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Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications Review Article

Innovations and Comparative Analyses in Foam Concrete: A Review of Emerging Techniques and Materials

  1. Kumar Sanu
  2. Yogesh Tiwari
  3. Avinash Kumar

Abstract

Foam concrete, recognized for its lightweight and eco-friendly properties, is gaining prominence as a sustainable construction material. However, challenges such as low mechanical strength, performance variability, and limited environmental resistance have prompted significant innovations in recent years. This study synthesizes findings from three key studies focused on enhancing foam concrete’s performance through nanomaterials, natural fibers, and alternative lightweight aggregates. The incorporation of nano-silica and nano-calcium carbonate into coal gangue foam concrete significantly improved compressive strength, refined pore structure, and enabled electromagnetic wave absorption, indicating potential for high-tech infrastructure applications. Comparative analysis between foamed concrete (FC) and lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC) revealed that performance varies with density; FC outperforms LAC at higher densities, while LAC exhibits superior strength at lower densities, with both materials maintaining competitive thermal insulation. The use of natural fibers such as coir, sisal, and basalt further enhanced mechanical properties and durability. Coir fiber, in particular, improved compressive strength by over 42%, while sisal enhanced flexural strength, and all fibers contributed to better freeze-thaw resistance. Even with these advances, cost-effectiveness, macroscopic application, and long-term stability remain challenges. There are opportunities, the study reports, for hybrid methods—combining nanomaterials with natural fibers or lightweight aggregates—to generate synergistic improvement in strength and durability and environmental performance. Foam concrete has numerous applications—thermal insulation and structural reinforcement to electromagnetic shielding and green building solutions. New trends showcase the increasing demand for enhanced curing techniques, total life cycle analysis, and scalable production processes to enable its widespread implementation in green building. With ongoing developments, foam concrete is set to transform conventional construction practices by providing a material that strikes a balance between high performance and environmental sustainability.

Keywords

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