Use of expanded clay and silica fume for the improvement of mechanical, physical and thermal performances of structural lightweight concretes

Structural Lightweight Concretes were studied using two different granulometries of expanded clay (C05 and C15), where the coarse aggregate was replaced by 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. To promote the maintenance of consistency and resistance, superplasticizer and silica fume were used in the mixtures.

Based on the methodology used, the concretes were physically and mechanically characterized, in accordance with current national and international standards. The density of the concretes, in the hardened state, ranged from 1,787 to 2,400 kg/m³ and, for compressive strength, ranged from 26 to 53 MPa at 7 days of age. The thermal conductivity test, using the protected hot plate method, was performed according to EN 12667, where was observed a variation of 0.61 to 1.00 W/mK.