USABILITY OF SUNFLOWER STEMS AS LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE PRODUCTION

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate physical, mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight concrete to be produced using sunflower stems to search its suitability to use profitably in the farm buildings. The lightweight concretes of 300 and 400 dosages were produced adding different amount of sunflower stems into normal aggregate, replacing %0, 5 10, 20, 30, 40% of normal aggregate volume. The compressive strength, oven dry unit weight, water absorption rate, freezing-thawing test and thermal conductivity of produced lightweight concrete were determined after 28 days. According to the result, the unit weights of the concrete decreased with decreasing of sunflower stems amount in the mixture and the concrete produced with least 30 % sunflower stems rate is named as lightweight concrete. The comprehensive strength of the concrete which is produced by % 20 sunflower stems for 300 dosage and %30 sunflower stems for 400 dosage is used as structural concrete. The water absorptions and thermal insulation of the samples on 28 days increased with increasing of the sunflower stems in the mixture. It may be concluded that the lightweight concrete produced by sunflower stems have sufficient potential to use in the agricultural buildings in terms of its strength, resistance and insulation