Technical Feasibility of Using Lightweight Concrete with Expanded Polystyrene in Civil Constructio

The civil construction sector is considered among one of the most polluting to the environment because of the huge amount of wastes generated in its processes. Lighter and more rational structures not only reduces the amount of waste but also decrease the final price of the buildings and thus become more accessible to lower income population. One possible solution for reducing the weight of building structures is the application of light materials to the concrete, which represents a relatively larger part of the construction cost. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the compressive resistance of a concrete using expanded polystyrene (EPS), as an addition, by replacing the sand. This addition was found to provide lightness as well as economy and flexibility to structures. However, the highest strength obtained was 8.86 MPa. According to the results, it is recommended that the use of EPS should be restricted to non-structural concretes, for which the required strength is below 20 MPa, following the standards prescribed by the regulations.