Lightweight Concrete: Types, Properties, and Applications,A Comprehensive Analytical Review
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Abstract
Lightweight Concrete (LWC) has come to be regarded as one of the most strategically important construction materials in contemporary construction engineering, offering a balance of reduced self-weight with structural, thermal, and acoustic performance. In this paper, a comprehensive, analytically focused review of the major types of LWC, namely Lightweight Aggregate Concrete (LWAC), Foamed Concrete, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), No-Fines Concrete, and High-Strength Lightweight Concrete (HSLWC), as well as the newly developed type of Geopolymer Lightweight Concrete, is presented. Instead of merely presenting a descriptive classification of these types of LWC, the review is carried out from a critical analytical perspective, examining the mechanisms of performance trade-offs, the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) as the key factor in determining mechanical response, and the efficacy of supplementary cementitious materials, nanomaterials, and fibers in overcoming the drawbacks of these materials. Five sets of analytical tables comparing the performance of these types of LWC, drawing on over 75 peer-reviewed publications, are presented. The review is concluded by presenting a forward-looking perspective on the newly developed areas of self-healing LWC, digital twin monitoring, and geopolymer-based LWC.
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