1. CE 3200
Project and Seminar
Properties and Applications of
Foam Concrete
Course Teachers
Dr. Kazi A.B.M. Mohiuddin
Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering, KUET.
Dr. H. M. Iqbal Mahmud
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering, KUET
Gaytan Sarkar
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering, KUET.
Presented by
Tanzim Jahin
Roll : 1401001
Sec : A
Dept. of Civil Engineering, KUET.
Sourav Hazra
Roll : 1401062
Sec : A
Dept. of Civil Engineering. KUET.
2. PRESENTING CONTENTS
Introduction
Materials & Manufacturing
Properties of Foam Concrete
Applications of Foam Concrete
Advantages and Limitations
Potential of Foam Concrete in Bangladesh
Conclusion
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3. WHAT IS FOAM CONCRETE?
Foam concrete is a popular and
established material in construction
industry for its lower self-weight, high
workability, self-compacting and thermal
insulation.
It is also defined as a cement based
slurry, with a minimum of 20% (per
volume) foam entrained into the plastic
mortar.
Fig : Foamed Concrete
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4. MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING
Materials
Foaming agent
Fly ash
Binding material
Admixer
Water
Manufacturing
At first cement, fly ash, admixture and
water is mixed to form a slurry.
The foam is created using a foaming
agent, mixed with water and air from a
generator.
The slurry is then mixed with the
synthetic aerated foam in a concrete
mixing plant.
Fig : Manufacturing flow diagram of foam
concrete19-Dec-17 4
5. PROPERTIES OF FOAM CONCRETE
Compressive & Tensile Strength
Compressive and tensile strength
increases with the casting density.
Thermal Conductivity
Foam concrete is popular for its low thermal
conductivity for its great number air pocket
which gives it better insulation properties.
Characteristics Type of foam concrete (cast density) Unit
Cast density 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1200 1400 1800 Kg/m3
Cube compressive
strength (28days)
0.1.3 2.0 3.0 3.0 4.5 5.5 6.5 10.0 12.0 16.0 MPa
Tensile strength
(28days)
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 1.1 1.2 1.6 MPa
Thermal conductivity 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.18 0.22 0.26 0.30 0.40 0.55 0.77 W/m
Table1: characteristics of foam concrete
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6. PROPERTIES OF FOAM CONCRETE
(Contd.)
Compressive & Tensile
Strength (Contd.)
Drying Shrinkage
Drying shrinkage of foamed concrete is
4–10 times higher than normal concrete.
It reduces with increase of density.
Permeability
The solid matrix of cementitious slurry
surrounding the fine cell structure of the
foam concrete greatly reduces the
capillary action through the material.
Fig : Relation between compressive strength
and cast density
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7. PROPERTIES OF FOAM CONCRETE
(Contd.)
Fire Resisting Capacity
Foam concrete is extremely fire
resistant as it can withstand
1450ºC temperature without any
damage.
Energy Absorbing Qualities
Foam concrete has increased kinetic
energy absorbing capacity.
It is not vulnerable to seismic shock
waves.
Fig : Comparison of fire resisting capacity between
normal and foamed concrete.19-Dec-17 7
8. APPLICATIONS
The Lower Densities (400 –600
kg/m3):
At this range of density, it is ideal for
thermal and sound insulations.
The Medium Densities (800-
1000 kg/m3):
This density is for manufacturing pre-cast
blocks and non-load-bearing brickwork.
Fig : Rooftop thermal insulation and water
proofing by foamed concrete.
Fig : Non-Load bearing bricks
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9. APPLICATIONS(Contd.)
The High Densities (1200kg/m3 to 1800
kg/m3).
Construction of load-bearing
walls and ceilings of low rise
structures.
Production of pre-cast blocks
for load bearing work.
Fig : Load bearing wall by pre-cast panel
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10. ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS
Advantages
It does not settle, hence requires no
compaction.
Lightweight - does not impose
large loadings.
Rapid and relatively simple
construction.
Non-hazardous either during
application or in service .
Limitations
Greater care is required in
controlling water content in mixing.
Special measures for pumping
concrete
Mixing time is longer than
conventional concrete.
More brittle.
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11. Potential of Foam Concrete in Bangladesh
Foam concrete brick can replace the traditional
red brick.
Precast panel to speed up the slow construction
process of Bangladesh.
It has good seismic behavior for its lower weight
and shock absorbing capacity.
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12. CONCLUSION
It has a desirable strength to be an alternative construction material.
The strength of foam concrete is low for lower density mixture.
Significant reduction of overall weight results in saving structural frames.
REFERENCES
“Properties and applications of foamed concrete; a review”- Y.H. Mugahed
Amran ?, Nima Farzadnia, A.A. Abang Ali
“A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete”- K. Ramamurthy *,
E.K. Kunhanandan Nambiar, G. Indu Siva Ranjani.
“Preliminary views on the potential of foamed concrete as a structural
material”- M. R. Jones, and A. McCarthy.
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