Caracterização física e mecânica de concreto leve com EPS reciclado

Abstract

The use of alternative materials in concrete for economy and sustainability, as well as the functionality of the composite for certain applications is constant today. From this context, the present research aims to study the lightweight concrete behavior with recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS), based on the physical and mechanical characterization of the same, for later use in civil construction applications. Then for this, initially a lightweight concrete was developed from the use of three size of EPS beads, 2.5 mm, 7 mm and recycled EPS, and in two distinct amounts (30 and 60%, in relation to the volume of concrete) in order to investigate the effect of these different materials in terms of compressive strength and density. For this, the experimental design was done using factorial design (2k) to analyze the influence of the type and amount of light aggregate on the results of compressive strength. After the initial comparative analysis, it was emphasized the characterization of the lightweight concrete using recycled EPS in three volumes (30%, 45% and 60%) and was analyzed physical parameters such as workability , density, water absorption, as well as mechanical parameters such as axial and diametral compressive strength. From the results obtained, it was observed that the increase of EPS in the mixtures reduced the workability, strength and density of the concrete and increased the water absorption in the two methodologies. In general, the impact caused by the transition in the EPS volume from 45% to 60% in the evaluated properties was more strong than in the transition from 30% to 45%. It should be noted that the use of EPS in concrete reduces the weight of the structural elements, structural or not sctructural, and the consumption of materials, reinforcing its great potential of application inside the civil construction.