Equation of State of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete–Oedometric Testing

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the triaxial behavior of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) under extremely high pressures, and experimentally determine Equation of State (EOS) for several different AAC densities. Oedometric tests were carried out using a home-made high-pressure triaxial apparatus, and pressures up to ~500 MPa were applied. The complete pressure-bulk strain relationships were measured, and new findings and insights were obtained. The paper presents the testing set-up and the measurement system. The data processing method accounting for the AAC pronounced shortening during the ongoing test is described using a weighted functions procedure for the circumferential strains’ calculation, with which the confining pressure was determined. The boundary conditions effects on the test results were investigated, and a new technique for specimen insulation was suggested to ensure loading without friction and the prevention of local shear failure. The experimental EOS for different AAC densities were obtained. EOS curves for different specimens with the same density demonstrated good to very good repeatability of the EOS curves over the entire pressure range. Based on the tests results and the density’s span, three classes of AAC are proposed. A preliminary attempt to apply the newly obtained EOS curves has been carried out to examine the energy dissipation for three different dynamic load levels. Although this is a preliminary stage that is beyond the objective of this paper, early interesting results were observed where an optimal AAC density, for which the highest energy has been absorbed, was identified. This finding encourages inclusion of that preliminary study as a closure section. Numerical simulations of wave propagation through ACC layers of different densities, laid on rigid supporting slabs, was carried out. The minimum total impulse imparted to the rigid slab was found for the optimal AAC density that has been determined above.