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@article{204177,
        author = {Prof.Rajkumar Jadhav and Kapure Ravi Vilas and Gaikwad Pratap Sunil},
        title = {EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE USING LIGHTWEIGHT EXPANDED CLAY AGGREGATE},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {1503-1507},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=204177},
        abstract = {Conventional concrete is commonly used in construction, but it has some challenges. It is heavy and has limited thermal insulation. These issues are becoming more important, especially for modern high-rise buildings, energy-efficient designs, and structures that need to withstand earthquakes. This experimental study explores the possibility of making Lightweight Concrete (LWC) by substituting conventional coarse aggregate with Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA). This substitution occurs at volumes of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in an M20 grade concrete mix following
IS 10262:2019.
LECA is made by heating natural clay at temperatures between 1100°C and 1200°C in a rotary kiln. This process creates a porous structure, leading to a low bulk density of 440 kg/m³ and good thermal insulation properties. In this study, all LECA was soaked in water until it reached a Saturated Surface Dry (SSD) condition for 24 hours before mixing. The other materials used included OPC 53 Grade cement, river sand (Zone II), and a sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde (SNF) superplasticizer, all meeting IS code standards.
Concrete samples comprised 150 mm cubes, 150×300 mm cylinders, and 100×100×500 mm beams. These samples were cast, cured with water, and tested for workability (IS 1199), compressive strength at 7 and 28 days (IS 516), split tensile strength (IS 5816), density (IS 9142), and water absorption (IS 2386).
The results show that workability declines from 80 mm with 0% LECA to 45 mm with 100% LECA due to LECA's high water absorption. Compressive strength drops from 28.0 MPa in the control mix to 14.0 MPa with 100% LECA after 28 days. Additionally, density decreases from 2400 kg/m³ to 1572 kg/m³, a reduction of 34.5%. The mix with 50% LECA achieves a compressive strength of 22.0 MPa after 28 days, meeting M20 requirements according to IS 456, and has a density of 2000 kg/m³. This mix is identified as the best option for structural uses. Higher levels of replacement (75–100%) are better suited for non-structural and insulation purposes.
The study shows that LECA concrete provides significant benefits over traditional concrete. It reduces dead weight, improves thermal insulation, enhances sound insulation, increases fire resistance, and boosts seismic performance. However, the drawbacks of lower workability and increased water absorption at higher replacement levels can be managed with careful mix design and soaking procedures.},
        keywords = {Lightweight Concrete, LECA, Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate, M20 Grade Concrete, Compressive Strength, Density Reduction, Thermal Insulation, IS 10262, Sustainable Construction.},
        month = {June},
        }