Comparative Analysis on Mechanical Properties of Polymer Concrete by using Various Lightweight Aggregates

Abstract. The Polymer concrete is first established in the year of 1950s and gained popularity in 1970s repair works, building cladding and floors, as precasts components. The Polymer concrete has found applications in particularly specialised sectors due to its qualities such as high compression strength, quick curings, high specific strengths, and chemical resist. The objective of this experiment is to use destructive and non-destructive experiments to analyse the mechanical behaviour of Polymer concrete using various lightweight aggregates. Using destructive and non-destructive testing, this experiment evaluates mechanical characteristics of a lightweight polymeric concrete comprising four different types of polymeric ratios. The most important component is to reduce weight. Pumice, perlite, vermiculite, saw dust, and rice husk were utilized as light weight aggregates. Destructive tests revealed that raising the polymer ratio increased the compressive, impact strengths, and splitting-tensile, and the energy absorption of light weight polymer concrete. The properties such as ductility, impact energy, energy absorption shows decrease in efficiency. Pumice was discovered to have the best outcomes among the various lightweight aggregates. These study's findings are significant in understanding a performance of Lightweight polymer concrete and ensuring its safe deployment in a engineering applications which requires a high performance of strength to weight ratio material.