Experimental Investigation on Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Foam Concrete Incorporated with Vermiculite
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 11
Abstract
The construction industry is in search of massive energy-saving structures that are light, durable, thermally insulating, economical, and environmentally sustainable. An alternative that can fulfill these requirements is foamed concrete which possesses low density, high workability, thermal and acoustical insulation, lightweight, etc. As the density of foam concrete plays a significant role in its thermal properties, incorporating lightweight aggregates can enhance the thermal insulating property, reduce the deadweight of concrete, and promote sustainability. In the current study, exfoliated vermiculite powder, a mica-type mineral generated through hydrothermal expansions, is used as a sand replacement material. When heated over 300°C, vermiculite expands up to 30 times its original volume and is added in foam concrete by 5 and 8 replacement percentages along with coir fiber as a reinforcement. The utilization of fibers in foam concrete improved the load transfer, enhanced durability and reduced shrinkage cracks. From the test results, 8% addition of vermiculite as a replacement to fine aggregate along with 0.3% by weight of cement of coir addition enhanced the thermal and acoustic properties along with strength.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
References
Ahmad, J., A. Majdi, A. Al-Fakih, A. F. Deifalla, F. Althoey, M. H. El Ouni, and M. A. El-Shorbagy. 2022. “Mechanical and durability performance of coconut fiber reinforced concrete: A state-of-the-art review.” Materials (Basel) 15 (10): 3601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103601.
ASTM. 1988. Standard test method for impedance and absorption of acoustical materials by impedance tube method. ASTM C384-04. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2015. Standard test method for rate of water absorption of masonry mortars. ASTM C1403-13. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2019. Standard test method for steady-state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the guarded-hot-plate apparatus. ASTM C177-19. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Baghban, M. H., M. Kioumarsi, and S. Grammatikos. 2018. “Prediction models for thermal conductivity of cement-based composites.” Nordic Concr. Res. 58 (1): 163–171. https://doi.org/10.2478/ncr-2018-0010.
Batool, F., M. M. Rafi, and V. Bindiganavile. 2018. “Microstructure and thermal conductivity of cement-based foam: A review.” J. Build. Eng. 20 (Aug): 696–704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.09.008.
Bing, C., W. Zhen, and L. Ning. 2012. “Experimental research on properties of high-strength foamed concrete.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 24 (1): 113–118. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000353.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard). 1972. Methods of test for autoclaved cellular concrete products, Part I: Determination of unit weight or bulk density and moisture content [CED 53: Cement Matrix Products]. IS 6441-1. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard). 1981. Code of practice for preparation and use of masonry mortars. IS 2250 (1981). New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard). 1991. Specifications for Portland pozzolana cement, Part 1: Flyash based [CED 2: Cement and Concrete]. IS:1489-1. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard). 2006. Indian Standards, ceramic tiles—Methods of test, sampling and basis for acceptance. IS 13630-6. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard). 2021. Indian standard code of practice-methods of test for strength of concrete. IS: 516–2021. New Delhi, India: BIS.
Chandni, T. J., and K. B. Anand. 2018. “Utilization of recycled waste as filler in foam concrete.” J. Build. Eng. 19 (Feb): 154–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.04.032.
Chen, B., and N. Liu. 2013. “A novel lightweight concrete-fabrication and its thermal and mechanical properties.” Constr. Build. Mater. 44 (Jul): 691–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.03.091.
Demirboǧa, R. 2003. “Influence of mineral admixtures on thermal conductivity and compressive strength of mortar.” Energy Build. 35 (2): 189–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00052-X.
Eltayeb, E., X. Ma, Y. Zhuge, O. Youssf, and J. E. Mills. 2020. “Influence of rubber particles on the properties of foam concrete.” J. Build. Eng. 30 (Jul): 101217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101217.
Falliano, D., D. De Domenico, G. Ricciardi, and E. Gugliandolo. 2019. “Compressive and flexural strength of fiber-reinforced foamed concrete: Effect of fiber content, curing conditions and dry density.” Constr. Build. Mater. 198 (Feb): 479–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.11.197.
Fang, Y. H., Q. Wen, and P. Dai. 2011. “Investigation on the property and air void structure of foamed cement-fly ash-steel slag concrete.” In Vol. 150 of Advanced materials research, 1457–1461. Zurich, Switzerland: Trans Tech Publications.
Gencel, O., O. Y. Bayraktar, G. Kaplan, O. Arslan, M. Nodehi, A. Benli, A. Gholampour, and T. Ozbakkaloglu. 2022. “Lightweight foam concrete containing expanded perlite and glass sand: Physico-mechanical, durability, and insulation properties.” Constr. Build. Mater. 320 (Feb): 126187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.126187.
Gencel, O., A. Gholampour, H. Tokay, and T. Ozbakkaloglu. 2021. “Replacement of natural sand with expanded vermiculite in fly ash-based geopolymer mortars.” Appl. Sci. 11 (4): 1917. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041917.
Hilal, A. A., N. H. Thom, and A. R. Dawson. 2016. “Failure mechanism of foamed concrete made with/without additives and lightweight aggregate.” J. Adv. Concr. Technol. 14 (9): 511–520. https://doi.org/10.3151/jact.14.511.
Jin, H. Q., X. L. Yao, L. W. Fan, X. Xu, and Z. T. Yu. 2016. “Experimental determination and fractal modeling of the effective thermal conductivity of autoclaved aerated concrete: Effects of moisture content.” Int. J. Mass Transf. 92: 589–602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2015.08.103.
Koksal, F., Y. Sahin, and O. Gencel. 2020. “Influence of expanded vermiculite powder and silica fume on properties of foam concretes.” Constr. Build. Mater. 257 (Oct): 119547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119547.
Mydin, M. A. O., S. Ganesan, M. Y. M. Yunos, N. Utaberta, and N. A. Ismail. 2016. “Structural behaviour of coir fibre-reinforced foamed concrete wall panel system.” Jurnal Teknologi 78 (5): 169–177. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.8276.
Mydin, M. O. 2013. “Modeling of transient heat transfer in foamed concrete slab.” J. Eng. Sci. Technol. 8 (3): 326–343.
Nambiar, E. K., and K. Ramamurthy. 2007. “Air-void characterisation of foam concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 37 (2): 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.10.009.
Rashad, A. M. 2016. “Vermiculite as a construction material—A short guide for civil engineer.” Constr. Build. Mater. 125 (Oct): 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.08.019.
Saje, D., B. Bandelj, J. Šušteršič, J. Lopatič, and F. Saje. 2011. “Shrinkage of polypropylene fiber-reinforced high-performance concrete.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 23 (7): 941–952. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000258.
Schackow, A., C. Effting, M. V. Folgueras, S. Güths, and G. A. Mendes. 2014. “Mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight concretes with vermiculite and EPS using air-entraining agent.” Constr. Build. Mater. 57 (Apr): 190–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.009.
Sengul, O., S. Azizi, F. Karaosmanoglu, and M. A. Tasdemir. 2011. “Effect of expanded perlite on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of lightweight concrete.” Energy Build. 43 (2): 671–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.11.008.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 11 • November 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 27, 2022
Accepted: Mar 28, 2023
Published online: Aug 29, 2023
Published in print: Nov 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jan 29, 2024
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.