Experimental and Numerical Thermal Assessment of EPS Concrete Hollow Blocks in Lebanon
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 8
Abstract
Hollow concrete blocks can be thermally improved either by modifying their cavities shapes or by adding insulation materials into these cavities. It is also possible to improve the thermal conductivity of solid concrete matrix by incorporating some materials to its composition like recycled solid wastes for example. This paper offers a solid and comprehensive study for thermally improved hollow blocks through a case study from the Lebanese context and provides a scientific basis for improving the thermal performance of these blocks. The effect of adding expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads to the concrete solid mixture was investigated in this study through numerical and experimental approaches. The experimental and numerical results were in good agreement and the potential thermal improvement by adding EPS beads to concrete mixture was examined on both numerical and experimental levels. The numerical results for the three-dimensional (3D) model allow the visualization of the heat flux and temperature distribution in the block as well as the air velocity and convective heat exchanges inside the cavities of the block. The results showed that the block thermal resistance can almost double by adding 18 g of polystyrene beads to the concrete mixture.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statements
All data, models, and codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported and funded by a grant from the Lebanese University, Lebanon, and done in collaboration with University of Artois, France.
References
Bai, Z., Y. Liu, J. Yang, and S. He. 2019. “Exploring the dynamic response and energy dissipation capacity of functionally graded EPS concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 227 (Oct): 116574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.07.300.
Campbell-Allen, D., and C. P. Thorne. 1963. “The thermal conductivity of concrete.” Mag. Concr. Res. 15 (43): 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1680/macr.1963.15.43.39.
Caruana, C., C. Grima, C. Yousif, S. Buhagiar, and R. Curmi. 2014. “Overview of testing methodologies for thermally improved hollow-core concrete blocks.” In Vol. 62 Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, SEB-14, 180–189. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.12.379.
Caruanaa, C., C. Yousif, P. Bacher, S. Buhagiar, and C. Grima. 2017. “Determination of thermal characteristics of standard and improved hollow concrete blocks using different measurement techniques.” J. Build. Eng. 13 (Sep): 336–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2017.09.005.
COMSOL AB. 2016. COMSOL multiphysics—Reference manual, version 5.2a. Stockholm, Sweden: COMSOL AB.
Cui, C., Q. Huang, D. Li, C. Quan, and H. Li. 2015. “Stress–strain relationship in axial compression for EPS concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 105 (Feb): 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.159.
De Moraes, E. G., L. Sangiacomo, N. P. Stochero, S. Arcaro, L. R. Barbosa, A. Lenzi, C. Siligardi, and A. N. de Oliveira. 2019. “Innovative thermal and acoustic insulation foam by using recycled ceramic shell and expandable styrofoam (EPS) wastes.” Waste Manage. (Oxford) 89 (Apr): 336–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.04.019.
Diaz, C., P. G. Nieto, J. D. Hernández, and A. S. Sánchez. 2009. “Thermal design optimization of lightweight concrete blocks for internal one-way spanning slabs floors by FEM.” Energy Build. 41 (12): 1276–1287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.04.163.
Dixit, A., S. Dai Pang, S. H. Kang, and J. Moon. 2019. “Lightweight structural cement composites with expanded polystyrene (EPS) for enhanced thermal insulation.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 102 (Sep): 185–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.04.023.
Fogiatto, M. A., G. H. Santos, and N. Mendes. 2016. “Thermal transmittance evaluation of concrete hollow blocks.” In Proc., 12th Int. Conf. on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, 1291–1296. Leonia, NJ: EDAS.
Gnip, I. Y., S. Vėjelis, and S. Vaitkus. 2012. “Thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene (EPS) at 10°C and its conversion to temperatures within interval from 0 to 50°C.” Energy Build. 52: 107–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.05.029.
Guo, M., A. Motamed, Y. Tan, and A. Bhasin. 2016. “Investigating the interaction between asphalt binder and fresh and simulated RAP aggregate.” Mater. Des. 105 (Sep): 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2016.04.102.
Guo, M., and Y. Tan. 2019. “Interaction between asphalt and mineral fillers and its correlation to mastics’ viscoelasticity.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2019.1575379.
Li, C., L. Miao, Q. You, S. Hu, and H. Fang. 2018. “Effects of viscosity modifying admixture (VMA) on workability and compressive strength of structural EPS concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 175 (Jun): 342–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.04.176.
Maaroufi, M., K. Abahri, C. El Hachem, and R. Belarbi. 2018. “Characterization of EPS lightweight concrete microstructure by X-ray tomography with consideration of thermal variations.” Constr. Build. Mater. 178 (Jul): 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.142.
Meng, Y., T. C. Ling, and K. H. Mo. 2018. “Recycling of wastes for value-added applications in concrete blocks: An overview.” Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 138 (Nov): 298–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.07.029.
Mohammed, B., K. M. A. Hossain, J. T. E. Swee, G. Wong, and M. Abdullahi. 2011. “Properties of crumb rubber hollow concrete block.” J. Cleaner Prod. 23 (1): 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.035.
Pacheco-Torgal, F. 2018. Use of recycled plastics in eco-efficient concrete. San Diego: Elsevier.
Sayadi, A., J. V. Tapia, T. R. Neitzert, and G. C. Clifton. 2016. “Effects of expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles on fire resistance, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of foamed concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 112 (Jun): 716–724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.02.218.
Urban, B., P. Engelmann, E. Kossecka, and J. Kosny. 2011. “Arranging insulation for better thermal resistance in concrete and masonry wall systems.” In Proc., 9th Nordic Symp. on Building Physics. Tampere, Finland: Tampere Univ. of Technology.
Wang, J., J. K. Carson, M. F. North, and D. J. Cleland. 2008. “A new structural model of effective thermal conductivity for heterogeneous materials with co-continuous phases.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 51 (9–10): 2389–2397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2007.08.028.
Wang, J. F., J. K. Carson, and M. F. North. 2006. “A new approach to modelling the effective thermal conductivity of heterogeneous materials.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 49 (17–18): 3075–3083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2006.02.007.
Xu, R., T. He, Y. Da, Y. Liu, J. Li, and C. Chen. 2019. “Utilizing wood fiber produced with wood waste to reinforce autoclaved aerated concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 208 (May): 242–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.030.
Xu, Y., L. Jiang, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, J. Xu, and G. He. 2016. “Experimental study and modeling on effective thermal conductivity of EPS lightweight concrete.” J. Therm. Sci. Technol. 11 (2): JTST0023. https://doi.org/10.1299/jtst.2016jtst0023.
Younsi, Z., L. Zalewski, S. Lassue, D. R. Rousse, and A. Joulin. 2011. “A novel technique for experimental thermophysical characterization of phase-change materials.” Int. J. Thermophys. 32 (3): 674–692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-010-0900-z.
Zhang, Y., Y. Zhang, K. Du, J. He, L. Yang, Y. Li, and S. Li. 2014. “Impact factors analysis on the thermal performance of hollow block wall.” Energy Build. 75 (Jun): 330–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.02.037.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 8 • August 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2019
Accepted: Feb 24, 2020
Published online: Jun 2, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 2, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.