Effect of environmental conditions on autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)

Title: Effect of environmental conditions on autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)
Author(s): H. Abdel-Fattah
Paper category : conference
Book title: International Conference on Advances in Concrete and Structures
Editor(s): Ying-shu Yuan, Surendra P. Shah and Heng-lin Lü
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-41-1
e-ISBN: 2351580176
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2003
Pages: 83 - 88
Total Pages: 6
Nb references: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) has become widely used as a construction material all over the world. The construction system technique using AAC has many advantages over the conventional systems in addition to the good quality and aesthetic appearance of the building. Some of the advantages are the rapid on-site assembly, accuracy of dimensions, ease of transportation, good insulation properties and the possibility of cutting the blocks with just a hand saw. The main diadvantage is that the durability of this material, which is new in both the U.S.A. and the Gulf region, is still under investigation. In this study, the durability of AAC is being investigated under different environmental conditions such as exposure to seawater and high temperatures. The combined effects of seawater and temperature on the compressive strength and fracture toughness of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete were studied for time durations up to 90 days. The compressive strength tests were carried out on cubes of dimensions 100 x 100 x 100 mm. For all beams, the cross-sectional dimensions were 150 x 250 mm and the length was 625 mm. Beams for the fracture tests were carried out under four point bending with a clear span of 450 mm. For the fracture toughness tests, the beams were prenotched with a through crack 2 mm wide and 50 mm long. The experimental results show that the environmental conditions have a big effect on the behavior of AAC. Both the compressive strength and the fracture toughness greatly decrease with the increase in temperature as well as the time duration for being submerged under the sea water.

Online publication: 2003-08-10
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00