Effect of fly ash and silica fume on hardened properties of foam concrete

In this study, the effects of foam content as well as fly ash and silica fume inclusion on some physical and mechanical properties of foam concrete, subjected to various curing regimes, were researched. Totally, forty-five series of foam concrete mixtures were prepared at three replacement levels of fly ash and silica fume (0, 10 and 20%, by weight of cement), at three foam contents (0, 31 and 47%, by volume) and at three curing regimes (7- and 28-day standard water curing and autoclave curing). Density, water absorption, compressive strength and thermal conductivity values of the mixtures were determined on prismatic specimens with dimensions of 40 × 40 × 160 mm. The density (oven dry), water absorption, compressive strength and thermal conductivity results of the foam concrete were found to be between 873–1998 kg/m3, 3.5–35.9%, 1.5–88.1 MPa and, 0.239–0.942 W/m.K, respectively. A balanced benefit with regard to both compressive strength and water absorption of foam concrete was found in the mix with density of 1320 kg/m3. Particularly in the mixtures having high foam content, silica fume introduction resulted in superior compressive strength values and greater compressive strength/thermal conductivity ratios than fly ash introduction.