Volume 23, Issue 59, January - June, 2026

Analysis of foamed concrete properties using artificial aggregates composed of fly ash and epoxy resin as partial sand replacement

Muhammad Farhan, Saloma, Arie Putra Usman^♦, Siti Aisyah Nurjannah

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Palembang, Indonesia

^♦Corresponding Author
Arie Putra Usman, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Palembang, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Indonesia is one of the most seismically active countries, requiring advanced construction technologies to anticipate earthquake damage and risks. This research focuses on enhancing foamed concrete by substituting normal fine aggregates with artificial aggregates using fly ash as a byproduct of coal combustion and epoxy resin, because both materials have lower density. The mix proportions were determined based on the American Concrete Institute (ACI) guideline Guide for Cellular Concretes Above 50 lb/ft³ (800 kg/m³), resulting in five different mix designs: a control mix (normal foamed concrete, NFC) and four variations incorporating artificial aggregates (AAFC). Cylindrical specimens measuring 10 × 20 cm (diameter × height) were prepared to assess the influence of variations in the water–cement ratio (W/C), superplasticizer dosage, and material composition on slump flow, density, and compressive strength. Results show that the highest slump flow was 58.0 cm, obtained in the mix with a W/C ratio of 0.45 and 1% of superplasticizer dosage. Most AAFC mixes met the lightweight concrete density requirement specified in ASTM C330/C330M (below 1850 kg/m³). The highest value of compressive strength test was 16.71 MPa with a W/C ratio of 0.45 and 1% superplasticizer. However, this result is still below the targeted structural concrete. This study shows the feasibility of using artificial aggregates from fly ash and epoxy resin in foamed concrete and emphasizes the need for further experimentation to improve structural performance.

Keywords: Artificial Aggregate, Fly-Ash, Resin Epoxy, Lightweight Concrete, Foamed concrete

Indian Journal of Engineering, 2026, 23(59), e4ije1710

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v23i59.e4ije1710

Published: 09 March 2026