Development Insulation Performance of Concrete Masonry Units

Abstract

Thermal insulation of buildings takes more of researchers' interest because of different
economical and ecological considerations. Thermal insulation of walls is a principal part of
thermal insulation system for any building.
This paper includes production of four types of no-slump concrete including, normal weight
concrete, semi-lightweight concrete, no-fines concrete and lightweight concrete. Their
properties including, density, compressive strength and absorption were studded and their
thermal conductivity were calculated. Concrete oven-dry densities range was 1664.2-2141.6
kg/m3, compressive strength was 5.3-15.7 N/mm2, absorption was 6.3-16.7 % and their thermal
conductivity was 0.576-1.047 W/m.K. In addition, the research includes production two types of
concrete masonry units (CMU) from each type of concrete and studies their properties including,
compressive strength and absorption. The overall heat transfer coefficient for each type was
calculated. The results show that the reduction in concrete density by 22% results a reduction in
overall heat transfer coefficient for CMU by about 28% for CMU type I and 15% for CMU type II,
the results also show that the change in cavities sizes and their arrangements into CMU
reduces the overall heat transfer coefficient between 11-28% depends on concrete density. The
combination between the two strategies results to optimum reduction in overall heat transfer
coefficient of about 36%.