Title:
Bond and Shear Behavior of Concrete Beams Containing Lightweight Synthetic Particles
Author(s):
Matthew J. Heiser, Amr Hosny, Sami H. Rizkalla, and Paul Zia
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
108
Issue:
6
Appears on pages(s):
698-705
Keywords:
additive; beams; lightweight synthetic particles; reduced unit weight concrete; shear
DOI:
10.14359/51683368
Date:
11/1/2011
Abstract:
This paper summarizes a comprehensive experimental program that investigated the bond and shear behavior of concrete beams containing lightweight synthetic particles (LSP). LSP is a new concrete additive that, when used, leads to reduced unit weight of concrete, enhances flowability of the fresh concrete for pumping purposes, and produces durable concrete for freezing and thawing and deicing exposed conditions. It also reduces the thermal conductivity (increases R-value), thus reducing the energy required for heating and cooling. The use of these specially formulated particles, in combination with normalweight aggregates, could reduce the unit weight of concrete by 10 to 20%, ranging from 120 to 130 lb/ft3 (1920 to 2080 kg/m3), depending on the amount of LSP used in the concrete mixture. The experimental program included 27 large-scale specimens. Research findings indicate that the bond and shear behavior of beams with LSP additive is similar to the behavior of beams made with normalweight concrete. Test results confirm that ACI 318-08 can be used for the design of LSP concrete members for shear and the development length of steel reinforcement without the use of the reduction factor λ required for lightweight concrete.