Course detail

Lightweight Building Materials

FAST-BJA015Acad. year: 2025/2026

Information about all produced light building materials, their production, properties and utilization in building work. In the theory of Lightweight Building Materials, the classification of light building materials is involved and the general basic properties etc. Into the second part - the technology of lightweight aggregates, the knowledge of natural cellular aggregates and of concrete produced from them is involved, further untreated industrial wastes (for instance cinder, fly ash from power plants etc.), further treated industrial wastes used as porous aggregates (slag, fly ash aggloporite), synthetically produced porous aggregates and the classification of them (for instance ceramsit, expandit, perlit, vermikulit etc.). Between these materials belong even light organic aggregates( sawdust, wood shavings, light aggregates from plastics) and mineral fibres. The third part is the technology of -cellular concrete, beginning with the classification of cellular concrete, the used raw materials, processing, shaping, autoclaving etc. till to the individual products and their utilization.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Rostislav Drochytka, CSc., MBA, dr. h. c.

Department

Institute of Technology of Building Materials and Components (THD)

Entry knowledge

Theoretical and Technological Fundamentals of Inorganic Building Binders, namely the chemistry and technology of plaster, lime and cement manufacture.Basic knowledge necessary for the task to design composition of concrete with demanded final properties, the basic properties of input raw materials for concrete manufacture and the testing methods.General overview of ceramic raw materials properties, their processing, shaping methods in ceramics, drying, burning, properties of burnt body

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

The aim of the subject is to introduce the students into all produced lightweight building materials, their production, properties and utilization in construction work, obtaining of knowledge about natural porous aggregates and concrete produced from them. Obtaining knowledge of industrial wastes utilization (for instance slag, power plant fly ash etc.), detailed knowledge of cellular concrete production technology.
The student would manage the goal of the subject by acquiring the knowledge of all produced light construction substances, their production, properties and use in the construction component, on natural porous aggregates and concretes produced from them, on the use of industrial wastes (e.g. slag, electrical ash, etc.) and on the technology of porous concrete production.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

DROCHYTKA, R. Lehké stavební látky. Brno: VUT v Brně FAST, 1993. ISBN 80-214-0514-7. (CS)
DROCHYTKA, R., MATULOVÁ, P. Lehké stavební látky. 203 str., 2007.Elektronické studijní opory FAST VUT. (CS)

Recommended reading

DROCHYTKA, R., VÝBORNÝ, J., KOŠATKA, P., PUME, D. Pórobeton. Brno: VUT v Brně FAST, 1999. ISBN 80-214-1476-6. (CS)
MALHOTRA, V. M. Recent Advances in Concrete Technology. USA: American Concrete Institut, 2004. ISBN 0-87031-147-6. Recent Advances in Concrete Technology – supplementary papers. USA: Las Vegas, 2004. (EN)
WEBER, H., HULLMANN, H. Porenbeton Handbuch. Berlin: Bauverlag, 1999. ISBN 3-7625-3520-5. (DE)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization M , 4 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Rostislav Drochytka, CSc., MBA, dr. h. c.

Syllabus

  • 1. Introduction, classification of lightweight building materials.
  • 2. Basic general properties of lightweight building materials etc.
  • 3. Sorption properties of lightweight building materials.
  • 4. Volume changes and durability of lightweight building materials.
  • 5. Reinforcement of lightweight building materials.
  • 6. Natural cellular aggregates and concrete manufactured from these materials.
  • 7. Other industrial non-treated wastes (for instance cinder, power plant fly ash etc.)
  • 8. Industrial wastes prepared as cellular aggregates (slag, fly ash aggloporite etc.)
  • 9. Artificially manufactured cellular aggregates (ceramsite, expandite, vermiculite etc.)
  • 10. Lightweight organic fillers (saw dust, wood shavings, lightweight plastic fillers) and mineral fibres.
  • 11. Classification of cellular concrete. Individual cellular concrete technologies.
  • 12. Sorts of input raw materials, demands concerning their treatment.
  • 13. Shaping, autoclaving etc.Individual sorts of products, properties, storing, utilization of different products in building structures.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Rostislav Drochytka, CSc., MBA, dr. h. c.

Syllabus

  • 1. Introduction exercise, occupational safety, the laboratory regulations.
  • 2. Preparation and properties testing of perlite concrete, lightweight aggregate concrete.
  • 3. Determination of different types of lightweight aggregate properties.
  • 4. Preparation and testing the properties of polystyrene concrete.
  • 5. Determination of properties of raw materials for the cellular concrete producing.
  • 6. Preparation of non-autoclaved cellular concrete.
  • 7. Preparation of autoclaved cellular concrete.
  • 8. Preparation of the foam concrete.
  • 9. Preparation and testing of properties sawdust concrete.
  • 10. Production of ceramic light weight aggregate (ceramsite).
  • 11. Excursion to the cellular concrete production plant.
  • 12. Credit test.
  • 13. Control of protocols, granting the credits.