JOURNAL OF MATERIALS PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY, cilt.204, ss.34-38, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
Expanded perlite aggregate (EPA) is a heat and sound insulator, and lightweight material which ensures economical benefits in constructions. This paper investigates the properties of concrete containing EPA considering cement types (CEM II 32.5R and CEM I 42.5R), dosages (300, 350 and 400) and replacement ratios (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60). The tests were conducted on fresh and hardened concrete. 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm cube, phi 150 mm x 300 mm cylinder and 100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm prismatic specimens were used for destructive and nondestructive tests at the end of 28 days. In experiments, the minimum unit weight of concrete mixture was 1800 kg/m(3) at the dosage of 300, and compressive strengths of EPAC (expanded perlite aggregate concrete) were obtained between 20 and 30 MPa at the replacement ratios of 30% considering cement types, thus it was proved that EPAC can be used as lightweight concrete with adequate replacement ratios, despite some losses in mechanical properties. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.