EFFECTS OF PUMICE AGGREGATE/CEMENT RATIOS ON THE CONCRETE PROPERTIES

Pumice lightweight aggregate (PLA) was used to the lightweight concrete (LWC) for use in of load-bearing or non-load bearing elements. aggregate lightweight concrete (PALWC) blocks produced with different sizes of 8-16 mm as pumice aggregate (CPA), of 4-8 mm as medium aggregate (MPA) and 0-4 mm as fine pumice (FPA). The optimum grade of aggregates was 25% 25% MPA and 50% CPA by weight for the mixture To analyse the effects of CPA, MPA and FPA/cement on the non-structural concrete engineering the range of different pumice aggregate/cement ratios of 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, 15:1, 20:1, 25:1 and by weight and cement contents of 180, 137, 110, 52, 40 and 32 kg/m3 were used to make PALWC testing samples with a slump of from 2 to 4 cm. properties of PALWC with the range of different aggregate/cement ratios were evaluated by tests on workability, compressive strength, modulus, bulk density, wetting expansion, drying water absorption and thermal conductivity. PALWC to 25:1 A/C ratios had sufficient strength and density to be accepted as load-bearing block Higher than 25:1 A/C ratio had sufficient adequate density and the thermal conductivity to accepted as non-load bearing infill blocks for purposes. PALWC had design flexibility and cost savings by providing less dead load due to lower density values. The properties which in value and indicated the increasing quality lower A/C ratios (high cement contents) were strength, modulus of elasticity and density. which decreased in value, with higher A/C ratios, water absorption, wetting expansion, drying and thermal conductivity. Lowering the A/C ratios the strength of PALWC, but increase of the A/C increased the thermal insulation. The research that non-structural lightweight concrete can be by the use of fine, medium and coarse pumice mixes without using any additions or admixtures.