Effect of specific gravity on properties in foamed concrete

Abstract Foamed concrete is a type of concrete that is lightweight but still capable of having significant strength. One of the key mechanical strengths can be determined through the assessment of specific gravity (SG), which is established during the initial planning stage of the foamed concrete. The objective is to determine the optimal SG for foamed concrete to be used as a construction material. This research aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of foamed concrete with varying SG. The experimental scope involves testing foamed concrete using a water-cement ratio comparison method to achieve the planned foam concrete mix composition. The SG variations tested include 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600, with a water-cement ratio of 0.5 and a curing age of 28 days. Mechanical tests include compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. The results of this study indicate that an increase in SG affects the mechanical properties of foam concrete, where the maximum SG was found to be 1600, with a compressive strength of 13.41 MPa. Similarly, in the splitting tensile strength and flexural strength tests, the increase in SG influences tensile and flexural strength, with the mechanical properties at SG 1600 showing a splitting tensile strength of 2.36 MPa and a flexural strength of 4.95 MPa.