Characteristics of lightweight concrete with different admixtures

Lightweight concrete (LWC) is the most needed material to be used in many applications due to its low density, accepted compression strength, and high thermal properties. This paper study the effect of using lightweight concrete in structural elements using three experimental variables such as (admixtures content, cement content and w/c ratio). For twenty-five different mix trial with different admixtures was used. The slump loss, slump flow, compaction factor, compressive strength at the ages of 7, 14, 28, and 56 days and tensile strength at the age of 28 days were obtained. Based on the results the slump ranged from 70 to 140 mm. Moreover, the average slump loss was as same as the average slump loss for the normal concrete(NC). Further, the average compressive strength of the lightweight plain concrete mixtures fluctuated from 70 to 75% of the compressive strength of normal weight concrete and using admixture improved this ratio. By using mineral admixtures, the compressive strength improved to 90 to 95% of the normal concrete compressive strength.