Building and Nonpavement Applications of No-Fines Concrete

Abstract

No-fines concrete is defined as a type of concrete from which the fine aggregate component of the matrix is entirely omitted. The aggregate is of a single size and the finished product is a cellular concrete of comparatively low strength and specific weight. The cellular nature eliminates capillary attraction and provides greater thermal insulation and water permeability than exists in conventional concrete. The advantages of no-fines concrete for different construction purposes have long been recognized. The post–World War II era has experienced the extensive use of no-fines concrete for load-bearing walls in single and multistory buildings, retaining walls, and ground-drainage slab systems. This paper traces the development and applications of no-fines concrete for building and other nonpavement purposes. The pavement applications are introduced in a companion article published in the ASCE