FEM Analysis of Light Weight RC Beams Made Using Expanded Polystyrene and Montmorillonite

Abstract

Owing to advancements in technology and research on the compressive strength of concrete in recent years, light weight concrete (LWC) has emerged as the material of choice for applications requiring economy, high strength, stiffness, and durability. Nonetheless, ductility and strength are typically inversely correlated. Under severe applied loads, lightweight concrete can suddenly break due to its brittle nature. Lightweight concrete composed of cement, calcined montmorillonite powder, natural coarse aggregate, expanded polystyrene, sand, and water was used in this investigation. Investigating the nonlinear flexural behaviour of reinforced lightweight concrete (RLWC) beams is the goal of this work. The ANSYS software was utilized to create finite element models, investigating the impact of various factors on the flexure response of RLWC beams. The main steel's impact and yield strength, as well as the beam's breadth, depth, and shear span, are among the factors taken into account. The resulting outcomes were compared with the outcomes of the experiment. By utilizing FEA at the same location as the experimental test of the beam, the load deflection curve was determined