lightweight Concrete:

Properties of Lightweight Concrete

The properties of light weight concrete are diverse and include low density and thermal conductivity, among others listed below.

  1. The shape of the aggregates that are used in Lightweight Concrete may have a cubical, rounded, angular, or irregular shape.
  2. Textures of Lightweight Concrete may range from a very fine pore, very smooth skins to very irregular surfaces with large exposed pores.
  3. The shape of the particles and the texture of Lightweight Concrete can directly affect the workability, ratio of coarse to fine aggregate, the cement content requirements, and the demand for water in concrete mixtures.
  4. Compressive strength levels that are commonly required by the construction site for designing of cast-in-place, precast, or prestressed concrete is around 3,000 to 5,000 psi which can be easily obtained with Lightweight Concrete.
  5. The permeability of light-weight concrete was much lower and was generally equal to or significantly lower than reported by standard weight concrete.
  6. Aggregates batched with a high degree of saturation can be replaced by standard weight aggregates to provide internal curing in Lightweight Concrete which contains a high volume of cementitious materials.
  7. The reason is the better hydration of the cement part provided by the moisture found from the slowly released reservoir of water absorbed within the pores of the lightweight aggregates.
  8. The thermal conductivity of concrete depends largely on its density and moisture content but also on the size and distribution of pores, the chemical composition of solid components, and the internal structure of lightweight concrete.
  9. Since light concrete, or lightweight concrete, is relatively low in density and the moisture content is high due to the pores, the thermal conductivity of this concrete is less than that of conventional concrete.
  10. When tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 procedures, structural lightweight concrete slabs, walls, and beams have shown a greater fire tolerance period than members of equal size made of concrete containing standard aggregates.

Also, Read: What Is Mass Concrete | Properties of Mass Concrete | Advantage of Mass Concrete | Disadvantage of Mass Concrete |How Much Mass Density of Concrete

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Uses of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

Uses of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

The uses of light weight concrete are varied and include applications such as screeds and reinforcement for general purposes.

  1. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete are used as screeds and reinforcement for general purposes especially when screeds or similar thickening and the weight to the floor, roof, and other structural members of the building.
  2. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used as Screeds and walls where the timber has to be attached by nailing.
  3. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used as casting structural steel to protect against fire and corrosion or as a covering for construction purposes.
  4. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used as heat insulation on the roof.
  5. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used for insulating the water pipes.
  6. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used for the construction of partition walls and panel walls in frame structures.
  7. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used for brick fixing to get nails from joinery, especially in the construction of a home or domestic type construction.
  8. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used as typical wall insulation.
  9. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is used for surface rendered for exterior walls of small houses.
  10. Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is also being used for reinforced concrete.

Also, Read: What Is Underwater Concrete | Advantage & Disadvantage of Underwater Concrete | Application of Underwater Concrete | How Do They Pour Concrete Under Water

Advantages of Lightweight Concrete:

Advantages of Lightweight Concrete

The following are the Advantages of Lightweight Concrete.

  1. One of the advantages of light weight concrete is that it reduces the dead loads, resulting in savings in foundations and reinforcement.
  2. Lightweight Concrete improves the thermal properties of a building.
  3. Lightweight Concrete improves the fire resistance of a building.
  4. Lightweight Concrete saves transportation and managing of precast units on site.
  5. Lightweight Concrete reduces the formwork and propping.

Also, Read: What Is a Concrete Vibrator | 6 Types of Concrete Vibrators | Concrete Vibrator Alternatives | Advantages of Concrete Vibrator | Disadvantage of Concrete Vibrator

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Disadvantages of Lightweight Concrete:

Disadvantages of Lightweight Concrete

A notable liteblock disadvantage is that the depth of carbonation. that is, the depth at which corrosion can occur within the right conditions is almost twice that of conventional concrete.

Therefore, special care will need to be taken to provide adequate coverage to the reinforcement of the lightweight structures to grant protection against corrosion.

Also, Read: 9 Types of Curing | What Is Curing of Concrete | Why Curing Is Important | Minimum Curing Period for Concrete Cement | How Long Does It Take for Concrete to Dry

Lightweight Concrete Vs Conventional Concrete:

Lightweight Concrete Vs Conventional Concrete

When considering lightweight concrete vs normal weight concrete, several differences emerge

  1. The weight of Lightweight Concrete is 20 to 115 pounds per cubic foot whereas the weight of Conventional Concrete is 130 to 150 pounds per cubic foot.
  2. The compressive strength of Lightweight Concrete is 7000 psi whereas the compressive strength of Conventional Concrete is 8000 psi.
  3. The modulus of Elasticity for Lightweight Concrete is 65000 psi for the ultra lightweight concrete, 3 million psi for the medium-lightweight concrete, where as the modulus of Elasticity is 2 to 6 million psi for the Conventional Concrete.
  4. The shrinkage of the aggregates of light weight concrete are, Perilite 0.1 to 0.2 %, Vermiculite 0.1 to 0.7 %, Slag 0.04 to 0.06 %, Slate and Clay 0.02 to 0.08 %, where as the shrinkage of the aggregates of conventional Concrete is around 0.04 to 0.08 %.
  5. The thermal conductivity of the aggregates of lightweight concrete is Perlite 0.1 to 0.2 %, Vermiculite 0.1 to 0.7 %, Slag 0.04 to 0.06 %, Slate and Clay 0.02 to 0.08 % BTU per hour per square foot per degree F, per inch, whereas the thermal conductivity of the aggregates of conventional Concrete is sand and gravel ranges from 8 to 12 %.
  6. The fire resistance for lightweight Concrete is a 4-hour rating for 4.5-inch slabs with lightweight concrete, whereas the fire resistance is a 3-hour rating for 6-inch slabs made of trap rock, crushed limestone, and gravel aggregates used in conventional Concrete.

Also, Read: Concrete Release Agent | Functions of Releasing Agents | Types of Concrete Release Agent | Advantages of Release Agent | Concrete Form Release Oil

FAQ

Properties of Lightweight Concrete:

Lightweight concretes can be produced with an over-dry density range of approximately 300 to a maximum of 2000 kg/m(3), with corresponding cube strengths from approximately 1 to over 60 MPa and thermal conductivities of 0.2 to 1.0 W/mK.

Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

Lightweight aggregate is a type of coarse aggregate that is used in the production of lightweight concrete products such as concrete block, structural concrete, and pavement. The expanded material has properties similar to natural aggregate, but is less dense and therefore yields a lighter concrete product.

How Much Does Concrete Weight?

A solid slab of concrete weighs 150 pounds per cubic foot. A cubic foot of broken concrete weighs 75 pounds.

Weight of Concrete Per Cubic Foot:

A solid slab of concrete weighs 150 pounds per cubic foot. A cubic foot of broken concrete weighs 75 pounds.

Also, Read: What Is Shotcrete | Shotcrete & Concrete | Shotcrete Technology | Types of Shotcrete Technology | Advantages of Shotcrete | Disadvantages of Shotcrete

Weight of Concrete Per Cubic Foot:

A solid slab of concrete weighs 150 pounds per cubic foot. A cubic foot of broken concrete weighs 75 pounds.

Normal Weight of Concrete:

As mentioned earlier, normal concrete can weigh between 140 to 150 Lbs/ft³ due to the presence of denser aggregates in their natural state.

Uses of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

Lightweight aggregate concrete can be used for the construction of partition walls and panel walls in frame structures. It can be used to create general insulation of walls. It is also used to get surface rendered for external walls of small houses. It can be used for reinforced concrete.

Weight of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete:

The weight of the lightweight aggregate concrete is around 115 pounds per cubic foot, whereas the weight of the normal weight concrete is 145 pounds per cubic foot.

Also, Read: Sugar in Concrete | Effect of Sugar on Concrete Strength | Sugar as a Concrete Surface Retarder | Addition of Sugar in Concrete Results in Setting Time

Advantages of Lightweight Concrete:

  1. The light weight concrete advantages are numerous, including a reduction in dead loads which can result in savings in foundations and reinforcement.
  2. Improved thermal properties.
  3. Improved fire resistance.
  4. Savings in transporting and handling precast units on site.
  5. Reduction in formwork and propping.

Disadvantages of Lightweight Concrete:

The only drawback of lightweight concrete is that the depth of carbonation i.e. the depth within which corrosion can occur under suitable conditions is nearly twice than that of normal concrete.

Density of Lightweight Concrete:

To define light weight concrete, it can be classed according to its unit weight or density, which normally ranges from 320 to 1920 kg/m3, according to the ACI Committee 213 Guide for Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete (ACI 213, 2001).

Difference Between Lightweight Concrete and Conventional Concrete:

The light weight concrete definition encompasses a mixture made with lightweight coarse aggregates such as shale, clay, or slate, which give it its characteristic low density. Structural lightweight concrete has an in-place density of 90 to 115 lb/ft³, whereas the density of regular weight concrete ranges from 140 to 150 lb/ft³.

Lite Weight Concrete

Lightweight concrete is a mixture made with lightweight coarse aggregates such as shale, clay, or slate, which give it its characteristic low density. Structural lightweight concrete has an in-place density of 90 to 115 lb/ft³, whereas the density of regular weight concrete ranges from 140 to 150 lb/ft³.

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About Matthew L. Deloney

Hey, I am Matthew L. Deloney. The Man Behind CivilJungle. I started this site to spread knowledge about Civil Engineering. I am a Degree Holder in Civil Engineering.

You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Google News.

Comments

  1. Laurianne Pressotto says

    Hi, I bought a outdoor fireplace that was made of lightweight concrete, after 2.5 years of delightful Michigan weather it has begun to crumble. I would like to know how to repair, can I use Readt-Mix Concrete Oatch? Or will that be too heavy? Thank you any advice would be helpful ( ps I have tried contacting manufacturer, but have not received any answers)

    Reply

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Hey, I am Matthew L. Deloney. The Man Behind CivilJungle. I started this site to spread knowledge about Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering. I am a Degree Holder in Civil Engineering.

You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, LinkedIn and Google News.

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