RATIONAL PROPORTION FOR MIXTURE OF FOAMED CONCRETE DESIGN

This paper presents part of the results of laboratory work to design a lightweight foamed concrete made with Protein Agent 1 as foam, silica fume (SF) mineral admixture and superplasticizer (SP). Control of foamed concrete mixture made with foam containing only Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and SF, lightweight foam concrete mixture containing 10% of SF as a replacement for the cement in weight basis was prepared. SF is used to increase the compressive strength and for economical concerns. The foam concrete was cured at 70% relative humidity and ± 28°C temperature. The mechanical properties of a lightweight foam concrete with OPC are presented. The findings indicate that water absorption of aggregate is large in this case. However, the use of SF seems to be necessary for the production of cheaper and environmentfriendly structural foamed concrete with compressive strength and control structural foamed concrete containing only OPC.