Physical and Mechanical Properties of Expanded Polystyrene Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

Abstract

The aim for this study is to production of light weight concrete and determine the strength characteristic and studies the mechanical and physical properties. Several proportions of raw materials were used to produce this type of concrete. This study was used to produce light weight polystyrene concrete with rate of (1.5,3,5and10) % of cement weight. Compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, estimated modulus of elasticity (E) and bulk density tests were made on more than 60 specimens at age of 7 and 28 days. The results show that the addition of polystyrene (PS) with range of (1.5~10) %of cement weight is improve the bulk density strength with (14.8~48.68) %, the28-day compressive strength range is from (10.6~0.74) MPa, indirect tensile strength range is from (3.57~0.224) MPa, density range is from (2.43~1.25) ton/m3. The scope of this study is to suitability of this type of concrete to be used in concrete masonry units of non-bearing walls.