Effects of expanded polystyrene (EPS) sizes and arrangements on the properties of lightweight concrete

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be used as an aggregate for producing environmental friendly lightweight concrete. A set of EPS spheres with different sizes and arrangements were used to produce lightweight concrete with density lower than 1700 kg/m3. The arrangements of the EPS aggregates were numerically designed, and a series of lightweight concrete specimens with different EPS sizes and distributions were produced based on the modeling to investigate their effects on the physical properties of the lightweight concrete. Five specimens with the same EPS contents but with different sizes and arrangements were produced and tested here. The thermal conductivity and compressive strength of the specimens were evaluated using experimental and numerical approaches. The relative sizes of the EPS aggregates were characterized using a probabilistic method, and radiography was also used to visualize the internal structures of the specimens. The results show a relationship between the EPS size and the physical properties of the lightweight concrete specimens and can be utilized for the development of concrete from lightweight aggregates with advanced properties.