Lightweight concrete: properties, design and applications

This book offers a fresh, authoritative perspective on lightweight concrete (LWC), bringing together cutting-edge research, industry insights, and real-world applications. Providing a comprehensive overview of modern LWC materials, mix design, structural behaviour, and emerging technologies, it highlights how LWC differs fundamentally from normal-weight concrete and how these differences can be leveraged for superior performance, sustainability, and cost efficiency.

Drawing on an in-depth analysis of the U.S. construction market, the authors illuminate the business mechanics behind LWC adoption and demonstrate its often under-recognised advantages—from reduced transportation and labour demands to energy savings, enhanced durability, and lower environmental impact. The book also breaks new ground with dedicated chapters on fatigue and dynamic behaviour, self-compacting lightweight concrete, and cellular LWC, complemented by case studies from real projects.

Written by leading experts in the field, this resource blends rigorous theory with practical guidance, making it indispensable for engineers, architects, contractors, researchers, and students. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or new to the subject, this book will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to integrate LWC into modern construction and to recognize its transformative potential in both technical and commercial contexts.

This is more than a reference—it is a call to rethink current practice and to elevate the role of lightweight concrete in shaping the built environment.