ABSTRAK
ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK KUAT TEKAN DAN FORMULA
OPTIMUM MORTAR RINGAN BERBUSA DENGAN VARIASI
RASIO AIR TERHADAP FOAM AGENT
Pertumbuhan pembangunan infrastruktur di Indonesia menuntut ketersediaan material
konstruksi yang efisien, salah satunya mortar ringan berbusa (foam mortar) yang dapat
digunakan sebagai material timbunan jalan untuk mengurangi beban tanah aktif. Penelitian
ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh variasi rasio air terhadap foam agent (1:10, 1:15, 1:20,
dan 1:25) terhadap karakteristik mortar segar serta nilai kuat tekan mortar ringan berbusa,
sekaligus menentukan formula campuran optimum. Metode penelitian dilakukan di
Laboratorium Material Beton Universitas Indo Global Mandiri, meliputi pengujian material
penyusun (agregat halus dan semen), pengujian sifat segar mortar (slump flow dan setting
time), serta pengujian kuat tekan pada umur curing 3, 7, dan 14 hari menggunakan alat
Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan nilai slump flow
keempat variasi berkisar antara 19-20 cm, relatif seragam karena densitas foam dijaga
konstan sekitar 40 gram/liter. Hasil pengujian kuat tekan menunjukkan bahwa rasio 1:20
secara konsisten menghasilkan kuat tekan tertinggi pada setiap umur curing, yaitu 4,49
kg/cm² (3 hari), 4,02 kg/cm² (7 hari), dan 4,50 kg/cm² (14 hari), lebih tinggi dibandingkan
rasio 1:10, 1:15, maupun 1:25. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa hubungan antara rasio air
terhadap foam agent dengan kuat tekan mortar tidak bersifat linear, melainkan memiliki titik
optimum, di mana penyimpangan dari rasio tersebut baik ke arah campuran yang lebih pekat
maupun lebih encer cenderung menurunkan kuat tekan yang dihasilkan. Berdasarkan hasil
tersebut, rasio 1:20 direkomendasikan sebagai formula optimum mortar ringan berbusa pada
penelitian ini. Penelitian ini juga sejalan dengan upaya pencapaian Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), khususnya Tujuan 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), melalui kajian
variasi rasio air terhadap foam agent pada mortar busa untuk menghasilkan material
konstruksi inovatif yang ringan, efisien, dan mendukung pembangunan infrastruktur
berkelanjutan.
Kata Kunci : mortar busa, foam agent, rasio air, kuat tekan, slump flow, formula optimum
i
ABSTRACT
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS ANALYSIS AND
OPTIMUM FORMULA OF FOAMED LIGHTWEIGHT MORTAR WITH
VARIATIONS IN WATER TO FOAM AGENT RATIO
The rapid growth of infrastructure development in Indonesia demands efficient construction
materials, one of which is foamed lightweight mortar used as road embankment fill to reduce
active soil load. This study aims to analyze the effect of water-to-foam agent ratio variations
(1:10, 1:15, 1:20, and 1:25) on the fresh properties and compressive strength of foamed
lightweight mortar, as well as to determine the optimum mixture formula. An experimental
method was conducted at the Concrete Material Laboratory of Universitas Indo Global
Mandiri, covering material testing (fine aggregate and cement), fresh mortar testing (slump
flow and setting time), and compressive strength testing at curing ages of 3, 7, and 14 days
using an Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) apparatus. Results show that the slump
flow values of all four variations ranged between 19-20 cm, relatively uniform as the foam
density was kept constant at approximately 40 g/liter. Compressive strength testing showed
that the 1:20 ratio consistently produced the highest strength at every curing age, namely
4.49 kg/cm² (3 days), 4.02 kg/cm² (7 days), and 4.50 kg/cm² (14 days), higher than the 1:10,
1:15, and 1:25 ratios. This indicates that the relationship between the water-to-foam agent
ratio and compressive strength is non-linear and has an optimum point, where deviation
from this ratio, either toward a denser or more diluted mixture, tends to decrease the
resulting compressive strength. Based on these results, the 1:20 ratio is recommended as the
optimum formula for foamed lightweight mortar in this study. This research also aligns with
efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 9 (Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure), through a study of the variation in water-to-foam agent ratio
in foam mortar to produce an innovative, lightweight, and efficient construction material
that supports sustainable infrastructure development.
Keywords : foam mortar, foam agent, water ratio, compressive strength, slump flow,
optimum formula