Lightweight ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with expanded glass aggregate: Development, characterization, and life-cycle assessment

Pengwei Guo, Weina Meng, Jiang Du, Baoguo Han, Yi Bao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has high mechanical strengths and durability, but its density and carbon footprint are usually high. This paper developed a lightweight UHPC with low cost, low carbon footprint, low energy consumption, low thermal conductivity, and high ductility, by using three types of lightweight ingredients: hollow glass microsphere (460 kg/m3), expanded glass aggregate (800 kg/m3), and polyethylene fibers (970 kg/m3). Underlying mechanisms were investigated through thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, and mercury intrusion porosimetry analyses. Results showed that the hollow glass microsphere reduced the thermal conductivity of concrete; the expanded glass aggregate mitigated shrinkage while enhancing compressive strengths and flexural properties of concrete through internal curing; and the polyethylene fibers promoted multiple cracks, increasing ductility and toughness of concrete. With 20 % hollow glass microsphere, 1.5 % polyethylene fiber, and 25 % expanded glass, UHPC mixtures were developed to achieve high compressive strength (>127 MPa) and high flexural strength (>21 MPa), while reducing the density by 20 % and carbon footprint by 16 % as well as embodied energy by 27 %.

Original languageEnglish
Article number130441
JournalConstruction and Building Materials
Volume371
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Expanded glass
  • Glass microsphere
  • Internal curing
  • Lightweight
  • Polyethylene fiber
  • Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)

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