INDEX

SUMMARY................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 2
STATE OF ART............................................................................................................. 3
HISTORY.................................................................................................................. 3
CLASSIFICATION OF LIGHT CONCRETES..................................................................4
IMPORTANCE OF THE LIGHT CONCRETE..................................................................5
EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGN.......................................................................................... 6
MIX DESIGN............................................................................................................. 6
PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCTING THE CONCRETE TEST LIVIANO (3 test tube of
15X30 cm)............................................................................................................... 7
PHYSICAL TESTS OF THE AGGREGATES......................................................................9
RESULTS..................................................................................................................... 9
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS.............................................................................................. 10
CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................... 11
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES...................................................................................12
ANNEXE.................................................................................................................... 16

SUMMARY
Lightweight concrete whose density in plastic state is not greater than 1,900 kg / m3. Being thus
lighter than conventional concrete, which usually weighs between 2,200 and 2,400 kg / m3.
Lightweight concrete has been used for over 50 years. Its resistance is proportional to its weight,
is the lighter it is the lower its resistance to compression, as far as its resistance to wear by the
atmospheric action is almost like that of ordinary concrete. Its advantages are in the savings in
structural steel and in diminished foundation sizes due to diminished loads and better resistance
and insulation against fire, heat and sound. Its disadvantages include a higher cost (30 to 50
percent); The need for more careful placement; The greater porosity and its greater contraction
by drying.
The decrease in the density of these concretes is produced by the addition of an air-entraining
additive, which forms small bubbles in the paste. This presence of voids causes a decrease in
concrete strength, so that resistance is often not the predominant condition for concretes, and in
other cases it is compensated. In concrete constructions, the proper weight of the structure
represents an important proportion in the total load of the structure, so reducing the density of the
structure is beneficial. This reduces the dead load, with the consequent reduction of the size of
the different structural elements, reaching the foundations and the ground with lower loads.
Basically the use of lightweight concrete depends on economic considerations.

INTRODUCTION

Lightweight concrete has been used for over 50 years. Its strength is rough proportional to its
weight and its resistance to wear by the atmospheric action is almost like that of ordinary
concrete. With respect to the usual sand and gravel concrete it has certain advantages and
disadvantages.
Among the former are the savings in structural steel supports and decreased foundation sizes due
to diminished loads, and better fire resistance and insulation against heat and sound.
In view of the difficulty in defining it, lightweight concrete was known for many years as a
concrete whose surface-dry density is not more than 1,800kg / m3. On the other hand, with the
application in structural members of reinforced concrete with lightweight aggregates, the density
limit had to be revised, since some samples of concrete made for this purpose often gave
concretes of density (superficially dry) of 1,840 kg / m3, or greater. This, however, is still
lightweight concrete since it is still considerably lighter than ordinary concrete, which usually
weighs between 2,400 and 2,500 kg / m3.

STATE OF ART
HISTORY
Even though lightweight concrete has become familiar a few dates, its use dates back to ancient
times. It is known that the Romans used pumice aggregates for the construction of the dome of
the Pantheon in Rome.
At first, light concrete was restricted to the use of porous volcanic stones cemented with
limestones.
Subsequently, processes were developed to achieve porous materials by the addition of air or
foam agents and at the same time, the production of expanded artificial aggregates began.
Currently, the use of processed industrial ash and industrial waste, as aggregates for lightweight
concrete. Research in the field of light concrete began around 1900 with aerated or cellular
concretes made from chemical processes. However, the vast majority of initial results were
negative. In 1924, Erikson obtained a silica-based lime-based concrete that combined with
bituminous clays gave way to lightweight concrete known as Ytong. In 1934 Swiss Siporex
concrete was patented in Switzerland, developed by a steam-curing process devised by Eklund.
In the Soviet Union lightweight foam concrete was started in the form of reinforced units during
1938, using methods introduced by Kudriashoff. In 1907 slags were used in Hungary. In
Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, the United States and Russia, during the period 1910-1940,
techniques were developed for the elaboration of light cellular concretes, aerated with expanded
or processed aggregates, obtaining various types of light concretes with favorable results.

After the Second World War, the application of these materials reached a considerable
development, being even used for the construction of boat. At the same time, techniques were
developed for the use of ash from boiler waste for the preparation of light aggregates. Recently
industrial processes for the expansion of minerals such as perlite and vermiculite have acquired
great importance, which once processed are used as light aggregates. As the use of light concrete
in the construction was extended, the best materials were requested by the builders, so that it was
necessary to further refine and develop the technology for the production of these concretes, to
such a degree that today Low density and high strength concrete can be achieved, such as those
made from clays and expanded slates, capable of developing resistances of 280 to 500 kg / cm2,
with unit weights of between 400 and 2000 kg / m3.

CLASSIFICATION OF LIGHT CONCRETES

Classification of light concrete according to its production method:
a) Light Aggregate Concrete: Use of light specific porous aggregates of low specific gravity.
b) Aerated, Cellular, Foamy or Gaseous Concrete: Voids are introduced into the concrete that are
distinguished from the voids produced by the entrainment of air.
c) Nonfine Concrete: The fine aggregate is omitted, whereby a large number of interstitial voids
are present, the coarse aggregates are of normal specific gravity.
Classification according to use:
a) Structural Lightweight Concrete:

Dry volumetric weight from 1400 to 1850 kg / m3

Compressive strength greater than or equal to 175 kg / cm2

b) Moderate Resistance Light Concrete

Dry volumetric weight of 800 to 1400 kg / m3

Compressive strength from 70 to 175 kg / cm2

c) Light Insulating Concrete

Dry volumetric weight of 300 to 800 kg / m3

Compressive strength less than 70 kg / cm2

IMPORTANCE OF THE LIGHT CONCRETE

Light concrete, eat ordinary concrete, is an artificial material composed of inorganic aggregates,
mortar and water. Unlike the usual concretes, this material is of reduced weight and usually of
low resistance; however, it has found widespread application in many types of structures, such as
houses, apartments, schools, office buildings, etc., where high strength concrete is not required.
Their use has been widely diffused in the construction industry in many countries, by virtue of
the benefits that are feasible to be obtained with their applications.
With the growth of the construction industry, after the Second World War, there was a need to
increase the field of construction materials while at the same time achieving an increase in work
efficiency. Thus, materials from industrial waste, blast furnace slag, volcanic ash, pebble
minerals, perlite, vermiculite, pumice, etc., which were previously not used as building materials,
became important with the development of lightweight concrete. Likewise, the mechanization of
the construction industry based on the use of new techniques, such as the use of larger
construction units based on lightweight concrete, provides a notable increase in efficiency.
Among the main benefits derived from the properties of lightweight concrete are the high
insulating, thermal and acoustic power it possesses, the handling feasibility as a result of its

reduced weight, simplification in the structure foundation whose total dead load is decreased.
These and many other advantages must be added the consequent reduction in the cost of the
works as a direct result of its application.
As a result of its intensive use, a large number of researches have been developed which have
made possible the use of structural and pre-reinforced light concretes in a composite action with
ordinary concretes, thus diversifying the use of this material.
To objectively show the importance of lightweight concrete, it is worth mentioning that by using
it was possible to increase four floors to a building already built without having to modify its
foundations.
EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGN
MIX DESIGN
- Cement: Type I, SOL Cements Lima.
- Water: Drinking water from Pachacamac, Lima
- Average ambient temperature: 20 C
- Relative Humidity: 56%
- Required strength F'C = 220 kg / cm2
-FCr = 384 Kg/cm2
- Plastic seating 4in.
- Water content = 200 L.

- Air content = 2%
- Water / cement ratio = 0.346
- Cement content 114 Kg.
PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCTING THE CONCRETE TEST LIVIANO (3 test tube of 15X30
cm)
Equipment and materials
Trays for weighing water, sand, stone and cement
Capacity balance of 20 kilograms
3 specimens measuring 15 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height
Additive
Probe for the additive
Hose
Clean and moistened mini electric mixer
Gasoline
Iron rod 5/8 'diameter and 24' long
A little hammer to remove air from concrete

Process
1. Weigh 11.40 kg of cement type I.

2. Weigh 3.95 kilograms of water.

3. Weigh 5.83 kg of coarse aggregate through the mesh inch HUSO 67.
4. Weigh 6,832 kilograms of fine aggregate HUSO 67.
5. Weigh additive plasticizer at 1.5% of the weight of the cement = 170 grams.
6. Weigh perlite at 0.45% of the weight of the cement = 51.30 grams.
7. Pour the stone to the mini mixer by rotating and then add the amount of water indicated in the
design approximately 500 grams.
8. Wait for the coarse aggregate to soak up the water and saturate the top while spinning.
9. Next add sand to the mixture of stone and water and then add cement.
10. Pour the additive into the remaining water, stir until thoroughly mixed and then pour the
water into the mix in the mini concrete mixer slowly at the rim.
11. Mix for three minutes to ensure homogeneity.
12. Finally add the pearls and mix for two minutes until all the mixture is homogeneous.

PHYSICAL TESTS OF THE AGGREGATES

MAXIMUM SIZE
NOMINAL
MAXIMUM
SIZE
HUMIDITY
SPECIFIC MASS WEIGHT
ABSORPTION
RELEASE UNIT WEIGHT
COMPACTED
UNIT
WEIGHT
FINEZA MODULE
SPECIFIC
CEMENT
WEIGHT:
SUN TYPE I

Thick
Aggregate
SPINDLE 67
1"

Thick
Aggregate
SPINDLE 7
1/2"

3/4"
0%
2.54
0.90%
1474

3/8"
0%
2.43
1.60%
1440

0%
2.69
0.50%
1432

1620
6.96

1583
6.2

1773
2.95

3.14

3.14

3.14

Fine Aggregate

RESULTS

CEMENT
WATER
AGGREGATE
THICK # 67
AGGREGATE
THICK # 7
AGGREGATE
FINE
ADD
PERLITA
AIR

VOLUME
0.244
0.190

QUANTITY
m3
760.000
190.000

QUANTITY
TANDA
11.400
2.850

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.156

379.920

5.699

0.166
0.010
0.214
0.020
1.000

446.624
11.400
3.420

6.699
0.171
0.051

1791.364

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

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The water / cement ratio is a high strength lightweight concrete as it is 0.345.

For the resistance to compression was considered 220 Kg / cm2 and by modification of

the table was obtained 304 kg / cm2.

In cement, type I cement was used because its density is correct for lightweight concrete.

CONCLUSIONS
The values of elastic modulus and compressive strength vary depending on the
characteristics of the raw materials in the region. It is beneficial to reduce the density for
some structures, as this reduces dead loads.
The presence of air in the concrete produces a decrease in weight, which causes a lower
density than normal concrete.

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The presence of voids in the concrete causes a decrease in the strength of the concrete.
The production of lightweight concrete induces the saving of materials for its
manufacture and therefore the energy and raw material in the production of construction
material.
Lightweight concrete due to its low density does not allow the passage of sound through
the acoustic insulation, as well, it presents a high heat resistance so a thermal insulation.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
1. Duff Abrams. The Design of Concrete Mixtures. Lewis Institute, 1st edition Chicago; 1918,
pp. 25.
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Experimental Engineering Department, 13th edition, Mexico 1970; Pp 148.
4. Annual Book of ASTM Standars. Concrete and Mineral Aggregates American Society for
Testing and Materials, ASTM part 14, Race St. Philadelphia USA 1981.

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5. Federal Commission of Electricity, Manual of Technology. Section 1, Ed. LIMUSA, Noriega

Publishers. Mexico 1987, pp. 102.
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for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing Part II, September 1974,
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Encyclopedia, 1999, pp. 1249.
8. Regulation of Constructions of the State of Michoacn, College of Civil Engineers, 1999, p.p.
170, 173.
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with white sand and recycled paper following the norms Covenin 42:82, Special Work of Degree,
Universidad Rafael Urdaneta, Maracaibo, Venezuela (2011).
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material in bloqueras, Special Work of Degree, Universidad Rafael Urdaneta, Maracaibo,
Venezuela (2012).
11. ASTM C567 "Standard Test Method for Determining Density of Structural Lightweight
Concrete".
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polystyrene foamed concrete: Experimental research and modeling. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong
University (Science).
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chemical performance. University of Cuenca.
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Concrete Using Engineered or Waste Materials. Materials Journal, 109 (1), 101-108.
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of Coarse Aggregates by Expanded Polystyrene Beads in Concrete. International Journal of
Research in Engineering and Technology (IJRET), 03 (02), 238-241.
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Beads. MEKTEK.

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17. Rougeron, C. (1977). Acoustic and thermal insulation in construction. Barcelona, Spain:
Reverte.
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Styropor. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics.
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and Mass Concrete (Reapproved 2009). Retrieved October 23, 2015, from
https://www.concrete.org
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containing expanded polystyrene.
22. Safe Alvarado, A. E. (2003). EPS Boards (Expanded Polystyrene): An Alternative for the
Construction of Prefabricated Slabs. Universidad Austral de Chile.
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Eduardo Torroja Institute.
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thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene insulation materials. Materials and Structures, 46
(7), 1101-1105.
25. Guide for structural lightweight Aggregate Concrete, ACI 213R, American Concrete
Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org.
26. Guide for Determination of the Fire Endurance of Elements, ACI 216R, American Concrete
Institute, Farmington Hills, MI
27. ASTM C 94, C 138, C 173, C 330 and C 567, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume
04.02, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, www.astm.org.
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International, West Conshohocken, PA.
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Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, www.escsi.org.
30. Article published by Vicente Mas Llorens in April 2012 in "CEMEX".

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31. Article published by Mtro. Alejandro Cervantes In "MEMORIES 2008 NATIONAL

CONGRESS OF ADMINISTRATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ARCHITECTURE,
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN - (UAN-AZC)"
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E.I.R.L.
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TRILAS, S.A.

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ANNEXE

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