Size and shape effects on compressive strength of lightweight concrete

Abstract In this study, the size and aspect ratio effects on the compressive strength of lightweight concrete were examined using nine laboratorial concrete mixes and three ready-mixed concrete batches. At each concrete mix, the aspect ratios of specimens with circular or square sections were 1.0 and 2.0. The lateral dimension of specimens ranged between 50 and 150 mm at each laboratorial concrete mix, while it varied from 50 to 400 mm at each ready-mixed concrete batch. The present study also proposed generalized prediction models for the size effect based on the crack band theory of fracture mechanics, which can cover important influencing parameters such as the aspect ratio and lateral depth of the specimen and the unit weight of concrete. Test results showed that the crack band zone in lightweight concrete specimens was more localized with poor crack distribution than in normal-weight concrete specimens, regardless of the geometrical dimensions of the specimens. As a result, the size effect was stronger with the decrease of the concrete unit weight, and this trend was more notable in specimens with an aspect ratio of 2.0 than in those with an aspect ratio of 1.0. The compressive strength predictions of concrete obtained from the present models are in good agreement with the test results including a total of 1661 data. The trend of the size effect against different parameters as predicted by the present models has a consistent agreement with that observed from experimental results.