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Energy in Construction and Building Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 53637

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Antonio Caggiano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
Interests: sustainability in construction and building materials; recycling; smart materials; smart buildings; energy-saving; green buildings; eco-friendly materials; nearly zero-energy buildings; energy efficiency; energy storage; phase change materials; renewable energy resources; zero CO2 emissions; CO2 storage in materials; modeling; multiscale; multiphysics; micro- and meso-scale
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Improving energy efficiency with construction and building materials represents one of the key challenges in the recent research and developments of the international community. Innovations in the construction sector are seeking breakthrough answers by using smart and intelligent materials, energy saving concepts, and cost-effective solutions, in order to ultimately reach technologies with zero CO2 emissions.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to explore the current state of the art, new ideas, and novel developments on the relevant topics that link energy efficiency to construction and building materials. A wide range of research outputs on various topics, which are contributing to an enhanced energy efficiency and a sustainable materials use for residential and non-residential buildings, is expected.

The emphasis of this Special Issue will be on collecting fundamental studies, experimental research, numerical approaches, analysis tools, design guidelines, and so on, for energy efficient materials and construction. It is the ambition of this Issue to hugely stimulate and spread the latest knowledge on energy and construction and building materials. It will be a basis for new ideas on the various topics for young investigators as well as leading experts in the field of Materials Science and Engineering.

Dr. Antonio Caggiano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Energy saving with materials
  • Energy efficiency
  • Energy harvesting
  • Energy storage
  • Energy sustainability
  • Energy transformations
  • Health and thermal comfort
  • Heating and cooling
  • Heat recovery systems
  • Building physics for materials
  • Insulation passive and active systems
  • Intelligent energy saving materials
  • Multi-scale and multi-physics modelling
  • Piezoelectric materials
  • Phase change materials
  • Renewable energy resources
  • Smart materials
  • Thermal energy storages
  • Zero CO2 emissions
  • CO2 storage in materials.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (17 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 187 KiB  
Editorial
Energy in Construction and Building Materials
by Antonio Caggiano
Materials 2023, 16(2), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020504 - 4 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 891
Abstract
Energy efficiency in buildings has become a major challenge in both science and industry [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

22 pages, 5173 KiB  
Article
Coherent Investigation on a Smart Kinetic Wooden Façade Based on Material Passport Concepts and Environmental Profile Inquiry
by Amjad Almusaed, Ibrahim Yitmen, Asaad Almsaad, İlknur Akiner and Muhammed Ernur Akiner
Materials 2021, 14(14), 3771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143771 - 6 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3518
Abstract
Wood is one of the most fully renewable building materials, so wood instead of non-renewable materials produced from organic energy sources significantly reduces the environmental impact. Construction products can be replenished at the end of their working life and their elements and components [...] Read more.
Wood is one of the most fully renewable building materials, so wood instead of non-renewable materials produced from organic energy sources significantly reduces the environmental impact. Construction products can be replenished at the end of their working life and their elements and components deconstructed in a closed-loop manner to act as a material for potential construction. Materials passports (MPs) are instruments for incorporating circular economy principles (CEP) into structures. Material passports (MPs) consider all the building’s life cycle (BLC) steps to ensure that it can be reused and transformed several times. The number of reuse times and the operating life of the commodity greatly influence the environmental effects incorporated. For a new generation of buildings, the developing of an elegant kinetic wooden façade has become a necessity. It represents a multidisciplinary region with different climatic, fiscal, constructional materials, equipment, and programs, and ecology-influencing design processes and decisions. Based on an overview of the material’s environmental profile (MEP) and material passport (MP) definition in the design phase, this article attempts to establish and formulate an analytical analysis of the wood selection process used to produce a kinetic façade. The paper will analyze the importance of environmentally sustainable construction and a harmonious architectural environment to reduce harmful human intervention on the environment. It will examine the use of wooden panels on buildings’ façades as one solution to building impact on the environment. It will show the features of the formation of the wooden exterior of the building. It will also examine modern architecture that enters into a dialogue with the environment, giving unique flexibility to adapt a building. The study finds that new buildings can be easily created today. The concept of building materials passport and the environmental selection of the kinetic wooden façade can be incorporated into the building design process. This will improve the economic and environmental impact of the building on human life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 6831 KiB  
Article
Optimum Placement of Heating Tubes in a Multi-Tube Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage
by Mohammad Ghalambaz, Hayder I. Mohammed, Ali Naghizadeh, Mohammad S. Islam, Obai Younis, Jasim M. Mahdi, Ilia Shojaeinasab Chatroudi and Pouyan Talebizadehsardari
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051232 - 5 Mar 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2375
Abstract
Utilizing phase change materials in thermal energy storage systems is commonly considered as an alternative solution for the effective use of energy. This study presents numerical simulations of the charging process for a multitube latent heat thermal energy storage system. A thermal energy [...] Read more.
Utilizing phase change materials in thermal energy storage systems is commonly considered as an alternative solution for the effective use of energy. This study presents numerical simulations of the charging process for a multitube latent heat thermal energy storage system. A thermal energy storage model, consisting of five tubes of heat transfer fluids, was investigated using Rubitherm phase change material (RT35) as the. The locations of the tubes were optimized by applying the Taguchi method. The thermal behavior of the unit was evaluated by considering the liquid fraction graphs, streamlines, and isotherm contours. The numerical model was first verified compared with existed experimental data from the literature. The outcomes revealed that based on the Taguchi method, the first row of the heat transfer fluid tubes should be located at the lowest possible area while the other tubes should be spread consistently in the enclosure. The charging rate changed by 76% when varying the locations of the tubes in the enclosure to the optimum point. The development of streamlines and free-convection flow circulation was found to impact the system design significantly. The Taguchi method could efficiently assign the optimum design of the system with few simulations. Accordingly, this approach gives the impression of the future design of energy storage systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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13 pages, 2932 KiB  
Article
Effect of Iron (III) Oxide Powder on Thermal Conductivity and Diffusivity of Lime Mortar
by Francesc Masdeu, Cristian Carmona, Gabriel Horrach and Joan Muñoz
Materials 2021, 14(4), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040998 - 20 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2188
Abstract
One of the challenges in construction is the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings. Development of construction materials of low thermal conductivity is a straightforward way to improve heat isolating capability of an enclosure. Lime mortar has a number of advantageous and peculiar [...] Read more.
One of the challenges in construction is the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings. Development of construction materials of low thermal conductivity is a straightforward way to improve heat isolating capability of an enclosure. Lime mortar has a number of advantageous and peculiar properties and was widely used until the “irruption” of Portland cement. Currently, lime mortar is still used in restoration of traditional buildings or, according to the urban regulations, in catalogued constructions. The goal of the present study is the improvement of the heat isolating capability of lime mortars. The strategy of this work is the addition of iron (III) oxide powder, which is one of the possible components forming the cements, to a base lime mortar. The reason to choose Fe2O3 was two-fold. The first reason is low thermal conductivity of Fe2O3 compared to lime mortar. The second reason is that the low solubility and small size of iron (III) oxide particles have an effect on the thermal conductivity across the lime particles. The effect of iron (III) oxide powder on the thermal conductivity has been experimentally determined by the hot-box method. It has been found that the insulating capacity and thermal inertia of lime mortar is improved significantly by the addition of Fe2O3 powder, increasing the energy saving of the enclosure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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24 pages, 2446 KiB  
Article
Fibre-Reinforced Geopolymer Concretes for Sensible Heat Thermal Energy Storage: Simulations and Environmental Impact
by Domenico Frattini, Alessio Occhicone, Claudio Ferone and Raffaele Cioffi
Materials 2021, 14(2), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020414 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2135
Abstract
Power plants based on solar energy are spreading to accomplish the incoming green energy transition. Besides, affordable high-temperature sensible heat thermal energy storage (SHTES) is required. In this work, the temperature distribution and thermal performance of novel solid media for SHTES are investigated [...] Read more.
Power plants based on solar energy are spreading to accomplish the incoming green energy transition. Besides, affordable high-temperature sensible heat thermal energy storage (SHTES) is required. In this work, the temperature distribution and thermal performance of novel solid media for SHTES are investigated by finite element method (FEM) modelling. A geopolymer, with/without fibre reinforcement, is simulated during a transient charging/discharging cycle. A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis is also carried out to investigate the environmental impact and sustainability of the proposed materials, analysing the embodied energy, the transport, and the production process. A Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach, taking into account thermal/environmental performance, is used to select the most suitable material. The results show that the localized reinforcement with fibres increases thermal storage performance, depending on the type of fibre, creating curvatures in the temperature profile and accelerating the charge/discharge. High-strength, high-conductivity carbon fibres performed well, and the simulation approach can be applied to any fibre arrangement/material. On the contrary, the benefit of the fibres is not straightforward according to the three different scenarios developed for the LCA and MCDM analyses, due to the high impact of the fibre production processes. More investigations are needed to balance and optimize the coupling of the fibre material and the solid medium to obtain high thermal performance and low impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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14 pages, 1185 KiB  
Article
Pyrolysis Kinetic Properties of Thermal Insulation Waste Extruded Polystyrene by Multiple Thermal Analysis Methods
by Ang Li, Wenlong Zhang, Juan Zhang, Yanming Ding and Ru Zhou
Materials 2020, 13(24), 5595; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13245595 - 8 Dec 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1880
Abstract
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is a thermal insulation material extensively applied in building systems. It has attracted much attention because of outstanding thermal insulation performance, obvious flammability shortcoming and potential energy utilization. To establish the reaction mechanism of XPS’s pyrolysis, thermogravimetric experiments were performed [...] Read more.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is a thermal insulation material extensively applied in building systems. It has attracted much attention because of outstanding thermal insulation performance, obvious flammability shortcoming and potential energy utilization. To establish the reaction mechanism of XPS’s pyrolysis, thermogravimetric experiments were performed at different heating rates in nitrogen, and multiple methods were employed to analyze the major kinetics of pyrolysis. More accurate kinetic parameters of XPS were estimated by four common model-free methods. Then, three model-fitting methods (including the Coats-Redfern, the iterative procedure and masterplots method) were used to establish the kinetic model. Since the kinetic models established by the above three model-fitting methods were not completely consistent based on different approximations, considering the effect of different approximates on the model, the reaction mechanism was further established by comparing the conversion rate based on the model-fitting methods corresponding to the possible reaction mechanisms. Finally, the accuracy of the above model-fitting methods and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm were compared. Results showed that the reaction function g(α) = (1 − α)−1 − 1 might be the most suitable to characterize the pyrolysis of XPS. The conversion rate calculated by masterplots and PSO methods could provide the best agreement with the experimental data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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15 pages, 3392 KiB  
Article
PCM Cement-Lime Mortars for Enhanced Energy Efficiency of Multilayered Building Enclosures under Different Climatic Conditions
by Cynthia Guardia, Gonzalo Barluenga and Irene Palomar
Materials 2020, 13(18), 4043; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13184043 - 11 Sep 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) are promising materials for the energy efficiency improvement of building enclosures, due to their energy storage capacity. The thermal behaviour of a multi-layered building enclosure with five different compositions of PCM cement-lime mortars was evaluated under heating and cooling [...] Read more.
Phase change materials (PCMs) are promising materials for the energy efficiency improvement of building enclosures, due to their energy storage capacity. The thermal behaviour of a multi-layered building enclosure with five different compositions of PCM cement-lime mortars was evaluated under heating and cooling cycles. The behaviour of cement-lime mortars with 20% of microencapsulated PCM mixed with other additions, such as cellulose fibres and perlite, a lightweight aggregate (LWA), were studied under climate conditions of 15 °C–82% RH (cooling) and 30 °C–33% RH (heating) that were applied with a climatic chamber. Temperature and heat flux on both sides of the multi-layered enclosure were experimentally measured in laboratory tests. Temperature was also measured on both sides of the PCM cement-lime mortar layer. It was observed that the addition of the PCM cement-lime mortar layer delayed the heat flux through the enclosure. During a heating cycle, the incorporation of PCM delayed the arrival of the heat wave front by 30 min (8.1% compared to the reference mortar without PCM). The delay of the arrival of the heat wave front during the cooling cycle after adding PCM, compared to the reference mixture, reached 40.6% (130 min of delay). Furthermore, the incorporation of LWA in PCM cement-lime mortars also improved thermal insulation, further increasing energy efficiency of the building enclosure, and can be used not only for new buildings but also for energy rehabilitation of existing building enclosures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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15 pages, 6524 KiB  
Article
Highly Insulated Wall Systems with Exterior Insulation of Polyisocyanurate under Different Facer Materials: Material Characterization and Long-Term Hygrothermal Performance Assessment
by Emishaw Iffa, Fitsum Tariku and Wendy Ying Simpson
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153373 - 30 Jul 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2333
Abstract
The application of exterior insulation in both new construction and retrofits is a common practice to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. In addition to increased thermal performance, the rigid insulation can serve to keep the sheathing board warm and serve as a [...] Read more.
The application of exterior insulation in both new construction and retrofits is a common practice to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. In addition to increased thermal performance, the rigid insulation can serve to keep the sheathing board warm and serve as a water-resistive barrier to keep moisture-related problems due to condensation and wind-driven rain. Polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid boards have a higher thermal resistance in comparison to other commonly used exterior insulation boards. However, because of its perceived lower permeance, its use as exterior insulation is not very common. In this study, the hygrothermal property of PIR boards with different facer types and thicknesses is characterized. The material data obtained through experimental test and extrapolation is used in a long term hygrothermal performance assessment of a wood frame wall with PIR boards as exterior insulation. Results show that PIR with no facer has the smallest accumulated moisture on the sheathing board in comparison to other insulation boards. Walls with a bigger thickness of exterior insulation perform better when no vapor barrier is used. The PIR exterior insulation supports the moisture control strategy well in colder climates in perfect wall scenarios, where there is no air leakage and moisture intrusion. In cases where there is trapped moisture, the sheathing board has a higher moisture content with PIR boards with both aluminum or fiberglass type facers. An innovative facer material development for PIR boards can help efforts targeting improved energy-efficient and durable wall systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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13 pages, 2599 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Multilayered Walls for Building Envelopes Including PCM-Based Composites
by Victor D. Fachinotti, Facundo Bre, Christoph Mankel, Eduardus A. B. Koenders and Antonio Caggiano
Materials 2020, 13(12), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122787 - 20 Jun 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2636
Abstract
This work proposes a numerical procedure to simulate and optimize the thermal response of a multilayered wallboard system for building envelopes, where each layer can be possibly made of Phase Change Materials (PCM)-based composites to take advantage of their Thermal-Energy Storage (TES) capacity. [...] Read more.
This work proposes a numerical procedure to simulate and optimize the thermal response of a multilayered wallboard system for building envelopes, where each layer can be possibly made of Phase Change Materials (PCM)-based composites to take advantage of their Thermal-Energy Storage (TES) capacity. The simulation step consists in solving the transient heat conduction equation across the whole wallboard using the enthalpy-based finite element method. The weather is described in detail by the Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) of the building location. Taking the TMY as well as the wall azimuth as inputs, EnergyPlusTM is used to define the convective boundary conditions at the external surface of the wall. For each layer, the material is chosen from a predefined vade mecum, including several PCM-based composites developed at the Institut für Werkstoffe im Bauwesen of TU Darmstadt together with standard insulating materials (i.e., EPS or Rockwool). Finally, the optimization step consists in using genetic algorithms to determine the stacking sequence of materials across the wallboard to minimize the undesired heat loads. The current simulation-based optimization procedure is applied to the design of envelopes for minimal undesired heat losses and gains in two locations with considerably different weather conditions, viz. Sauce Viejo in Argentina and Frankfurt in Germany. In general, for each location and all the considered orientations (north, east, south and west), optimal results consist of EPS walls containing a thin layer made of the PCM-based composite with highest TES capacity, placed near the middle of the wall and closer to the internal surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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22 pages, 6823 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study on the Thermal Energy Storage Performance of Bio-Based and Paraffin-Based PCMs Using DSC Procedures
by Mona Nazari Sam, Antonio Caggiano, Christoph Mankel and Eddie Koenders
Materials 2020, 13(7), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071705 - 5 Apr 2020
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 3940
Abstract
Thermal-Energy Storage (TES) properties of organic phase change materials have been experimentally investigated and reported in this paper. Three paraffin-based Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and one bio-based PCM are considered with melting temperatures of 24 °C, 25 °C and 26 °C. Sensible heat [...] Read more.
Thermal-Energy Storage (TES) properties of organic phase change materials have been experimentally investigated and reported in this paper. Three paraffin-based Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and one bio-based PCM are considered with melting temperatures of 24 °C, 25 °C and 26 °C. Sensible heat storage capacities, melting characteristics and latent heat enthalpies of the studied PCMs are investigated through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements. Two alternative methods, namely the classical dynamic DSC and a stepwise approach, are performed and compared with the aim to eliminate and/or overcome possible measurement errors. In particular, for DSC measurements this could be related to the size of the samples and its representativity, heating rate effects and low thermal conductivity of the PCMs, which may affect the results and possibly cause a loss of objectivity of the measurements. Based on results achieved from this study, clear information can be figured out on how to conduct and characterize paraffin and bio-based PCMs, and how to apply them in TES calculations for building applications and/or simulations. It is observed that both paraffinic and bio-based PCMs possess a comparable TES capacity within the selected phase transition temperature, being representative for the human thermal comfort zone. The phase change of bio-based PCMs occurred over a much narrower temperature range when compared to the wider windows characterizing the paraffin-based materials. Bio-based PCMs turned out to be very suitable for building applications and can be an environmentally friendly substitute for petroleum-based PCMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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18 pages, 7191 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Thermal Properties of High-Strength Concrete Containing CBA Fine Aggregates
by In-Hwan Yang and Jihun Park
Materials 2020, 13(7), 1493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071493 - 25 Mar 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2643
Abstract
The thermal conductivity of concrete is a key factor for efficient energy consumption in concrete buildings because thermal conductivity plays a significant role in heat transfer through concrete walls. This study investigated the effects of replacing fine aggregates with coal bottom ash (CBA) [...] Read more.
The thermal conductivity of concrete is a key factor for efficient energy consumption in concrete buildings because thermal conductivity plays a significant role in heat transfer through concrete walls. This study investigated the effects of replacing fine aggregates with coal bottom ash (CBA) and the influence of curing age on the thermal properties of high-strength concrete with a compressive strength exceeding 60 MPa. The different CBA aggregate contents included 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, and different curing ages included 28 and 56 days. For concrete containing CBA fine aggregate, the thermal and mechanical properties, including the unit weight, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and ultrasonic velocity, were measured. The experimental results reveal that the unit weight and thermal conductivity of the CBA concrete were highly dependent on the CBA content. The unit weight, thermal conductivity, and compressive strength of the concrete decreased as the CBA content increased. Relationships between the thermal conductivity and the unit weight, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of the CBA concrete were proposed in the form of exponential functions. The equations proposed in this study provided predictions that were in good agreement with the test results. In addition, the test results show that there was an approximately linear relationship between the thermal conductivity and ultrasonic velocity of the CBA concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 3429 KiB  
Article
Modelling the Thermal Energy Storage of Cementitious Mortars Made with PCM-Recycled Brick Aggregates
by Christoph Mankel, Antonio Caggiano, Andreas König, Diego Said Schicchi, Mona Nazari Sam and Eddie Koenders
Materials 2020, 13(5), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051064 - 27 Feb 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2428
Abstract
This paper reports a numerical approach for modelling the thermal behavior and heat accumulation/liberation of sustainable cementitious composites made with Recycled Brick Aggregates (RBAs) employed as carriers for Phase-Change Materials (PCMs). In the framework of the further development of the fixed grid modelling [...] Read more.
This paper reports a numerical approach for modelling the thermal behavior and heat accumulation/liberation of sustainable cementitious composites made with Recycled Brick Aggregates (RBAs) employed as carriers for Phase-Change Materials (PCMs). In the framework of the further development of the fixed grid modelling method, classically employed for solving the well-known Stefan problem, an enthalpy-based approach and an apparent calorific capacity method have been proposed and validated. More specifically, the results of an experimental program, following an advanced incorporation and immobilization technique, developed at the Institut für Werkstoffe im Bauwesen for investigating the thermal responses of various combinations of PCM-RBAs, have been considered as the benchmark to calibrate/validate the numerical results. Promising numerical results have been obtained, and temperature simulations showed good agreement with the experimental data of the analyzed mixtures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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14 pages, 3359 KiB  
Article
The Heat Conductivity Properties of Hemp–Lime Composite Material Used in Single-Family Buildings
by Sławomir Pochwała, Damian Makiola, Stanisław Anweiler and Michał Böhm
Materials 2020, 13(4), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13041011 - 24 Feb 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5426
Abstract
The main goal of the paper is to calculate the heat conductivity for three experimental hemp–lime composites used for structural construction purposes with the use of the experimental stand inside two compartments. Due to current construction trends, we are constantly searching for eco-friendly [...] Read more.
The main goal of the paper is to calculate the heat conductivity for three experimental hemp–lime composites used for structural construction purposes with the use of the experimental stand inside two compartments. Due to current construction trends, we are constantly searching for eco-friendly materials that have a low carbon footprint. This is the case of the analyzed material, and additional thermographic heat distribution inside the material during a fire resistance test proves that it is also a perfect insulation material, which could be applied in addition of popular isolating materials. This paper presents the results of certain hemp–lime composite studies and the potential for using hemp–lime composite for the structural construction industry. Hemp–lime composite heat transfer coefficient, fire resistance, and bulk density properties are compared to those of other commonly used construction materials. The obtained results show that the material together with supporting beams made of other biodegradable materials can be the perfect alternative for other commonly used construction materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 2200 KiB  
Article
Heat Transfer Through Insulating Glass Units Subjected to Climatic Loads
by Zbigniew Respondek
Materials 2020, 13(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13020286 - 8 Jan 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3424
Abstract
One of the structural elements used in the construction of insulating glass units (IGUs) are tight gaps filled with gas, the purpose of which is to improve the thermal properties of glazing in buildings. Natural changes in weather parameters: atmospheric pressure, temperature, and [...] Read more.
One of the structural elements used in the construction of insulating glass units (IGUs) are tight gaps filled with gas, the purpose of which is to improve the thermal properties of glazing in buildings. Natural changes in weather parameters: atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind influence the gas pressure changes in the gaps and, consequently, the resultant loads and deflections of the component glass panes of a unit. In low temperature conditions and when the atmospheric pressure increases, the component glass panes may have a concave form of deflection, so that the thickness of the gaps in such loaded glazing may be less than its nominal thickness. The paper analyses the effect of reducing this thickness in winter conditions on the design heat loss through insulating glass units. For this purpose, deflections of glass in sample units were determined and on this basis the thickness of the gaps under operating conditions was estimated. Next, the thermal transmittance and density of heat-flow rate determined for gaps of nominal thickness and of thickness reduced under load were compared. It was shown that taking into account the influence of climatic loads may, under certain conditions, result in an increase in the calculated heat loss through IGUs. This happens when the gaps do not transfer heat by convection, i.e., in a linear range of changes in thermal transmittance. For example, for currently manufactured triple-glazed IGUs in conditions of “mild winter”, the calculated heat losses can increase to 5%, and for double-glazed IGUs with 10–14 mm gaps this ratio is about 4.6%. In other cases—e.g., large thickness of the gaps in a unit, large reduction in outside temperature—convention appears in the gaps. Then reducing the thickness of the gaps does not worsen the thermal insulation of the glazing. This effect should be taken into account when designing IGUs. It was also found that the wind load does not significantly affect the thickness of the gaps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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14 pages, 3745 KiB  
Article
Elucidation of Conduction Mechanism in Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs)/Cement Composite Using Dielectric Spectroscopy
by Guido Goracci and Jorge S. Dolado
Materials 2020, 13(2), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13020275 - 8 Jan 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2811
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that govern the conductive properties of multifunctional cement-materials is fundamental for the development of the new applications proposed to enhance the energy efficiency, safety and structural properties of smart buildings and infrastructures. Many fillers have been suggested to increase the [...] Read more.
Understanding the mechanisms that govern the conductive properties of multifunctional cement-materials is fundamental for the development of the new applications proposed to enhance the energy efficiency, safety and structural properties of smart buildings and infrastructures. Many fillers have been suggested to increase the electrical conduction in concretes; however, the processes involved are still not entirely known. In the present work, we investigated the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (1 wt% on the electrical properties of cement composites (OPC/GNPs). We found a decrease of the bulk resistivity in the composite associated to the enhancement of the charge transport properties in the sample. Moreover, the study of the dielectric properties suggests that the main contribution to conduction is given by water diffusion through the porous network resulting in ion conductivity. Finally, the results support that the increase of direct current in OPC/GNPs is due to pore refinement induced by graphene nanoplatelets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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17 pages, 3043 KiB  
Article
Bio-Waste Thermal Insulation Panel for Sustainable Building Construction in Steady and Unsteady-State Conditions
by Miloš Pavelek and Tereza Adamová
Materials 2019, 12(12), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12122004 - 22 Jun 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5982
Abstract
Apart from being used as an oil stock for bio-fuels production, an annual crop plant Brassica napus, thought to be an agro-waste, and used either as an animal feed, soil fertilizer or biomass for combustion and thermal energy production. Alternatively, as a bio-based [...] Read more.
Apart from being used as an oil stock for bio-fuels production, an annual crop plant Brassica napus, thought to be an agro-waste, and used either as an animal feed, soil fertilizer or biomass for combustion and thermal energy production. Alternatively, as a bio-based and locally bio-sourced cellulosic material, it could be used as a thermal insulation in sustainable building fabrication, likewise woodchips, a bio-waste from the wood industry. In this study, the above-mentioned bio-waste materials’ thermal properties were identified using a sandwich panel from medium density fibreboard (MDF) and wood studs. Premanufactured panels have been filled in with randomly oriented short-cut rapeseed and with short-cut woodchips. A modified guarded hot box method was used to designate steady and un-steady state thermo-physical parameters of such insulation panels. The examined bio-waste materials absorbed thermal fluctuations of the exterior environment and kept the indoor building environment at constant temperature regardless of such fluctuations. The ability of bio-based sandwich panels to store heat energy was found to be similar to mineral wool. Additionally, VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions of tested materials were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) to declare materials’ harmlessness to indoor environmental quality and human wellbeing. In conclusion, bio-based short-cut materials proved to be a viable environmentally friendly and energy efficient alternative to conventionally used thermal insulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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Review

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35 pages, 7678 KiB  
Review
Potential Phase Change Materials in Building Wall Construction—A Review
by Abdulaziz Kurdi, Nasser Almoatham, Mark Mirza, Thomas Ballweg and Bandar Alkahlan
Materials 2021, 14(18), 5328; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14185328 - 15 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4036
Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) are an effective thermal mass and their integration into the structure of a building can reduce the ongoing costs of building operation, such as daily heating/cooling. PCMs as a thermal mass can absorb and retard heat loss to the [...] Read more.
Phase change materials (PCMs) are an effective thermal mass and their integration into the structure of a building can reduce the ongoing costs of building operation, such as daily heating/cooling. PCMs as a thermal mass can absorb and retard heat loss to the building interior, maintaining comfort in the building. Although a large number of PCMs have been reported in the literature, only a handful of them, with their respective advantages and disadvantages, are suitable for building wall construction. Based on the information available in the literature, a critical evaluation of PCMs was performed in this paper, focusing on two aspects: (i) PCMs for building wall applications and (ii) the inclusion of PCMs in building wall applications. Four different PCMs, namely paraffin wax, fatty acids, hydrated salts, and butyl stearate, were identified as being the most suitable for building wall applications and these are explained in detail in terms of their physical and thermal properties. Although there are several PCM encapsulation techniques, the direct application of PCM in concrete admixtures is the most economical method to keep costs within manageable limits. However, care should be taken to ensure that PCM does not leak or drip from the building wall. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy in Construction and Building Materials)
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