1. Introduction
Structural lightweight concrete provides a vital improvement
in terms of technical, economical and environmental aspects
[1–3]. Application of lightweight concrete significantly reduced
the dead load of structures and relevantly reduced the crosssection
of structural elements (i.e. columns, beams, braces and
plate) and foundation size. Moreover, longer spans, thinner sections
and better cycling load response can be obtained by using
lightweight concrete [4]. Generally, lightweight concrete is instrumental
to effectively reduce the risk of earthquake damage as the
earthquake acceleration and its magnitude is significantly
affected by the weight of a structure. The factors such as lower
density, higher strength/weight ratio, lower coefficient of thermal
conductivity, better fire resistance, improved durability properties,
better tensile capacity and sound insulation characteristics
are considered as advantages of lightweight concrete compared
with normal concrete.