Enhancement of mechanical and durability properties of preplaced lightweight aggregate concrete

In this study, the effect of two types of aggregates (fly ash aggregate and shale aggregate) on the density, strength, and durability of preplaced lightweight aggregate concrete (PLWAC) was studied. The results showed that the 7 - 28 days strength of concrete prepared with fly ash aggregates (high water absorption rate) significantly increased, which could attribute to the long-term water release of fly ash aggregates by the refined pore structure. In contrast, the strength increase of concrete prepared with shale aggregates (low water absorption rate) is not apparent. Although PLWAC prepared with fly ash aggregates has a lower density and higher strength (56.8 MPa @ 1600 kg/m³), the chloride diffusion coefficient is relatively high, which could attribute to the diffusion paths established by connected porous aggregates and the negative over-curing effect. Compared to the control group, the partial replacement of fly ash aggregates (30%) with asphalt emulsion (20% solid content) coated aggregates can reduce the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete by 53.6% while increasing the peak load obtained in a threepoint bending test by 107.3%, fracture energy by 30.3% and characteristic length by 103.5%. The improvement in concrete performance could be attributed to the reduction in the water absorption rate of aggregates and increased energy absorption by polymer during crack propagation.