Experimental Assessment of Mechanical properties and Corrosion of Reinforced Steel Bars in Lightweight Concrete for Application in onshore and offshore structures

Leca lightweight particles are used for structural and semi structural concrete in different countries. In Iran it is usually used as Mass lightweight concrete، blokes and partitions. In this research an experimental work carried out using Leca concrete to assess its physical and mechanical properties and possibility of constructing high strength lightweight concrete to use as structural element in marine environment. Using leca، microsilica gel (silica soot plus super plasticizer) and cement type II، structural high cement content semi lightweight concrete was constructed. Then different characteristics such as specific weight، percentage of abrasion strength، compressive strength، specific gravity of fresh and hard concrete and intensity of bare steel bar corrosion by comparing bar corrosion potential in lightweight and ordinary concrete was obtained. The results show that the leca concrete is in the range of lightweight concrete and is suitable as semi structural and structural element. Furthermore it is found that this kind of lightweight concrete in corrosive environment behaves similar to or better than ordinary concrete. Therefore it can be used in onshore and offshore structures.