Utilising unprocessed low-lime coal fly ash in foamed concrete

This paper describes an extensive laboratory-based investigation into the use of unprocessed, run-of-station, low-lime fly ash in foamed concrete, as a replacement for sand. Foamed concrete with plastic densities ranging between 1000 and 1400 kg/m3 and cube strengths from 1 to 10 N/mm2 were tested. It is shown that by using this type of fly ash in this way can significantly enhance many of the properties of foamed concrete, including rheology and compressive strength development, whilst providing almost complete immunity to sulfate attack. Given the high carbon content of this type of fly ash, however, it was found that there was a need to increase greatly the amount of foam required to achieve the specified design plastic density. However, given the relatively low cost of foam production, this is not likely to have significant implications for the use of material.