Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental and Numerical Thermal Assessment of Lebanese Traditional Hollow Blocks

  • Published:
International Journal of Thermophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hollow-core concrete blocks constitute the main method of construction for vertical walls in Lebanon where almost all walls are masonry and use the same block shape. The detailed investigation of the main parameters involved in the heat transfer in these blocks is thus of great importance for analyzing and understanding them and providing recommendations for their improvement. This paper offers an experimental and numerical analysis of heat performance the Lebanese concrete hollow block. After validating the numerical model by comparing it to experimental results, a deep and detailed analysis is done for understanding the complexity of heat transfer phenomena inside the block. Then a parametric study is performed to understand the effect of various parameters on the overall thermal resistance of the block, these parameters include the concrete solid mixture, the cavities infill material, and the geometry configuration of the block.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T.L. Bergman, A.S. Lavine, F.P. Incropera, D.P. Dewitt, Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer, 7th edn. (Wiley, Hoboken, 2011)

    Google Scholar 

  2. C. Caruana, C. Grima, C. Yousif, S. Buhagiar, R. Curmi, Determination of thermal characteristics of standard and improved hollow concrete blocks using different measurement techniques. J. Build. Eng. 13, 336–346 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2017.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. C. Caruana, C. Yousif, P. Bacher, S. Buhagiar, C. Grima. Overview of testing methodologies for thermally improved hollow-core concrete blocks. 6th international conference on sustainability in energy and buildings, SEB-14, UK. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.12.379

  4. J.J. Coz Diaz, P.J. Garcia Nieto, J. Dominguez Hernandez, A. Suarez Sanchez, Thermal design optimization of lightweight concrete blocks for internal one-way spanning slabs floors by FEM. Energy Build. 41, 1276–1287 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G. De Vahl Davis, Natural convection f air in a square cavity, a benchmark numerical solution. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids 3, 249–264 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.1650030305

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. M.A. Fogiatto, G.H. Santos, N. Mendes. Thermal transmittance evaluation of concrete hollow blocks. 12th international conference on heat transfer, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, Spain. (2016)

  7. E. Fraile-Garcia, J. Ferreiro-Cabello, M. Mendivil-Giro, Vicente-Navarro A. San, Thermal behavior of hollow blocks and bricks made of concrete doped with waste tyre rubber. Constr. Build. Mater. 176, 193–200 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.05.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Kus, E. Özkan, O. Göcer, E. Edis, Hot box measurements of pumice aggregate concrete hollow block walls. Constr. Build. Mater. 38, 837–845 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.09.053

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Meng, T. Ling, K. Mo, Recycling of wastes for value-added applications in concrete blocks: an overview. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 138, 298–312 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.07.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. B. Mohammed, A. Hossain, J. Swee, G. Wong, M. Abdullahi, Properties of crumb rubber hollow concrete block. J. Clean. Prod. 23, 57–67 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. P. Tittelein, S. Gibout, E. Franquet, L. Zalewski, D. Defer, Identification of thermal properties and thermodynamic model for a cement mortar containing PCM by using inverse method. Energy Procedia 78, 1696–1701 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. B. Urban, P. Engelmann, E. Kossecka, J. Kosny. Arranging insulation for better thermal resistance in concrete and masonry wall systems. 9th Nordic symposium on building physics, Finland. (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.04.163

  13. J. Wang, S. Li, S. Guo, C. Ma, J. Wang, J. Sun, Analysis of heat transfer properties of hollow block wall filled by different materials in solar greenhouse. Eng. Agric. Environ. Food 10, 31–38 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eaef.2016.07.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Xamán, J. Cisneros-Carreño, I. Hernández-Pérez, I. Hernández-López, K.M. Aguilar-Castro, E.V. Macias-Melo, Thermal performance of a hollow block with/without insulating and reflective materials for roofing in Mexico. Appl. Therm. Eng. 123, 243–255 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.04.163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. R. Xu, T. He, Y. Da, Y. Liu, J. Li, C. Chen, Utilizing wood fiber produced with wood waste to reinforce autoclaved aerated concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 208, 242–249 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Y. Xu, L. Jiang, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, J. Xu, G. He, Experimental study and modeling on effective thermal conductivity of EPS lightweight concrete. J. Therm. Sci. Technol. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1299/jtst.2016jtst0023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Z. Younsi, L. Zalewski, S. Lassue, D. Rousse, A. Joulin, A novel technique for experimental thermophysical characterization of phase-change materials. Int. J. Thermophys. 32, 674–692 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-010-0900-z

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Y. Zhang, K. Dua, J. Hec, L. Yanga, Y. Li, S. Li, Impact factors analysis on the thermal performance of hollow block wall. Energy Build. 75, 330–341 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.02.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. L. Zhu, J. Dai, G. Bai, F. Zhang, Study on thermal properties of recycled aggregate concrete and recycled concrete blocks. Constr. Build. Mater. 94, 620–628 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.058

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Physics (LPA), Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences, Fanar Campus, Fanar, Lebanon

    Emilio Sassine & Joseph Dgheim

  2. ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Univ. Artois, 62400, Bethune, France

    Yassine Cherif & Emmanuel Antczak

Authors
  1. Emilio Sassine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yassine Cherif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph Dgheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emmanuel Antczak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Emilio Sassine or Yassine Cherif.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sassine, E., Cherif, Y., Dgheim, J. et al. Experimental and Numerical Thermal Assessment of Lebanese Traditional Hollow Blocks. Int J Thermophys 41, 47 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-020-02626-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-020-02626-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation