Title:
Evaluating Elastic Modulus of Lightweight Aggregate
Author(s):
How-Ji Chen, Tsong Yen, and Kuan-Hung Chen
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
100
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
108-113
Keywords:
concrete; elastic modulus; lightweight aggregate; mortar
DOI:
10.14359/12549
Date:
3/1/2003
Abstract:
A constituent model based on the actual distribution of coarse lightweight aggregates in hardened concrete is proposed for estimating the elastic modulus of lightweight aggregate in hardened concrete. A commercially available finite element program designed to handle both coarse aggregate and mortar matrix as homogeneous isotopic materials was used in this investigation in which the spherical coarse aggregate was assumed positioning at the center of a concrete cylinder. This model is therefore called the Central Aggregate Model. The numerical model determined the modulus of elasticity of the aggregate based on the equation Ea = f (Em , Ec , and Va ), where Em (modulus of mortar), Ec (modulus of concrete), and Va (volume fraction of aggregate) are the principal inputs. This study presents the basic concept of the proposed Central Aggregate Model, test data, and the model’s suitability for evaluating the elastic modulus of lightweight aggregate. The Ea equation based on the Central Aggregate Model is Ea = 6.3Ec – 5.1Em – 9.1VaEc + 8.7VaEm.