This paper describes the design, manufacture and placement of light-weight, self-compacting concrete (LWSCC) for precast elements and gives examples for its implementation, including a sports stadium in Prague and a multi-functional hall in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic). The problems of designing light-weight, self-compacting concrete are not only the high absorption capacity of the aggregates but also the concrete’s low volume weight. LWSCC uses its own weight for flow but when light-weight aggregate is used, the resulting kinetic energy is low and the concrete does not flow so easily through dense reinforcement (in comparison with concrete containing natural aggregate). Therefore it is necessary to find out if current methods of testing the rheological properties of fresh SCC are also suitable for testing LWSCC. In the course of all experiments described herein, light-weight expanded clay aggregates were used. The construction of sports stadiums and multifunctional halls in the Czech Republic currently develops towards economizing structures and decreasing their weight. Trends to economization are based mainly on the gradual harmonisation of structural parts and their joints, as well as streamlining designs by making use of the advantages of prefabrication and monolithic technology. Lower weight of structural parts has been made possible thanks to light-weight compacted concrete with aggregates based on expanded clay.
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