Effect of cement and EPS beads ratios on compressive strength and density of lightweight concrete

The compressive strengths and slump values of concretes made up of mixtures of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads and cement were investigated. To determine the effect of Portland cement (PC)/EPS ratio, on the compressive strength of EPS concrete, 1/0 (control sample), 1:4, 1:2, 3:4 and 1:1 mix proportion by volume were used. EPS beads content for the mixtures were kept constant at 0.05 m(3). The analysis of the test results leads to the conclusion that with the increase of cement to EPS beads ratio in the mixes, both density and compressive strength of concretes increased up to 4 and 350 times respectively, when compared to the control sample. Hardened concrete densities and compressive strength varied from 464 to 1940 kg/m(3), and 0.11 to 38.50 MPa, respectively. Slump values of the mixes were changed from 8 to 43 mm.