This paper presents a study on the fresh and hardened characteristics of lightweight aggregate concrete incorporating self-consolidated agent (LWSCC). Self-consolidated agent (a polycarboxylic-based superplasticizer in combination with a viscosity modifying admixture) and local-produced lightweight aggregate (LWA) produced from expanded clay type were utilized. Various LWSCC mixes made with different mix proportions, namely dosage of self-consolidated agent, water/cement ratio, LWA/Sand ratio and normal weight aggregate as a partial replacement of LWA, were prepared. The initial slump flow, rate of slump flow loss and air content were then performed to assess the fresh properties of LWSCC. Twenty-eight day compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, porosity and density were determined for investigating the hardened properties of LWSCC. The results reveal that, by using local-produced materials, it is possible to manufacture a structural lightweight aggregate concrete with low density and high self-consolidating characteristics (flowability, deformability and stability). Both fresh and hardened characteristics of LWSCC are mainly controlled by dosage of self-consolidated agent (SCA), where the flowability, self-compactability, strength, homogeneity and porosity of LWSCC can be enhanced with increasing SCA content up to certain dosage of SCA (≈0.80), at which all these characteristics would start to decline with increasing SCA content. However, LWSCC losses its fresh parameters rapidly with increasing the dosage of SCA and lightweight aggregate/sand ratio. The results also showed that the compressive strength, homogeneity and porosity of LWSCC could be significantly improved with reducing the ratio of w/c and LWA/Sand ratio, and utilizing normal weight aggregate in LWSCC mixes. |
