STRENGTH ENHANCEMENT AND COST ANALYSIS FOR LIGHTWEIGHT FOAMED CONCRETE IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS | ||
| Engineering Research Journal | ||
| Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2024, Pages 341-355 PDF (855.39 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/erj.2024.361367 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohamed Hassaan* 1; Tarik Youssef2; Waleed Tawhed3; Gouda Ghanem4 | ||
| 1Ph.D Student, El Mataria Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 2Associative Professor of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, L’Université Française D'Égypte, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 3Associative Professor of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mataria, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 4Emeritus Professor of Properties and Testing of Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Mataria, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| This study presents a primary batch of results for an ongoing extensive experimental program related to protein based foamed concrete. Compressive strength is herein investigated as a function of dry density, water content, curing conditions, cement type and, most importantly, foaming agents (employed in the cement paste). Structural Foamed Concrete (SFC) was investigated using a fixed water/cement ratio, CEM I-52.5 N cement, wet-burlap (23 ± 3°C) curing conditions, variable polypropylene fiber content (calculated as a percentage of cement content). Initially, three different foaming protein-based agents were utilized/tested, prior to selecting the agent yielding the highest concrete compressive strength; the latter agent continued as a fixed parameter in the current investigation. This experimental study comprises ninety six (96) foamed concrete specimens with a dry density ranging from 1500 to 1600 kg/m3. The different polypropylene fiber percentages were investigated to enhance the compressive and tensile strength/properties. Results showed that the optimal polypropylene fiber – cement content based (by weight) - dose of 0.3% yields a 32% increase and 27% increase for compressive and tensile strength, respectively. Furthermore, on utilizing the outcomes of the material testing program – for a hypothetical cost analysis study related to a seven-storey building of 400 m2 footprint – a 3 % construction cost reduction is obtained; noting that significant energy savings are anticipated on using foamcrete for slab elements. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Foamed concrete; polypropylene fibers; mechanical properties; compressive strength; tensile strength; stress-strain; construction cost reduction | ||
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