0619392 - ÚTAM 2026 RIV GB eng C - Conference Paper (international conference)
Karatza, Z. - Gkikizas Lampropoulos, N. - Tsivolas, K. - Kumpová, Ivana - Sotiriadis, Konstantinos - Nomikos, P. P. - Badogiannis, E.
On the role of porous aggregates in the fracture mechanisms of lightweight concrete using XCT and Machine Learning.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Vol. 1480. Bristol: IOP Publishing, 2025, č. článku 012092. ISSN 1755-1307.
[International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro /5./. Grenoble (FR), 23.09.2024-27.09.2024]
Institutional support: RVO:68378297
Keywords : lightweight concrete (LWC) * sustainable materials * X-ray computed tomography (XCT)
OECD category: Materials engineering
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1480/1/012092

Replacing limestone aggregates with lightweight ones, such as pumice, results in more sustainable concrete. However, cracking at early ages poses a significant concern for its structural use. In this work, we use X-ray computed tomography to study cylindrical lightweight concrete specimens before and after uniaxial compression to enhance our understanding of how pumice affects the development of tension cracks in the concrete matrix. The results show smaller particles and those with a higher aspect ratio break less. Whilst there’s no proof that the orientation of the particles affects breakage, there are indications that the internal porosity of the particles is highly anisotropic, and its orientation with respect to the loading direction will determine whether the pumice will break or not.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0366128