DRYING OF LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE PRODUCED FROM CRUSHED EXPANDED CLAY AGGREGATES

When crushed lightweight aggregates are used in lightweight aggregate concretes very small water amounts evaporate from the concrete even in a dry environment. It is shown that a large portion of the free batch water is absorbed into the pore structure of the crushed aggregates. The relative humidity in concrete pore structure diminishes faster tha n in normal weight aggregate comparison concretes. Lightweight aggrega te concrete is drying internally and therefore the structure thickness has a minor effect on concrete drying times. The exceptional drying p roperties of lightweight concretes produced from crushed aggregates en ables a fast execution of the floor covering works without time consum ing drying operations.