ASTM C330 / C330M - 17a

Standard Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete

History
Concrete is a relatively heavy building material, hence the many experiments throughout the 20th
century to decrease its weight without impairing other properties. During the 1920s and 1930s,
many different types of lightweight concrete were developed, e.g. Durisol, Siporex, Argex, and
Ytong. Durisol, originally a Dutch-Belgian invention, was widely used in Switzerland from the
end of the 1930s onwards, after which it became popular in many other European countries,
including Belgium. The autoclaved gas concrete Siporex was developed in Sweden in 1935 and
produced on a large scale in Belgium from 1956-1957 onwards by Siporex-Brabant, located in
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. The lightweight aggregate concrete Argex was first produced in Denmark in
1939 under the international brand name Leca. Starting with an annual production in Copenhagen
of 20.000 m³, total production throughout Europe had increased by 1972 to nearly 6 million m³
per year. It was produced in 13 European countries, including Belgium.

Definition

This specification covers lightweight aggregates intended for use in structural concrete in
which prime considerations are reducing the density while maintaining the compressive strength
of the concrete. Two general types of lightweight aggregates are covered by this specification:
aggregates prepared by expanding, pelletizing, or sintering products such as blast-furnace slag,
clay, diatomite, fly ash, shale, or slate; and aggregates prepared by processing natural materials,
such as pumice, scoria, or tuff. The aggregates shall be composed predominately of lightweight-
cellular and granular inorganic material. Lightweight aggregates shall be tested, and should not
contain excessive amounts of deleterious substances; and should conform to the specified values
of organic impurities, aggregate staining, aggregate loss of ignition, clay lumps and friable
particles, loose bulk density, compressive strength, drying shrinkage, popouts, and resistance to
freezing and thawing.

Scope

1.1 This specification covers lightweight aggregates intended for use in structural concrete in
which prime considerations are reducing the density while maintaining the compressive strength
of the concrete. Procedures covered in this specification are not intended for job control of
concrete.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as
standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system
shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in
non-conformance with the standard.

1.2.1 With regard to other units of measure, the values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard.

1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material.
These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as
requirements of the standard.

NOTE 1: This specification is regarded as adequate to ensure satisfactory lightweight aggregates

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized
principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of
International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Application

Grading requirements are generally similar to those provided for normalweight aggregate
with the exception that lightweight aggregate particle size distribution permits a higher weight
through smaller sieves. This modification recognizes the increase in relative density typical for the
smaller particles of most lightweight aggregates, and that while standards are established by
weights passing each sieve size, ideal formulations are developed through volumetric
considerations. For normalweight aggregates, the relative density of fractions retained on the
different sieve sizes are nearly equal. Percentages retained on each size indicated by weight give
a true indication of percentages by volume. However, the relative density of the various size
fractions of lightweight aggregate usually increases as the particle size decreases. Some coarse
aggregate particles may float on water, whereas material passing a No. 100 sieve (0.015 mm) may
have a relative density approaching that of normalweight sand. It is the volume occupied by each
fraction, and not the weight of material retained on each sieve that determines the void content and
influences the workability of the concrete. Percentages retained on each sieve and fineness
modulus, by weight and by volume, are computed for comparison in the example illustrated in
Table 3.1.
A fineness modulus of 3.23 by volume as shown in Table 3.1 indicates a considerably coarse
grading than that normally associated with the fineness modulus of 3.03 by weight. Therefore,
lightweight aggregates require a larger percentage of material retained on the finer sieve sizes on
a weight basis than do normalweight aggregates to provide an equal size distribution by volume.
Structural lightweight aggregate producers normally stock materials in several standard sizes that
include coarse, intermediate, and fine gradings. By combining size fractions or by replacing some
or the entire fine fraction with normalweight sand, a wide range of concrete densities may be
obtained. Aggregates for structural lightweight concrete usually have a top size of minus 3/4 in. or
minus 1/2 in. Most lightweight concretes use a lightweight coarse aggregate 3/4 in. to #4 mesh
(1/2 - #8) with ordinary sand, minus #4 mesh (minus 4.8 mm), however other combinations of
LWA and natural aggregate are used. Aggregate for lightweight concrete masonry units are
normally sized minus 3/8 in. (9.5 mm). This aggregate is usually the crushed variety because of
improved machining characteristics and the zero slump concrete mix is drier than that for fresh
structural concrete.
Table 3.2 summarizes the bulk density for lightweight aggregates listed in ASTM C330 and
ASTM C331.