Title: Durability of Lightweight Concrete and its Connections With the Composition of Concrete, Design, and Construction Methods

Author(s): Alexander M. Vayasburd

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 136

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 295-318

Keywords: absorption; carbonation; concretes; construction; corrosion; curing; durability; freeze-thaw durability; lightweight aggregate concretes; lightweight concretes; permeability; General

DOI: 10.14359/4267

Date: 1/1/1993

Abstract:
During the past three decades, lightweight aggregate concrete has emerged as an important sector of the structural concrete industry. It possesses unique properties, similar in some ways to those of normal weight concrete, but differing in significant aspects. Difficulties experienced with lightweight concrete in some projects appears to be caused by a lack of understanding of the differences between normal weight concrete and lightweight concrete as materials and differences in production technologies. It is most wisely used when treated as a material in its own right, with its special properties fully considered in design and construction. A three-phase model of lightweight concrete and its effect on durability are discussed as they relate to selection of materials, concreting and curing technology, control of in-service distress due to freezing and thawing, and corrosion of reinforcing steel. ased on the observed performance of bridge and marine structures built over the past four decades, the author presents a series of generalized observations applying to durability of lightweight concrete that provide a fair cross section of the entire experience. Paper concludes that, with proper selection of materials and design, and good construction practices, lightweight concrete offers an excellent solution to the problem of durability in severe environment.