Preliminary Development of Lightweight Concrete through the Integration of Waste-Derived Materials

Abstract

The increasing demand for natural resources and the accumulation of agricultural and construction waste have encouraged the development of alternative materials for concrete production. This study presents a preliminary investigation of lightweight concrete incorporating pumice and coconut shell as components of the coarse aggregate system, roof-tile waste as a partial replacement for natural fine aggregate, and eggshell powder and quicklime as components of the binder system. The developed mixture was evaluated in terms of density and 7-day compressive strength using three cylindrical specimens. The average density was 1,600 kg/m³, with a standard deviation of 11.14 kg/m³, while the average compressive strength was 14.00 MPa, with a standard deviation of 0.26 MPa. The coefficients of variation were 0.70% for density and 1.89% for compressive strength. These results provide an initial characterization of the developed mixture and indicate the feasibility of combining lightweight and waste-derived materials in a single concrete mixture. However, the findings are limited to one mixture composition and a 7-day testing age. Further investigation involving direct 28-day strength testing, additional mixture proportions, and durability evaluation is required to establish the engineering performance of the developed concrete.