Singh, Anshdeep (2021) Investigation on the properties of concrete with Expanded Polystyrene. [USQ Project]
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Text (Project)
SINGH Anshdeep dissertation_redacted.pdf Download (5MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Concrete is a form of light weight concrete made from cement and EPS beads. EPS concrete is a popular material used in construction industry due to its environmental characteristics. The recent years has shown an exponential growth in the application of the EPS because of its variety of characteristics that benefits it over the normal concrete. EPS concrete has good insulating and energy absorbing properties. The research on this topic can be tracked back to 1973, when cook first investigated the use of EPS replacing the aggregate in concrete.
The purpose of this project is to investigate the mechanical properties of concrete, when the fine aggregate is replaced by EPS. During the initial research on this topic, a gap was identified in using Fly Ash (FA) as a substitute to cement. Fly Ash has properties similar to that of cement and is proved by many researchers to increase the mechanical properties of concrete. The literature review suggested that the addition of EPS decreases the various properties of concrete. So, in order to substitute the lack of strength in concrete sue to aggregate replacement with EPS, Fly ash is used in this project to find the total effect on the mechanical properties of concrete. After the completion of literature review it is decided to use a percentage replacement of replacement of 10%, 20%, 30% fine aggregate with EPS beads. The replacement of cement with Fly Ash was capped at 20% as it gives the best results, which is suggested by the literature review. The experimental tests for this project were conducted in accordance to the relevant Australian Standards. The fresh concrete tests considered for this project are slump test, compaction factor test and Vebe test. The hardened concrete tests conducted for this project are compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and flexural strength test. The samples for hardened concrete test are tested after the 28-days of curing.
The experimental part of this project started with making the concrete mix with percentage replacement of EPS and Fly Ash. A control mix was made with no replacement and it was used as a standard to compare the results from other mixed batches. The other batches with different percentage replacement of fine aggregate and cement with EPS and Fly Ash respectively. The tests for fresh concrete resulted in a decrease in the workability of concrete with the replacement of fine aggregate with EPS. The addition of Fly Ash in the mix it 5 slightly increased the workability, but it still couldn’t compare to the results from the control batch. But the difference between the control mix and mix with EPS and Fly Ash wasn’t significantly less. A similar observation is made from the results of hardened concrete testing. The compressive strength of the samples with only EPS replacement is significantly less than the control sample. The addition of Fly Ash resulted in increase of compressive strength and the last sample had a comparable strength to that of control sample. The results for indirect tensile strength are very similar to that of compressive strength results. The flexural strength test resulted in a little unexpected outcome. The flexural strength for the samples with only EPS replacement is higher than the samples with EPS and Fly Ash replacement.
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| Item Type: | USQ Project |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Lokuge, Weena |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jan 2023 04:34 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2023 02:06 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | expanded polystyrene, concrete, EPS, construction, mechanical properties, workability, experiment |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/51839 |
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