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The purpose of this study was to investigate properties of non-autoclaved aerated concrete (AC) with quadruple cementitious mixture containing silica fume (SF) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) on the basis of Response Surface Method (RSM). Compressive strength and porosity for 9 different mixtures have been determined and the prediction models for these properties have been developed using regression analyses. The combination of 5% SF and 20% GGBFS was found to be useful for strength development and reduction of porosity in the AC.

During the last decades, cellular lightweight concrete (CLC), or foamed concrete, has been experiencing greater interest in geotechnical, structural, and non-structural applications. The low density and high flowability makes it a favorable construction material in relation to handling, placing, and construction costs. However, the applications of low-density cellular concrete (LDCC), the category of CLC with a unit weight less than 50 pounds per cubic foot (801 kg/m3) and generally without fine aggregates, are limited mostly to backfill applications in geotechnical engineering. The main reason lies in the brittleness of the material and low to zero resistance to flexural loads. Fiber-reinforced LDCC may be a reasonable solution to improve mechanical properties and expand the application range of the material. This study investigated the effects of adding polypropylene and hybrid fibers on physical and mechanical properties of LDCC and the feasibility of expanding LDCC utilization to non-structural applications. Results showed that although there is a slight reduction of flowability and compressive strength, the flexural behavior of LDCC can be significantly improved with the incorporation of fibers. The flexural strength and flexural toughness of LDCC was found to increase from 26.8 pounds per square inch (psi) (0.18 MPa) to 217.5 psi (1.48 MPa), and from 5.67 lb-in. (0.64 kN-mm) to 292 lb-in. (33.0 kN-mm) respectively at a 1.0% addition rate of a fibrillated polypropylene fiber selected in this study, which makes it a feasible material for non-structural applications.