OPTIMUM MIX OF FOAMED CONCRETE BY USING DIFFERENT MATERIALS
Kasrinawati Binti Sebeli
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Civil Engineering)
2009
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARA W AK
BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS
Judul: Optimum Mix of Foamed Concrete By Using Different Materials
SESI PENGAJIAN: 2008/2009
Saya KASRINA WATI BINTI SEBELI (HURUF BESAR)
mengaku membenarkan tesis * ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:
1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. 2. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk
tujuan pengajian sahaja. 3. Membuat pendigitan untuk membangunkan Pangkalan Data Kandungan Tempatan. 4. Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dibenarkan membuat salinan tesis ini
sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi. 5. * * Sila tandakan ( ~ ) di kotak yang berkenaan
DSULIT
D TERHAD
o TIDAK TERHAD
(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972).
(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasil badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan).
Disahkan oleh
(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)
Alamat tetap: 268A, KG. TABUAN HILIR,
Tarikh:
CATATAN
JALAN SETIA RAJA, 93450 KUCHING Dr. Mohd Ibrahim Safawi Mohd Zin Nama Penyelia
6 APRIL 2009 Tarikh: 6 APRIL 2009
Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah, Sarjana dan Sarjana Muda. Jika tesis ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasalorganisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT dan TERHAD.
The Following Final Year Project:
Title : Optimum Mix of Foamed Concrete by Using Different Materials
Author : Kasrinawati bt. Sebeli
Matrix Number : 14258
Was read and certified by:
Dr. Mohd Ibrahim Safawi Mohd Zin
Project Supervisors
Date
OPTIMUM MIX OF FOAMED CONCRETE BY USING DIFFERENT MATERIALS
KASRINAWATI BINTI SEBELI
This project is submitted to Faculty of Engineering,
University Malaysia Sarawak in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the
Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Civil Engineering) 2009
For my beloved parent, Mr Sebeli andMdm SUi
My beloved siblings and dearest friends
Thanks for all your supports
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismillahhirrahmannirrahim.
In the name of Allah the Gracious and the Merciful.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my SIncere
gratitudes to all those who have contributes, supports and encourage me in my way
to complete this final year project. Without all of you, I will not be able to
accomplish this project successfully.
My deepest thanks and appreciation goes to my supervIsor, Dr. Mohd.
Ibrahim Safawi Bin Mohd. Zin for his guidance, motivation and encouragement. His
advices, suggestions and comments are gratefully acknowledged.
Sincere thanks also go to the Concrete Laboratory technician, Mr. Adha for
his guidance. Without his assists and helps, this project will not be a success.
Last but not least, my sincere appreciation goes to all my families. Thanks for
their sacrifice, continuous support and encouragement throughout the completion of
my final year project. A special thanks also goes to all my dearest friends for their
kindness, helps and supports.
ABSTRACT
Foamed Concrete is a special concrete which can be very useful in the construction
because it is lightweight and a self compacted concrete. It is necessary here and can
be cast easily into every corner of formwork especially for mass concreting. Many
researches have been done in overseas show that the foamed concrete can reduce
load in construction compared to normal construction. Materials used to produce
foamed concrete are cheap thus it will reduce the construction cost. In Malaysia
especially in Sarawak, foamed concrete is still new. Before it can be use in the
constructions, a lots of study need to be done on foamed concrete. The objective of
this project is to determine the optimum mix of foamed concrete using different
materials which are Fly Ash (FA), Silica Fume (SF) and Calcium Carbide (CC). In
this project, the mix of foamed concrete has been done on two conditions. First
condition is by replacing 50% cement and second condition is by replacing the sand.
Both conditions are done in two ratios 1: 1 and 1:2. Water to cement ratio is fixed 0.5
and the target wet density is 1000kg/m3. Two tests done are Flow Table Test and
Compressive Strength on 7 days and 28 days. The results from this project show
different materials replaced in the foamed concrete influence the performance and
quality of foamed concrete itself.
ii
ABSTRAK
Konkrit Busa adalah konkrit khas yang amat berguna dalam pembinaan kerana
sifatnya yang ring an dan boleh mampat sendiri. Konkrit Mampat Sendiri (SCC)
boleh dituang dengan senang ke dalam bucu acuan terutamanya untuk kerja konkrit
yang besar. Banyak kajian telah dijalankan di luar negara menunjukkan bahawa
Konkrit Busa dapat mengurangkan beban dalam pembinaan berbanding konkrit
biasa. Bahan yang digunakan untuk menghasilkan konkrit busa murah dan itu akan
mengurangkan kos pembinaan. Di Malaysia terutamanya di Sarawak, Konkrit Busa
adalah satu teknologi baru. Sebelum ia dapat digunakan dalam pembinaan, banyak
kajian perlu dijalankan ke atas konkrit tersebut. Objektif projek ini adalah untuk
mengenalpasti bancuhan optima Konkrit Busa dengan menggunakan bahan berlainan
iaitu Fly Ash (FA), Silica Fume (SF) dan Calcium Carbide (CC). Untuk projek ini,
bancuhan Konrit Busa telah dilakukan dalam dua keadaan. Keadaan yang pertama
adalah dengan menggantikan 50% kandungan simen dan keadaan kedua adalah
dengan menggantikan pasir di dalam bancuhan tersebut. Bancuhan untuk kedua-dua
keadaan ini telah menggunakan dua nisbah iaitu 1: 1 dan 1:2. Nisbah air dan cement
adalah tetap iaitu 0.5 dan anggaran ketumpatan adalah 1000kg/m3. Dua eksperimen
telah dilakukan iaitu Flow Table Test dan Kekuatan Mampatan pada 7 dan 28 hari.
Keputusan dari kajian ini menunjukkan bahan yang berlainan dalam bancuhan
mempengaruhi pre stasi dan kualiti Konkrit Busa itu sendiri.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTENT PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT 11
ABSTRAK 111
T ABLE OF CONTENT IV
LIST OF TABLES IX
LIST OF FIGURES X
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Project 1
1.2 Objective of Study 5
1.3 Limitation/Scope of Study 5
1.4 Proj ect Outline 6
iv
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Properties of Foamed Concrete 7
2.2 Characteristic of Foamed Concrete 9
2.3 Foamed Concrete Mix Design 12
2.3.1 Water Demand of Mix Constituent 13
2.3.2 Mix Proportion for Foamed Concrete 13
2.4 Cement and Sand Replacing Materials 17
2.4.1 Fly Ash 17
2.4.2 Silica Fume 17
2.4.3 Calcium Carbide 19
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 General 21
3.2 Preparation and Casting of Foamed Concrete 22
3.3 Mixing Procedure 23
3.4 Cement Sand Ratio 24
3.5 Water Cement Ratio 24
3.6 Equipments 25
3.6. 1 Foam Generator 25
v
3.6.2 Air Compressor 26
3.6.3 Concrete Mixer 26
3.6.4 Mini Cone 27
3.6.5 Mortar Mixer 28
3.6.6 Moulds 28
3.7 Materials 29
3.7.1 Ordinary Portland Cements 29
3.7.2 Sand 30
3.7.3 Water 30
3.7.4 Foaming Agent 30
3.7.5 Fly Ash 31
3.7.6 Silica Fume 31
3.7.7 Calcium Carbide 32
3.8 Experimental Program 32
3.8.1 Condition 1 Cement to Sand ratio 1: 1 33
3.8.2 Condition 1 Cement to Sand ratio 1:2 34
3.8.3 Condition 2 Cement to Replacement Material ratio 1: 1 34
3.8.4 Condition 2 Cement to Replacement Material ratio 1:2 35
vi
3.9 Tests 35
3.9. 1 Workability 35
3.9.2 Strength 36
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
4.1 General 38
4.2 Mix Proportions 39
4.3 Physical Description of Foamed Concrete on Condition 1 40
4.4 Physical Description of Foamed Concrete on Condition 2 43
4.5 Flow Table Test 47
4.6 Compressive Strength Test 51
4.7 Summary 57
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS
5.1 General 58
5.2 Conclusions 58
5.3 Recommendations 60
5.4 Limitations 61
vii
LIST OF TABLES
TABLES PAGE
2.1 Typical Foamed Concrete Properties 7
2.2 Typical properties ofLCM foamed concrete 8
2.3 Fire resistance comparison test between
foamed concrete and vermiculite. 11
2.4 Mix proportions in m3 for the series of foamed concrete
investigated with W/C of 0.5 15
3.1 Condition 1 CIS 1: 1 33
3.2 Condition 1 CIS 1:2 34
3.3 Condition 2 (1: 1) 34
3.4 Condition 2 (1:2) 35
3.5 Programs on Compressive Strength Test 37
4.1 Mix Proportions on Condition 1 39
4.2 Mix Proportions on Condition 2 39
4.3 Flow Table Test Results on Condition 1 47
4.4 Flow Table Test Results on Condition 2 49
4.5 Compressive Strength Results on Condition 1 51
4.6 Compressive Strength Results on Condition 2 53
ix
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURES PAGE
1.1 Foam Production 2
2.1 Example of foamed concrete 9
3.1 Foam Generator 25
3.2 Air Compressor 26
3.3 Concrete Mixer 27
3.4 Mini Cone for Flow Table Test 27
3.5 Mortar Mixer 28
3.6 100 x 100 Mould for mortar samples 29
3.7 Cement 29
3.8 Sand 30
3.9 Fly Ash 31
3.10 Silica Fume 31
3.11 Calcium Carbide 32
3.12 Flow Table Test 36
4.1 Cube made of Mix FA1 40
4.2 Cube made of Mix FA2 40
4.3 Cube made of Mix SF1 41
4.4 Cube made of Mix SF2 42
4.5 Cube made of Mix CC1 42
4.6 Cube made of Mix CC2 43
4.7 Surface texture of Mix F A3 44
x
4.8 Surface texture of Mix F A4 44
4.9 Cube made of Mix SF3 45
4.10 Cube made of Mix SF4 45
4.11 Cube made of Mix CC3 46
4.12 Cube made of Mix CC4 46
4.13 Bar chart of Flow Table Test on Condition 1 (1:1) 48
4.14 Bar chart of Flow Table Test on Condition 1 (1:2) 48
4.15 Bar chart of Flow Table Test on Condition 2 (1:1) 50
4.16 Bar chart of Flow Table Test on Condition 2 (1:2) 50
4.17 Graph of Compressive Strength on Condition 1 (1: 1) 52
4.18 Graph of Compressive Strength on Condition 1 (1:2) 52
4.19 Graph of Compressive Strength on Condition 2 (1: 1) 54
4.20 Graph of Compressive Strength on Condition 2 (1:2) 54
4.21 Graph of Compressive Strength of Foamed Concrete with Fly Ash 55
4.22 Graph of Compressive Strength of
Foamed Concrete with Silica Fume 56
4.23 Graph of Compressive Strength of
Foamed Concrete with Calcium Carbide 56
4.24 Compressive Strength of Foamed Concrete with different materials 57
xi
CHAPTERl
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF PROJECT
Foamed concrete is a lightweight concrete containing no aggregates, only
find sands, cement, water and foam. The product of cement, water and foam more
accurately describe as foamed mortar. The base mix or basic form of foamed
concrete is a blend of sand, cement and water. The pre-formed foam is a mixture of
foaming agent, water and air. The foaming agent can be either synthetic or protein
based. According to [1], as a rule of thumb a foamed concrete is described as having
an air content of more than 25% which distinguishes it from highly air entrained
materials.
The addition of the pre-formed foam into a base mix will increase the volume
of the mortar. But the preformed foam is very weightless so the mass of the foamed
mortar will have only little increasing but somehow it will maintain as base mix
1
mass. Because of that the density of the foamed mortar will be decreasing. With the
more foam added to base mix, the lighter the density will be.
The pre-formed foam can be divided onto two categories wet foam and dry
foam. Wet foam is produced by spraying a foaming agent and water over a fine
mesh. Usually we use synthetic foaming agent to produce wet foam. By spraying a
foaming agent cause a drop in pressure across the mesh and allowing air to be sucked
from atmosphere to equal the pressure. This equalization of pressure will be resulting
as foam similar in appearance to bubble bath foam. Normally, the bubble size range
from 2-Smm. The foam has a large 'loose' bubble structure. Although it is relatively
stable, it is not recommended for the production of low density foamed materials. It
is also not suitable for pumping long distance or pouring to any great depth. When
the pressure on material increases, the bubbles basically burst causing a decrease in
volume and this will increase the density.
Figure 1.1: Foam Production
2
Dry foam is produced by forcing a similar solution of foaming agent and
water through a series of high density and compressed air into a mixing chamber. By
forcing this pressurized air resulting into thick, tight foam, similar in appearance to
shaving foam. Typically the bubble size is less than 1mm in diameter and of an even
size. Dry foam is extremely stable and the properties are passed onto foamed
materials when the foam is blended with the base materials. This stability is
particularly important when the ratio of foam to base materials is greater than 50:50.
When the foams become the dominant of the mix, it has to retain the stability to
avoid collapse during the production. Dry foam can be pumped further, poured
deeper and produce better flow characteristics than wet foam.
The use of air entrained and foamed concrete has grown rapidly in recent
years than any other "special" concrete product. Two millenniums ago, the Romans
were making a primitive concrete mix consisting of small gravel and coarse sand mix
together with hot lime and water. It is discovered that by adding animal blood into
the mix will create small air bubbles making the mix more workable and durable.
Then they were adding horse hair to reduce shrinkage, similar like fibers which we
use today.
According to [1], obviously these very early air entrained concretes were
extremely basic with no control over air content. It was not until the early 1900's that
the manufacture of highly entrained materials began to be commercially explored,
with perhaps surprisingly Sweden being the pioneers behind it, based on the
workings of Axel Erikson. Doubtless the extreme weather experienced by this
3
country gave impetus to the development of an extremely thermally efficient
building material but this foresight remains today with Sweden still being one of the
biggest users of lightweight foamed concrete's.
Dependant on the application standard cement replacement, such as
pulverized fuel ash, PF A and ground granulated blast furnace slag, GGBS can be
used along with a range of fillers in addition to sand, such as chalk and crushed
concrete. The foam added to the base material must be capable of remaining stable
especially when the foam is the dominant which comprises more than 50% of the
mix. This usually occurs at around 1100kg/m3 density, with foamed mix below this
density must be manufactured and handle with care. The replacement of cement and
sand can be 100% replaced or varies according to the mix proportion that has been
design for the materials.
4
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
i) To determine the workability and compressive strength of foamed concrete
using different materials.
ii) To find the optimum mix of foamed concrete using different materials on two
conditions; Condition 1 (cement replacement) and Condition 2 (sand
replacement).
iii) To find the optimum mix of foamed concrete using different materials on two
cement to sand ratios which are 1: 1 and 1:2.
1.3 LIMITATIONS/ SCOPE OF STUDY
i) The foamed concrete will be produce in two mix conditions with the sand and
without sand.
ii) The foamed concrete will be produced in two cement to sand ratio which are
1: 1 and 1:2 for each material replacing the cement.
iii) On Condition 1, 50% of cement will be replaced.
iv) On Condition 2, 100% sand will be replaced.
v) The water to cement ratio is 0.50 for all mixes.
vi) The required density for the foamed concrete is 1 000kg/m3.
5
1.4 PROJECT OUTLINE
This report contains of five chapters. First chapter is the introduction, second
chapter is the literature review, third chapter is the methodology, and fourth chapter
is the results and analysis. The final fifth chapter is the conclusions and
recommendations.
1.4.1 Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter is the brief introduction of the project, the objectives and the
scope and limitation of the project.
1.4.2 Chapter 2: Literature Review
This chapter is the theoretical of the properties of foamed concrete and a brief
explanation of different material that will be use to replace the cement in the
foamed concrete.
1.4.3 Chapter 3: Methodology
This chapter is the view of experimental program that will be use in this study
such as the method, equipments, materials, the procedure and the testing that
will be done to achieve the objective of this study.
1.4.4 Chapter 4: Results and Analysis
This chapter will be the results achieve from the experiment that have been
done and the analysis of the result itself.
1.4.5 Chapter 5: Conclusions
This chapter is the conclusions of the study that have been done and any
recommendations for improving the study in the future.
6
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 PROPERTIES OF FOAMED CONCRETE
Fresh foam concrete looks like a thin grey mousse or milkshake. Hardened
foam concrete is comparable in appearance to autoc1aved gas concrete products such
as a celcon or thermalite block. Foam concrete is cement based slurry in which
stable, homogeneous foam is mechanically blended, either by mixing or by injecting.
Typical foam concrete properties are summarized in Table 2.1 below.
Table 2.1: Typical foamed concrete properties.
DRY COMPRESSIVE MODULUS DRYING DENSITY STRENGTH ELASTICITY SHRINKAGE
Kg/m3 N/mm2 kN/mm2 % 600 1.0-1.5 1.0-1.5 0.22-0.25
800 1.5-2.0 2.0-2.5 0.20-0.22
1000 2.5-3.0 2.5-3.0 0.18-0.15
1200 4.5-5.5 3.5-4.0 0.11-0.09
1400 6.0-8.0 5.0-6.0 0.09-0.07
1600 7.5-10.0 10.0-12.0 0.07-0.06
7
According to [5], specification for controlled density foamed concrete
products have been prepared for the ready mix concrete industry in Malaysia
based on typical properties of foamed concrete (Table 2.2) made with
Lightweight Concrete Methods (LCM) foaming agent. The drying shrinkage of
such foamed concrete is less than 0.09% for dry density more than 1500kg/m3.
The average coefficient of water permeability determined in accordance with
ISOIDIS 7031 is in order of 10-10 rnIs for foamed concrete of dry density between
1500kg/m3 and 1600kg/m3. This test was conducted with German Water
permeability Test Rig on two surfaces of two foamed concrete cubes to obtain the
average.
Table 2.2: Typical properties of LCMfoamed concrete.
Cement kg/mJ 1 1
MIX Fine Sand kg 2 2
PROPORTIONS WaterlBinder ratio 0.45 0.5
FoamlBinder ratio 0.65 0.7
DRY DENSITY kg/mJ 1500 1600
COMPRESSIVE 7-days 5-6 7-8
STRENGTH
N/mm2 28-days 7-8 8 - 10
8