ABSTRACT

This project presents the results of the investigation conducted on a lightweight foamed concrete using different reagents; Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Lithofoam, with a view to determining its potential as a construction material in Nigeria. The properties investigated on the foamed concrete having target density of 1800kg/m3 were: workability, bulk density and compressive strength. The foamed concretes produced using SLS were developed using a w/c ratio of 0.5 and a mix ratio of 1:3:0.0075. The concrete specimens were produced using two different fine aggregate grades. Specimens were cured in water for 7, 21 and 28 days. The results revealed that the curing ages significantly affected the strength and that suitable strengths can be achieved using SLS as a foaming agent. The 28th day strengths for the concrete specimens were 11.27N/mm2 and 11.04N/mm2 respectively. These strengths were about 23.2% and 25.8% less than the foamed concrete produced using Lithofoam as the reagent.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DEDICATION.......................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT....................................................... iii

ABSTRACT............................................................................ iv

TABLE OF CONTENT............................................................ v

LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................. viii

LIST OF TABLES.................................................................. ix

LIST OF PLATES.................................................................... x

CHAPTER 1............................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 1

1.1    BACKGROUND OF STUDY........................................... 1

1.2    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.......................................... 2

1.3    RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.............................................. 3

1.4    RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE.......................................... 3

1.5    SCOPE OF RESEARCH WORK...................................... 3

CHAPTER 2............................................................................. 4

LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................... 4

2.1    CONCRETE...................................................................... 4

2.2    LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE (LWC)............................... 5

2.2.1     Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC)............ 6

2.2.2     No-fines concrete.................................................... 7

2.2.3     Cellular concrete.................................................. 7

2.3    AIR ENTRAINMENT..................................................... 12

2.3.1     Air entraining agent............................................. 13

2.3.2     Foaming agent....................................................... 18

2.3.3     Factors influencing the amount of air entrained. 19

2.4    CURING.......................................................................... 22

2.4.1     Autoclaving.......................................................... 23

2.4.2     Non autoclaved.................................................... 23

CHAPTER 3........................................................................... 24

METHODOLOGY.................................................................. 24

3.1    MATERIALS................................................................... 24

3.1.1     Cement.................................................................... 24

3.1.2     Fine aggregate....................................................... 24

3.1.3     Foaming agent....................................................... 28

3.1.4     Water...................................................................... 28

3.2    CONCRETE.................................................................... 29

3.2.1     Mix Design & Proportioning................................. 29

3.2.2     Moulds.................................................................... 29

3.2.3     Mix Procedure....................................................... 30

3.2.4     Slump test............................................................... 32

3.2.5     Curing..................................................................... 33

3.2.6     Compressive strength test.................................... 34

CHAPTER 4........................................................................... 36

RESULTS and DISCUSSION.............................................. 36

4.1    SIEVE ANALYSIS TEST RESULT................................ 36

4.2    MOISTURE CONTEST TEST RESULT........................ 39

4.3    WORKABILITY.............................................................. 40

4.4    BULK DENSITY............................................................. 41

4.5    COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST RESULT.............. 42

CHAPTER 5........................................................................... 48

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION........................ 48

5.1    CONCLUSION................................................................ 48

5.2    RECOMMENDATION................................................... 49

REFERENCES....................................................................... 50

APPENDICES........................................................................ 54

APPENDIX A......................................................................... 54

QA/QC CRUSHING STRENGTH OF CONCRETE/SANDCRETE - 001 54

APPENDIX B......................................................................... 56

QA/QC CRUSHING STRENGTH OF CONCRETE/SANDCRETE - 00256