The Study on Strength Properties of Light Weight Concrete using Light Weight Aggregate

Concrete is widely noted to be most expensive constituents in the entire construction industry. Many research works has been carried out on concrete mixes which had encouraged the development of material with partial replacement of natural aggregate like pumice stone, thermocol beads, saw dust. For the construction of structures, the new sources that is produced from environmental waste is Natural aggregate which reduces the self weight and helps in constructing of larger precast units. light weight concrete plays a prominent role in reducing the density of concrete structures where reduction of self weight is an important factor which may increases thermal insulation by relating of structural response & serviceability. Light weight aggregate is of natural origin mostly volcanic tuff which acts as active pozzolonas when used as aggregates. In this study the strength and durability properties of M40 concrete by partial replacement of coarse aggregate with natural light weight aggregate pumice stone will be studied. The properties of conventional M40 concrete are compared with properties of concrete with light weight aggregate, produced by replacing coarse aggregate with pumice stone by 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 %. The physical and mechanical properties of natural aggregate are evaluated. An optimum control mix is designed based on structural light weight concrete M40 using the light weight aggregate pumice stone as a partial replacement to coarse aggregate. For this purpose 6 sets were prepared in which each set comprises of 15 cubes, 3 cylinders and 3 beams. Slump test were carried out for each mix in the fresh state. The compressive strength of cubes (150mmX150mmX150mm), split tensile strength for cylinders (150mm diaX300mm height), flexural strength for (beams 500X100X100mm) tests will be carried out to determine the strength of concrete at 7and 28 days which were performed in the hardened state.