Lightweight concrete is a range of concrete products which have lower densities compared with normal weight concrete. It can be classified into the following ranges of products:
Structural Lightweight Concrete.
Lightweight aggregate can be used for structural applications, with strengths ranges between 20 to 35 Mpa and densities ranges between 1700 to 2200 kg/m3. It is obtained using special lightweight aggregates. It provides several benefits such as reduction in dead loads making savings in foundations and reinforcement, improved thermal properties, improved fire resistance, and reduction in formwork and propping.
Non-Structural Lightweight Concrete for thermal insulation purpose:
It is a lightweight concrete designed to be used for improving the thermal insulation properties of the structural slab and roof systems. Its densities range between 400 to 1400 kg/m3 with strengths range between 1 to 15 Mpa. The thermal insulation can be four to six times better than the thermal insulation of the conventional concrete.