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Structural Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Beam with Embedded Polystyrene Spheres Ling, Jen Hua; Lau, Ji Wei; Lim, Yong Tat
Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2023
Publisher : Tecno Scientifica Publishing & Society of Tropical Science and Technology

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.53623/csue.v3i1.180

Abstract

The beam is a structural element in a reinforced concrete structure. However, its weight places additional strain on the columns and foundations.Polystyrene spheres can be used to replace concrete in a beam to reduce its weight. However, this can affect the beam’s structural performance. This study investigated the behavior of beams with embedded polystyrene spheres under loads. The purpose was to determine the feasibility of this technique. Six beam specimens, including a control specimen, were tested under the four-point load setup. The polystyrene spheres’ diameter ranged from 50 mm to 75 mm. The spacing between the spheres varied from 10 mm to 30 mm. By replacing 8.7% of the concrete, the beam's strength increased by 8% per unit of concrete. The polystyrene spheres marginally altered the load capacity but reduced the stiffness, uncracked load, and ductility. The load capacity decreased by 2.6% as the polystyrene sphere’s diameter increased from 50 mm to 10 mm. The strength increased by 0.6% as the spacing increased from 10 mm to 30 mm. For satisfactory performance, the polystyrene spheres with a diameter of 0.57 times the beam’s width may be spaced at 1.2 times the concrete cover.
Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Slabs with Embedded Polystyrene Spheres Ling, Jen Hua; Lau, Ji Wei; Lim, Yong Tat
Civil and Sustainable Urban Engineering Volume 4 - Issue 1 - 2024
Publisher : Tecno Scientifica Publishing & Society of Tropical Science and Technology

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.53623/csue.v4i1.391

Abstract

Polystyrene spheres can be used to substitute concrete in reinforced concrete slabs. Despite the weight, the structural performance of the slab would also be affected. This study investigated the behaviour of slabs containing polystyrene spheres under loads. Six specimens were fabricated and tested under the four-point load setup. The parameters studied included the diameters of the polystyrene spheres and the spacing between them. The polystyrene spheres reduced the slabs’ first crack load, stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate strength. The first crack, yield, and ultimate loads decreased by 22.3%, 2.1%, and 4.1%, respectively, when the polystyrene sphere’s diameter increased from 75 mm to 125 mm. As the polystyrene spheres’ spacing decreased from 50 mm to 10 mm, the first crack, yield, and ultimate loads dropped 14.2%, 9.2%, and 7%, respectively. Despite some limitations identified during the feasibility analysis, specimen SP3 was found feasible as a simply supported one-way spanning slab. In the specimen, the polystyrene spheres were 0.625 times the slab thickness in diameter and 2.5 times the concrete cover in spacing.