Mechanical Characterization of Lightweight Concrete Produced with Steel Slag and Light-Expanded Clay Aggregate

Light-expanded clay aggregates (LECA) is an alternative material which widely used in building materials and many other applications. This paper investigates the permeability, compressive, and splitting tensile strength of concrete specimens produced with ordinary coarse aggregate or LECA. Eight concrete mixes with the partial replacement of cement by steel slag powder were prepared to get an appropriate mix design for ordinary coarse aggregate or LECA concrete. The variables in the current study include steel slag content (0% to 60%) and curing time (7, 28, or 90 days). This study finds out that 40% of cement can be replaced by steel slag powder, which causes the compressive and splitting tensile strength to increase. The steel slag content has no important effect on the permeability coefficient of specimens. Furthermore, the compressive and splitting tensile strength of coarse aggregate concrete specimens is more than that of LECA concrete specimens for a given steel slag content and curing time. In general, increasing curing time results in an increase in both the compressive and splitting tensile strength of specimens.