Durability of lightweight concrete made concurrently with waste aggregates and expanded clay

Abstract

The use of waste aggregates simultaneously with expanded clay to obtain lightweight masonry mortars in construction constitutes a good way for a more sustainable society. This research presents a study about the physical properties of the mortars fabricated with construction and demolition wastes and expanded clay as lightweight material by way of flexural and compressive strength, porosity and surface abrasion resistance. Computerized tomography and microporosity show a good distribution of materials and pores. The paper also contains an analysis of the influence in the durability after incorporating different proportions of recycled aggregates. The results indicate that the properties do not suffer significant changes in external appearance after accelerated aging tests as thermal shock, saline solution, freeze and thaw, resistance to SO2 and carbonation. No flaking, cracking, splitting or cracks in the specimen's outer surfaces being observed. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the masonry mortars tested performed well in all cases when exposed to external climatic atmospheres according to the international standards. © 2018 fib. International Federation for Structural Concrete.