Modelling for determining the thermal conductivity of porous solid materials Available to Purchase

The aim of this study was to develop a simple algebraic equation to calculate the effective thermal conductivities of porous solid materials, particularly concrete with porous aggregates. The components of the equation consisted of material porosity and density, and thermal conductivity coefficients of the matrix and pore gas. The equation was applied to ten samples of organic sediment stones, volcanic rocks and porous aggregates, including concrete with expanded clay, expanded polystyrene and pumice aggregates. The thermal conductivity coefficients given by the equation were higher than those measured experimentally (6.62–16.89%). The proposed equation was also compared with six algebraic equations. The results suggest that the proposed algebraic equation can be used to calculate the thermal conductivity coefficients of solid materials containing complex geometrical pores. The newly produced porous samples can be used as light concrete in building.