Title: High-Strength Lightweight Concrete for Application in Highway Girders

Author(s): K.F. Meyer, B.S. Buchberg, and L.F. Kahn

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 234

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 681-702

Keywords: high-strength lightweight concrete; HPC; lightweight concrete; material properties; mixture proportion; prestressed concrete; slate lightweight aggregate

DOI: 10.14359/15966

Date: 3/22/2006

Abstract:
This paper describes the development and material testing results of high strength lightweight concrete (HSLC) mixture proportions for use in precast, prestressed concrete highway girders. As part of a research project at Georgia Tech, it was necessary to develop concrete mixture proportions using slate lightweight aggregate able to achieve design strengths of 8,000 and 10,000 psi (55.2 and 69.0 MPa) with an equilibrium unit weight of approximately 120 pcf (1922 kg/m3) or less. A methodical approach to proportioning mixture components was developed and used to configure HSLC mixtures. Field testing was conducted to verify the mixture proportions for use in a production environment. An extensive material testing program based on specimens cast during all phases of the research project produced a database of material properties to include strength, modulus of elasticity, rupture modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, and chloride permeability.