Packing Models and Proportioning Methodology for Fly Ash-Metakaolin Light Weight Aggregate Concrete

Submitted: May 12, 2013; Accepted: Jun 18, 2013; Published: Jun 30, 2013 Abstract: This paper investigates on production technology and concrete proportioning methods for lightweight aggregate concrete containing fly ash-metakaolin material. The aggregates were cured in different curing regime such as water curing and hot air oven curing at 100°C. An empirical formula was developed to arrive at the mixture proportions of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). The important factors considered for the selection of mixture proportions were volume of coarse aggregate (%), volume of mortar (%) and pre-wetting of aggregates in the mixture. The concrete specimens were casted with various volume proportions of coarse aggregate (20, 30 and 40%). Theoretical packing models were developed to determine the proportions of the concrete mixtures. Concrete test specimens were casted for determination of the compressive strength and split tensile strength. The maximum compressive strength of fly ash alkali activated aggregate concrete was found to be around 27.4 MPa which satisfies the minimum strength requirement of structural lightweight aggregate concrete.