Mechanical properties of thermal insulation concrete with a high volume of glazed hollow beads

Abstract

Thermal insulation concrete (TIC) represents a new kind of ‘green' concrete that reduces thermal consumption and improves the energy efficiency of buildings. In this study, the mechanical properties of TIC with a high volume of glazed hollow beads (GHBs) and different strength grades were investigated. The various strengths and thermal conductivity values of the material were measured. Relationships between TIC split tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus and compressive strength were obtained from the experimental results. The analysis also covers the constitutive relationships and failure pattern of TIC. A new skeleton model of GHBs was developed to illustrate the failure behaviour and stress–strain relationship of TIC as compared with normal concrete (NC). The results showed that the behaviours of NC and TIC are very similar under uniaxial loading conditions and that TIC is more ductile than NC for the same strength grade.