Foam Concrete Design and Preparation Method Considering the Pre-compensation of Damaged Foam

To investigate the impact of various factors on foam breakage in foam concrete and enhance the quality of the final products, this study examined the effects of mixing speed, water-cement ratio, and design density on the defoaming rate. Furthermore, a mix ratio design method for foam concrete, known as pre-compensation, was introduced to compensate for the damaged foam content and remove excess water beforehand. Foam concretes ranging from 400 kg/m³ to 1 000 kg/m³ were prepared according to the pre/post compensation method, and their physical and mechanical properties were compared. Results demonstrate that the compressive strength of foam concrete prepared using the pre-compensation method increases by up to 39.6% at the same density level compared to the post-compensation method. Notably, the pre-compensation method offers simplicity over the post-compensation method, which requires multiple "filling and weighing" procedures during practical engineering. This simplicity reduces the risk of pipe plugging during long-distance operations and enhances both the quality of foam concrete and the overall engineering process.