QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF LIGHT WEIGHT AGGREGATE

This research presents a procedure for assessing the quality of lightw eight aggregate based on the specific energy dissipated by a concrete specimen taken through a stress cycle. For concretes with the same wat er-cementitious ratio and the same volume of aggregate, lower specific energy loss indicates that the aggregate has higher strength and high er elastic modulus. To validate this hypothesis an experimental progra m was carried out, where the elastic modulus and compressive strength of concretes made with three different types of lightweight aggregate were measured. The relative quality of the three aggregates was known beforehand. The results confirmed a strong relation between specific e nergy loss and the mechanical properties of the aggregate.