Changes in portlandite morphology with solvent composition: Atomistic simulations and experiment

Though foam concrete was initially envisaged as a void filling and insulation material, there have been renewed interest in its structural characteristics in view of its lighter weight, savings in material and potential for large scale utilization of wastes like fly ash. The focus of this paper is to classify literature on foam concrete in terms of constituent materials (foaming agent, cement and other fillers used), mix proportioning, production methods, fresh and hardened properties of foam concrete. Based on the review, the following research needs have been identified: (i) developing affordable foaming agent and foam generator, (ii) investigation on compatibility between foaming agent and chemical admixtures, use of lightweight coarse aggregate and reinforcement including fibers, (iii) durability studies, and (iv) factors influencing foam concrete production viz., mixing, transporting and pumping.

A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete

Geopolymer foam concrete: An emerging material for sustainable construction

Properties and applications of foamed concrete; a review

Air‐void characterisation of foam concrete

Most of the investigations on foam concrete in the past have been confined to neat cement paste, cement paste with partial replacement with admixtures and to cement–sand mixes. This paper reports the results of a systematic study to ascertain the influence of filler type (i.e., sand and fly ash) and the particle size of sand on the properties of moist cured foam concrete. This study shows that the consistency of mixture, for achieving pre-formed foam concrete of design density, mainly depends on the filler type. The flow behaviour of foam concrete is mainly influenced by the foam volume. A reduction in particle size of sand caused an improvement in strength of foam concrete. For a given density, replacement of sand with fly ash resulted in higher strength. Finer filler resulted in a higher ratio of strength to density.

Influence of filler type on the properties of foam concrete

There have been several investigations in the past on the influence of mixture composition on the properties of foam concrete. Conventionally strength is related to density alone and few models have been developed relating strength with density, porosity, gel–space ratio, etc. Very little work has been reported in the literature in predicting the properties of foam concrete from the knowledge of its mixture proportions. This paper discusses the development of empirical models for compressive strength and density of foam concrete through statistically designed experiments. The response surface plots helps in visually analysing the influence of factors on the responses. The relative influence of fly ash replacement on strength and density of foam concrete is studied by comparing it with mixes without fly ash and brought out that replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash will help in increase in the strength of foam concrete at lower densities allowing high strength to density ratio. Confirmatory tests have shown that the relation developed by statistical treatment of experimental results can act as a guideline in the mixture proportion of foam concrete.

Models relating mixture composition to the density and strength of foam concrete using response surface methodology

Sorption Characteristics of Foam Concrete

This paper deals with the study of the influence of a mixture composition on the properties of foam concrete at the fresh state. The stability of the base mix in terms of the water–solids ratio for getting a stable foam concrete mix of design density was determined for different mixture parameters and their influence on the water–solids ratio requirement was studied. The consistency of the foam concrete mix was measured in terms of the spread percent using a flow cone test and flow time using a Marsh cone test. The fresh state properties of foam concrete, viz; (1) stability of foam concrete and (2) consistency of the foam concrete, were very much affected by the water content in the base mix and the amount of foam added along with the other solid ingredients in the mix. Regression equations for predicting the spread flow value of the foam concrete based on the experimental results were reported. This will help in arriving at the water content of a foam concrete mix for a given consistency requirement. An ...

E. K. Kunhanandan Nambiar

Papers

A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete

Influence of filler type on the properties of foam concrete

Models relating mixture composition to the density and strength of foam concrete using response surface methodology

Sorption Characteristics of Foam Concrete

Fresh State Characteristics of Foam Concrete