Dematerialization of Concrete: Meta-Analysis of Lightweight Expanded Clay Concrete for Compressive Strength

İlbüke Uslu, Orkun Uysal, Can B. Aktaş (), Byungik Chang and İsmail Özgür Yaman
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İlbüke Uslu: Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Türkiye
Orkun Uysal: Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Türkiye
Can B. Aktaş: Department of Civil Engineering, TED University, Ankara 06420, Türkiye
Byungik Chang: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
İsmail Özgür Yaman: Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Türkiye

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: The construction industry is responsible for a significant share of global material consumption, including natural resources. Therefore, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.2 on sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources cannot be achieved without significant advances and contributions from the construction sector. Furthermore, various materials used by the construction industry contribute to the development and expansion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system. LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregate) is one such material that enhances LEED performance through its key benefits, including lightness, thermal insulation, sound insulation, and fire resistance. One of the most effective methods for reducing the weight of concrete is the incorporation of lightweight aggregates, and the advantages of LECA include lessening loads and enabling reduced cross-sections, directly improving the sustainability of the built environment via reduced materials consumption. This study aims to develop a prediction model for the compressive strength of LECA-incorporated concrete through a meta-analysis. More than 140 data points were compiled through literature via 15 separate studies, and results were analyzed to conduct the meta-analysis. Moreover, an experimental program was carried out to verify the model and evaluate its accuracy in predicting compressive strength. Results from the developed model and the experimental program were in accordance with concrete having lower compressive strengths compared to those at high strength values. Likewise, more accurate results were obtained for concrete mixes that have w/b ratios of 0.5 or higher. Concrete mixes that have higher amounts of LECA by volume of concrete yielded more accurate results when using the prediction model. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to quantify the impact of several parameters on the compressive strength of LECA concrete.

Keywords: lightweight expanded clay aggregate; lightweight concrete; dematerialization; UN SDG 12; structural concrete minimization; compressive strength prediction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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