THE EMERGING POTENTIAL OF LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE CONCRETE

The author discusses the relative merits of lightweight aggregate concrete illustrating its potential and advantages over conventional dense aggregate material. Although supplies of lightweight aggregate are now readily available from ten plants, its basic price is likely to be 10 to 15 percent higher than dense aggregates; other factors increasing the concrete cost are a higher cement content and a longer mixing time. The increased cost is offset by less wear on mixer equipment. The lightweight material is less abrasive, has less shrinkage and needs far less formwork allowing a greater volume pour free from joints but at present it is not easy to pump. Recent legislation aimed at increasing thermal insulation has meant that required levels can be obtained in normal thicknesses by using lightweight concrete for cladding. Integrated thermal design of buildings will become important; designers will need to select materials for their thermal as well as mechanical properties. The author expects lightweight aggregate concrete to come into increasing use in the future because of its high thermal insulation, better fire resistance, high strength and lower dead weight. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00105317
• Corporate Authors:

  Cement and Concrete Association

  52 Grosvenor Gardens
  London SW1W 0AQ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Forest, JCM
• Publication Date: 1975-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 17-19
• Serial:
  • CONCRETE
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: THE CONCRETE SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 0010-5317

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Building; Cement; Cement content; Cladding; Concrete aggregates; Costs; Evaluation; Lightweight aggregates; Lightweight concrete; Manufactures; Mixers; Mixing; Prices; Shrinkage; Strength of materials; Structures; Thermal properties; Time; Wear
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use
• Old TRIS Terms: Mixing time
• ITRD Terms: 3352: Building (structure); 4758: Cement; 224: Cost; 4740: Lightweight concrete; 3647: Manufacture; 3649: Mixer; 4743: Shrinkage; 5544: Strength (mater); 5414: Time; 9084: Use; 5293: Wear
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Finance; Highways; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; I32: Concrete; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00134218
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM