Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Concrete with Expanded Polystyrene Beads as Partial Coarse Aggregate Replacement

The rising demand for sustainable and lightweight construction materials has driven interest ininnovative alternatives to conventional concrete components. This learning explores the merging ofExpanded Polystyrene (EPS) beads as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates in M30 concrete. Theprimary aim is to assess how EPS influences key mechanical properties, including compressive and tensilestrength. Concrete mixes were prepared with varying EPS contents 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% andtheir performance was compared to that of traditional concrete. Test results at 28 days revealed a gradualreduction in compressive strength as the EPS content increased. Specifically, compressive strengths for5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% EPS replacements were approximately 92%, 76%, 72%, 65%, and 53%,respectively, of the control mix. The findings highlight that while EPS reduces the concrete’s weight anddensity, it also significantly impacts its load-bearing capacity. Such lightweight concrete may beeffectively utilized in non-structural elements, thermal insulation layers, or prefabricated buildingcomponents where weight reduction is prioritized over high strength.