2. Experimental program
2.1. Materials
The MEPS, one of the artificial lightweight aggregates, was used in the production
of lightweight concrete. MEPS aggregate were obtained from waste EPS foams
by using thermal treatment method in the laboratory [1]. Mechanical properties of
MEPS aggregate concretes have been determined earlier by Kan and Demirbog˘a [2].
Properties of MEPS aggregate were given in Table 1. Maximum aggregate size of
MEPS and natural aggregates were 16 mm. ASTM Type I Portland cement was used
in the study. The cement contents for the concrete mixtures were 500 kg/m3 and
constant throughout the study. A polycarboxylate-based super plasticizer was used
to improve workability of the concretes. Consolidation of concrete was done by
hand compaction. The details of the MEPS aggregate concrete mix proportions were
given in Table 2.