Estudo teórico sobre concretos com agregados leves

Abstract

With the improvement of techniques and equipment for the study and the use of new materials, there has been a great evolution in the technology of concrete. As a result, innovations in the technology of concretes led to the use of special concretes, such as lightweight concrete. Studies on lightweight aggregates concrete are growing increasingly, as well as their use around the world. Therefore, an application of this material is seen even in prefabricated buildings, bridges and offshore platforms. In addition, as a main characteristic of the lightweight aggregates, there is high porosity, which, consequently, results in low specific mass. The widespread use of lightweight concrete is due to the benefits promoted with the reduction of specific mass and for causing important changes in other important properties of the material, such as: workability, mechanical strength and durability. Aware that one of the major challenges in the construction industry is the weight of the structures, lightweight concrete, with a decrease in specific weight, positively influences the productivity of construction processes and the final budget. However, the construction sector is relatively late for project design and execution of works with lightweight concrete.