Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

This present research work mainly focusses on an investigation of the workability and strength properties of lightweight aggregates, particularly Palm oil shell and pumice aggregate, used in the production of concrete with (PA) and (POS), which were substituted for conventional Hard Broken Stone (HBG) coarse aggregate. Through the use of lightweight aggregate (POS and PA) in place of some of the coarse aggregate, the properties of a lightweight concrete M30 have been concentrated in this experimental study. The lab tests that were conducted include the compaction factor test, Schmidt Hammer test (rebound hammer test), and compressive strength. A total of 108 numbers of cube specimen were employed of size 2400 kg/m3. As part of a parametric study, the total number of cube specimens was divided into two groups according to various percentages: palm oil shell and pumice aggregate. In order to cast the cube specimens, dry weight of coarse aggregate was substituted for 0, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % of POS and PA lightweight aggregate, respectively. A total of 9 cube specimens were cast and tested for 3, 7, and 28 days after successful curing in order to obtain accurate results. Average values were obtained from the test program and are shown in the corresponding Tables. Slump, compaction factor, rebound hammer compressive strength, and compressive strength values with different amounts of light aggregate were used to assess how well concrete performed when coarse aggregate was partially replaced with light aggregate. The test findings revealed that when the amount of conventional aggregates substituted by POS and PA increased, the slump test, compaction factor test, and strength of the lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) rapidly diminished. With an increase in the amount of aggregates replaced by POS and PA, the LWAC’s absorption has gradually increased as water. It is stated at the outset that the POS has shown to perform better than the PA when construction is done using structural lightweight concrete.