[This article belongs to Volume - 54, Issue - 02]
Gongcheng Kexue Yu Jishu/Advanced Engineering Science
Journal ID : AES-30-12-2022-614

Title : FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF FOAM CONCRETE THIN SLAB WITH WELDED & WOVEN MESH USING SLES AS FOAMING AGENT
B.S.Sudharshan1) and S.V.Venkatesh2)

Abstract :

Foam concrete or cellular light weight concrete or reduced density concrete is formed by mixing Portland cement, fine aggregates, water and stable foam. It is called as the cellular concrete because of the pores introduced in concrete due to foam. Foam concrete is being used in non-structural applications extensively like void filling, filling of sunken slab, precast blocks, sub base in highways, prefabricated insulation boards etc., Limited works are carried out in foam concrete as a structural member. An attempt was made to study the flexural strength of foam concrete slab specimen using Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) liquid as foaming agent, M sand with constant mix proportion (cement : fine aggregate) of 1:1 and welded mesh / woven mesh as reinforcement. The density of foam concrete was kept constant at 1500kg/m3and was subjected to flexural test. The test results were compared to the test results of the same slab specimen of normal mix without foam. It was noticed that the slab with foam failed at a lower load and deflected more when compared with the slab without foam. Test results revealed that the slab specimens with foam concrete can be used as a structural member subjected to low loads. The load carried by the foam concrete slab was sufficient to be used as a light roofing member.