Physical properties of polystyrene lightweight concrete

Paper presents results of investigation on the influence of amount and size of polystyrene lightweight aggregate on the properties of concrete. Concrete with densities of 1500 kg/m(3), 1000 kg/m(3), 750 kg/m(3) and 500 kg/m(3) were prepared and tested for density, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, impact resistance and fire resistance. Concrete of density 750 kg/m(3) was additionally modified with microsilica. Results revealed, that modulus of elasticity and compressive strength strongly depended on the density of concrete and with its decrease fall sharply. Modulus of elasticity was linearly dependent on compressive strength only for concrete of lower strength. Total number of blows resulting in sample destruction was approximately 70% higher comparing to the number of blows needed for first crack appearance. Concrete of density 500 kg/m(3) with polystyrene aggregates exhibited good fire resistance independently of aggregate size. For polystyrene concrete of low density, introduction of microsilica did not improve properties of concrete.