Design of specific gravity factor of artificial lightweight aggregate

The aim of this paper is to obtain the thermal treated (modified) waste expanded polystyrene aggregates (MEPS) utility as a concrete aggregate and for mix design of concrete feasibility necessary specific gravity factor (SGF). A series of experiments are carried out to determine the SGF of MEPS. The value so determined is not an actual specific gravity but is only a factor. This factor may, however, be used in subsequent calculations as though it is the apparent specific gravity, using the principles of absolute volumes, so long as the moisture content and density of the aggregates remains unchanged. In this study, the cement dosages for concrete mixes are 400 and 500 kg/m(3). The targeted ultimate compressive strength would be 8.0 MPa. Pre-wetted aggregate is used. The resulting concretes are seen to have densities varying from 800 to 1000 kg/m(3), with the corresponding strengths varying from 5 to 8 MPa. The experimental results indicate that the SGF of MEPS aggregates for 400 kg cement dosage's concretes are 0.22 and 0.31, and for 500 kg cement dosage's concretes are 0.24 and 0.34, respectively, for coarse and fine aggregates.