RESEARCH 200

LIGHT AND HEAVY GENERATING CONCRETE

Submitted By:

CABATINGAN, RIGEL JOHN D.

Submitted To:
Ar. Aristeo Garcia
Class Adviser

3rd Quarter, School Year 2022-2023

Concrete is a substance valued for its resilience and compressive strength.

Aggregate, a combination of gravel and crushed rock, is one of the components of

concrete. When the concrete hardens, the additional components start to bond the

aggregate. Depending on the material used to manufacture it, concrete can either be

considered lightweight or heavyweight.

Because concrete is a strong material, it should be used to build structures that can

withstand the effects of natural disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, and

tornadoes. The main ingredient in a concrete material mix is referred to as the binding

material. Cement is the substance used for this purpose the most frequently. Lime is an

extra ingredient. Cement and water combine to form a paste that covers the mixture's

particles. The paste fuses the aggregates together so that they resemble stone as it

hardens. Concrete is flexible because it is strong, affordable to make, and can be molded

into any design. Also, it is affordable, simple to combine, and fair.

The low density of lightweight concrete is due to the use of light-weight coarse

particles, such as shale, clay, or slate. Lightweight concrete is created when these large

particles are combined with water. There are a variety of aggregate alternatives that can

be used in lightweight concrete in place of sand and gravel. In contrast, lighter-weight

alternatives can be utilized to replace some of the aggregate components that are

traditionally used in concrete to create lightweight concrete. These materials' aggregate

has a lower mass density than aggregate made from other materials.

Lightweight concrete has numerous advantages over normal concrete, which has

a density of about 2200 kg/m3 and offers various advantages. The structural load of a

structure is reduced overall, sound absorption increases with time, flexibility and shock

absorption are improved, and insulation values are raised. Better thermal insulation,

higher structural efficiency, shorter construction times, easier transportation, quicker

production, and easier repair and maintenance are just a few benefits of these

improvements. Yet, it is also blamed for an increase in flooring issues related to

dampness. Based on several characteristics, including the aggregate mass and

strength, numerous kinds of lightweight concrete are categorized.

No-fines Concrete

The best material for creating load-bearing walls that may be utilized either

inside or outside is no-fines concrete. No-fines concrete is becoming more and

more popular due to its many benefits over regular concrete. However, due to its

lower density and lower cement content, this lightweight concrete should not be

combined with reinforced concrete. Aggregates of a single size can generate

excellent no-fines concrete. In addition to having a pleasing appearance, it is

Because it doesn't include small particles to plug the pores, it is far more

permeable than conventional concrete. Because the reinforcement may corrode

quickly, reinforced concrete shouldn't be produced from particle-free concrete.

Yet, because it doesn't have any microscopic particles, less cement needs to be

placed to the surface. Since less cement is used per cubic meter of material than

is needed for standard concrete, it is therefore more affordable.

Structural Lightweight Concrete

Concrete with the highest level of structural efficiency frequently

incorporates aggregates made of clay, slates, slag, and fly ash. To lessen the

dead weight of the concrete, lightweight structural concrete is frequently used.

They are on the finer end of the scale as opposed to coarse aggregates. As a

result, load-bearing elements like columns, footings, and other structural

components can be made smaller by the structural designer. The greater

strength-to-weight ratio that lightweight structural concrete may offer in a

building's supporting features.

Aerated or Foamed Concrete

The light weight of aerated concrete, a cellular material made of cement,

lime, sand, or another silicious element, sets it apart. Through molding and

steam curing, this incredibly efficient and effective heat-insulating material is

created. It can also be created physically or chemically, with the addition of air or

gas to a slurry that typically has no coarse particles. In addition to its ability to

insulate heat and dampen sound, it may also do such.

Lightweight concrete products, such as structural concrete, pavement,

and concrete blocks, require a lightweight aggregate. Due to its many benefits,

the demand for lightweight aggregate concrete has surged. As more people

become aware of their advantages, construction organizations are using them

more frequently to increase worker safety and productivity. An ideal solution for

a safe construction and environment is lightweight aggregate concrete. Its

versatility and other advantages make it the best option for construction projects

(Banker, 2019). Its ability to be recycled endlessly without harming the

environment is its most important usage. Among other things, it is insect-proof,

noise-proof, heat-proof, and earthquake-proof.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE AND NORMAL

CONCRETE

Compared to lightweight concrete, typical concrete contains far less water. The

range of viable solutions for durable, environmentally friendly manufacturing and

construction across numerous industries is constantly expanding thanks to

advancements in lightweight concrete technology (Spangler, 2022). When employing

porous aggregates, the aggregates are first soaked in water, which speeds up the drying

process. The aggregates are then added to the cement after the water has evaporated.

Because the former uses aggregate while the latter does not, standard and

lightweight concrete mixes are different from one another. In standard concrete mixes,

crushed natural stone is most frequently utilized as the coarse aggregate. In addition to

Portland cement, water, and sand, finer material may also be used, depending on the
formulation. Since natural stone is frequently very thick for its size, it increases the

overall weight of the concrete. The density of natural stone might vary depending on the

type of stone that is readily available where you live.

HEAVYWEIGHT CONCRETE

Despite the numerous applications for lightweight concrete, some circumstances

require more traditional, heavier concrete combinations. Only a few offshore uses for

high-density concrete include gravity-based buildings, ballasting for floating wind

projects, coastal protection, anchoring for wave and tidal devices, and concrete weight

coating for pipelines. Heavyweight concrete, which differs from other forms of concrete

by having a more notable density and certain compositions to enhance its attenuation

abilities, is necessary to successfully absorb gamma rays (Sharath & Das, 2020). They

can also be employed as wave and tidal device anchors.

The density of the aggregates used to make heavyweight concrete must be

between 2,080 and 4,485 kilograms per cubic meter. In comparison to alternative

possibilities, these aggregates are substantially less porous and absorbent, and the

resulting concrete has a higher mass-to-volume ratio. In civil engineering and

construction, high-density concrete is used for a variety of things, including bridges,

thermal heating, counterweights, and radiation shielding. Although the cement contents

are about the same, the advantages of the aggregate-to-cement ratio favor aggregate

far more than they do in lightweight concrete.

HEAVYWEIGHT CONCRETE

Concrete that is lightweight and heavyweight differ primarily in terms of density.

The density of heavyweight concrete aggregates is greater than this limit, whereas the

density of lightweight concrete aggregates is less than 2,100 kilograms per cubic yard (or

131 pounds per cubic foot). Shale, slate, and expanded clay are common lightweight

concrete aggregates. On the other hand, heavier concrete mixtures include components

made of denser minerals like barite, synthetic iron, and lead shot. Hence, a wider range of

applications for lightweight concrete are possible.

Banker, U. J. (2019, May 29). What Is Lightweight Aggregate Concrete And Its Uses?

Rivashaa Eco Design Solutions. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from

https://www.expandedclayaggregate.com/get-blog-details/what-is-lightweight-

aggregate-concrete-and-its-uses.html

Brennan, J. (2022, November 4). Difference Between Lightweight & Heavyweight

Concrete. Garden Guides. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from

https://www.gardenguides.com/13416114-difference-between-lightweight-

heavyweight-concrete.html

Dodd, S. (2022, February 2). Heavyweight Concrete to Minimize Sounds and

Vibrations. Giatec Scientific Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from

https://www.giatecscientific.com/education/heavyweight-concrete-to-minimize-

sounds-and-vibrations/

Sharath, B. P., & Das, B. B. (2021). Engineering Properties of Heavyweight Concrete—

A Review. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 297–314.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5001-0_25

Spangler, J. (2022, January 26). Lightweight Concrete vs. Normal Weight Concrete.

Wagner Meters. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from

https://www.wagnermeters.com/concrete-moisture-test/concrete-info/lightweight-

concrete-vs-normal-weight-concrete/

What Exactly Is Lightweight Concrete? (2020, June 23). Specify Concrete. Retrieved

March 5, 2023, from https://www.specifyconcrete.org/blog/what-exactly-is-

lightweight-concrete