Masonry blocks from lightweight concrete on the basis of miscanthus as aggregates

Abstract

More and more concrete element producers have recently undertaken efforts to reconsider their global operations by expanding their range of market products to offer innovative, value-added solutions. To achieve this objective, companies aim to develop sustainable composite materials guaranteeing equal or higher performance than existing products; improvement of the environmental footprint; and recycling of waste from manufacturing and products at the end of life. In the context of a research project of the Laboratory of Solid Structures at the University of Luxembourg, concrete formulations based on Miscanthus aggregates have been investigated and their mechanical and thermal properties analysed. Different mineralization and their effect on the mechanical properties will be presented. By compression versus density and heat conductivity versus density diagrams, a comparison of concrete mixtures based on Miscanthus aggregates and other lightweight mixtures is established. Furthermore, the competitiveness of mixtures based on Miscanthus aggregates will be studied by applying the material properties of the mixtures on already existing innovative masonry blocks on the basis of other type of lightweight aggregates such as for example expanded clay.