Development of lightweight aggregate mortar skin layer for an innovative sandwich concrete composite. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mo, Kim Hung; Hussin, Muhammad Nadzmi; Ling, Tung-Chai; Ramli Sulong, N.H.; Lee, Foo Wei; Yuen, Choon Wah
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 27(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Sandwich concrete composite -- Lightweight aggregate mortar -- High temperature -- Calcium aluminate cement; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100941
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: This research strives to develop a high-temperature resistant lightweight aggregate (LWA) mortar skin layer for use in sandwich concrete composite. The first phase of the research was focused on the development of the LWA mortar while the subsequent phase of work dealt with assessing the performance of the resulting sandwich concrete composite. In phase 1 of the investigation, it was found that mortar incorporating calcium aluminate cement (CAC) as binder and lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) as fine aggregate had the best resistance towards high temperature of 1000 °C. The developed mortar along with basalt fibre mesh were used to form textile reinforced concrete (TRC) as skin layer which could still exhibit residual strength upon heated to high temperature. Furthermore, sandwich composite beam made of the TRC skin and aerated concrete as core had better flexural strength/weight ratio compared to that using conventional EPS foam as the core material. There was also no significant damage found on the sandwich concrete composite upon exposure to direct flame. The findings suggest that the development of the sandwich concrete composite is promising and further works can be explored to improve the performance. Highlights: CAC mortar had better high temperature resistance than OPC mortar. Fine LECA improved resistance of mortar against exposure to elevated temperature. Better flexural strength/weight ratio of TRC-aerated concrete core than EPS core. No significant damage of composite when exposed to direct flame for 1 h.