Lightweight concrete is a type of concrete whose density is lower than the normal concrete. These lightweight blocks came into use mainly to reduce the dead weight of the structure and to reduce the cost due to use of heavy materials in construction. This project deals with the development of lightweight blocks by using EPS beads. Polymers and other plastics are widely accepted as aggregate substituents in concrete construction.Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a type of polystyrene foam that is rigid, tough and closed cell form in nature. It is usually white and it is made up of pre-expanded polystyrene beads having density between 16 – 640 kg/m3. Mixing of this concrete is similar to that of traditional concrete mixing except substituting the coarse aggregates by shredded poly styrene granules. In this study the mix proportion for lightweight blocks using EPS beads has been arrived, the compressive and tensile strengths were studied. Being light in weight these blocks exhibits additional property of floating in water due to its low density.
