Effect of different expanded aggregates on durability-related characteristics of lightweight aggregate concrete

Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) has relatively larger porosity than conventional concrete, mainly due to the incorporation of porous lightweight aggregates. The types of used lightweight aggregates are critical in determining the physical properties of LWAC, and it is therefore important to examine their effects on the durable characteristics of the material. To perform comparative analysis, the concrete mixture designs with two theoretical density classes were developed. The mixture composition for each class was constant and the only variable parameter was the type of the used lightweight aggregates-expanded glass (Liaver®), expanded clay (Liapor®), and foam glass (Ecoglas®). Accordingly, their pore characteristics and durability-related properties, such as sorptivity, open water porosity, and water penetration depth, were examined. To understand these phenomena, the permeable characteristic, tortuosity, was also calculated using a numerical approach incorporating X-ray micro-computed tomography. The examined results confirm that the durability characteristics of LWAC are strongly affected by the used aggregate types and are highly correlated with their pore structures. In terms of permeable characteristics, expanded glass is the most beneficial material among the used particles, and the systematic approach in this study can be used to examine the durability characteristic of LWAC.