The Effect Granule EPS on Drying Shrinkage of Foam Concrete

9th International Symposium on Eastern Mediterrenean Geology, Antalya, Türkiye, 7 - 11 Mayıs 2018, ss.393-397

Drying shrinkage is major problem in foam concrete. The absence of coarse aggregate and high

cement dosage in the mixture of foam concrete increase the drying shrinkage. Subsequently, microcracks

develop within 1 to 6 months in foamed concrete and rapidly spread throughout the

structure. Cracks due to the drying shrinkage are an important problem in the production of foam

concrete-precast construction elements and lightweight-floor screed applications.

In this study, the effect of using EPS granule obtained from waste EPS as light aggregate was

investigated on the shrinkage of low density foam concrete (400-500 kg/m3). The EPS granule

amounts in four different foam concrete specimens were 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg/m3 respectively. The

cement dosage (350 kg/m3) and the w/c ratio (0.42) were fixed in the foam concrete specimens.

Length changes of 1 "x1" x11 "mortar bars were measured for 5 months in accordance with ASTM

C 596 standard. Dry shrinkage ratios of specimens with 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg/m3 EPS granules were

determined as 0.28%, 0.59%, 0.38% and 0.29% respectively. The addition of low amount of EPS

granules (2.5 and 5 kg/m3) to foam concrete increased the drying shrinkage. On the other hand, the

shrinkage of the specimen with high EPS (7.5 kg/m3) content was the same as the specimen

without EPS.