Materials Science(MEEN 3344) By Uduzei M. Ovbiagele (Duz) Concrete Foam Materials Science(MEEN 3344) By Uduzei M. Ovbiagele (Duz)

Preparation/Development Cellular/Lightweight Concrete Base material + foam = Concrete foam Base material; Portland cement which could be improved for strength , quality & environment. Foam; Foaming generator, foaming agent, water & air Prepared mostly by 2 methods Mixed Foaming Pre-forming Its strength & performance depends on the density, mixing ratios & constituent materials TAMUK

Applications Roofing Insulation Engineering /Floor Fills Road Sub-base Lightweight precast blocks Fire breaks/Sound insulation Tunnel construction /refurbishing Bridge Abutment Soil stabilization/replacement TAMUK

WHY CONCRETE FOAM (Operational & Cost Efficiencies) Reasonably high strength with accompanying low density and forming rigid well bonded structures. High fluidity and settlement & compaction free construction. Time saving due to rapid installation, applied directly on marginal soil, no waiting for consolidation of top soil. Can be designed for a specific project & budget requirements. Reduced lateral loading which cut cost for earth retaining structures. Durability of the foam & non requirement of sand drain, piling & grade beams reduces maintenance. TAMUK

Conclusions Concrete foams are more suitable for certain applications when compared to regular concrete. Its strength and performance depend on it density and constituent materials. When it is being applied to projects which it is suitable for it makes better financial sense than its alternatives. Its suitability for certain projects are tied to its properties such as been lightweight & fluid. TAMUK

References K. Ramamurthy, E.K. Kunhanandan Nambiar, G. Indu Siva Ranjani.Cement and Concrete Composites, Volume 31, Issue 6, July 2009, Pages 388-396 William D. Callister Jr, David G. Rethwisch. Fundamental of Material Science and Engineering: An Intergrated Approach, 3rd Edition 2007. www.provoton.com L.S. Cox. Major road and bridge projects with foam concrete. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Use of Foamed Concrete in Construction, p 105-112, 2005, Use of Foamed Concrete in Construction - Proceedings of the International Conference. A.S. Bagheri, T. Parhizkar, A.M. Raiss Ghasemi. Foam concrete : Properties and application areas. Proceedings, Annual Conference - Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, v 4, p 101-110, 1999, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering - 1999 Annual Conference Proceedings - General Conference - Environmental, Transportation and other Civil Engineering Areas TAMUK

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