Finite Element Modeling Of Low Heat Conducting Building Bricks

O. O. Oluwole, J. S. Joshua, H. O. Nwagwo

Department Of Mechanical Engineering, University Of Ibadan, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2012.118069                

Abstract

Heat conduction through conventional and interlocking building bricks with cavities was studied in this work. Heat transfer analysis was carried out using MATLAB? partial differential equation toolbox. Regular and staggered hole arrangements were studied. Results showed that four staggered holed interlocking bricks were effective in thermal resistance into the bricks and increasing the holes beyond four did not give any thermal resistance advantage. For the conventional bricks staggered holes did not give any thermal resistance advantage but the four-holed bricks were also adjudged to be effective in thermal resistance into the brick surface. Increasing the number of holes beyond four in conventional bricks did give some thermal resistivity advantage but very minimal. Structural strengths of holed bricks were not considered in this study.

Keywords

Building Bricks; Finite Element Modeling; Heat Conduction

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	B. Lacarrie`re, B. Lartigue and F. Monchoux, “Numerical Study of Heat Transfer in a Wall of Vertically Perforated Bricks: Influence of Assembly Method,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 35, No. 3, 2003, pp. 229-237. doi:10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00049-X
[2]	S. M. Bajorek and J. R. Lloyd, “Experimental Investigation of Natural Convection in partitioned Enclosures,” Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 104, No. 3, 1982, pp. 527- 531. doi:10.1115/1.3245125
[3]	T. Nishimura, M. Shiraishi, F. Nagasawa and Y. Kawamura, “Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Enclosures with Multiple Vertical Partitions,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 31, No. 8, 1988, pp. 1679-1686. doi:10.1016/0017-9310(88)90280-3
[4]	D. P. Aviram, A. N. Fried and J. J. Roberts, “Thermal Properties of a Variable Cavity Wall,” Building and Environment, Vol. 36, No. 9, 2001, pp. 1057-1072. doi:10.1016/S0360-1323(00)00042-1
[5]	J. J. del Coz Diaz, P. J. Garcia Nieto, A. Martin Rodriguez, A. L. Martinez-Luengas and C. BetegonBiempica, “Non-Linear Thermal Analysis of Light Concrete Hollow Brick Walls by the Finite Element Method and Experimental Validation,” Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 8-9, 2006, pp. 777-786. doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2005.10.012
[6]	J. J. del Coz Díaz, P. J. García Nieto, C. Betegón Biempica and M. P. Prendes Gero, “Analysis and Optimization of the Heat-Insulating Light Concrete Hollow Brick Walls Design by the Finite Element Method,” Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 8-9, 2007, pp. 1445- 1456doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.10.010
[7]	S. Kumar, “Fly Ash-Lime-Phosphogypsum Hollow Blocks for Walls and Partitions,” Building and Environment, Vol. 38, No. 2, 2003, pp. 291-295. doi:10.1016/S0360-1323(02)00068-9
[8]	M. Ciofalo and T. G. Karayiannis, “Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Partially—Or Completely—Partitioned Vertical Rectangular Enclosure,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1991, pp. 167- 179. doi:10.1016/0017-9310(91)90184-G
[9]	H. Manz, “Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer by Natural Convection in Cavities of Facade Elements,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 35, No. 3, 2003, pp. 305-311. doi:10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00088-9
[10]	M. M. AlHazmy, “Analysis of Coupled Natural Convection Conduction Effects on the Heat Transport through Hollow Building Blocks,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 38, No. 5, 2006, pp. 515-521. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2005.08.010
[11]	B. J. Lee and S. Pessiki, “Thermal Performance Evaluation of Precast Concrete Three-Wythe Sandwich Wall Panels,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 38, No. 8, 2006, pp. 1006-1014. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2005.11.014
[12]	C. J. Ho and Y. L. Yih, “Conjugate Natural Convection Heat Transfer in an Air-Fileld Rectangular Cavity,” In-ternational Communication in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1987, pp. 91-100. doi:10.1016/0735-1933(87)90011-X
[13]	T. W. Tong and F. M. Gerner, “Natural Convection in Partitioned Air-Filled Rectangular Enclosures,” International Communication in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 13, No. 1, 1986, pp. 99-108. doi:10.1016/0735-1933(86)90076-X
[14]	A. Kangni, B. Yedder and E. Bilgen, “Natural Convection and Conduction in Enclosures with Multiple Vertical Partitions,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1991, pp. 2819-2825. doi:10.1016/0017-9310(91)90242-7
[15]	H. Torkoglu and N. Yucel, “Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Enclosures with Conducting Multiple Partitions and Side Walls,” Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 2, No. 1-2, 1996, pp. 1-8. doi:10.1007/s002310050084
[16]	S. Lorente, “Heat Losses through Building Walls with Closed, Open and Deformable Cavities,” International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 26, No. 7, 2002, pp. 611-632. doi:10.1002/er.807
[17]	M. A. Antar and L. C. Thomas, “Heat Transfer through a Composite Wall with Enclosed Spaces: A Practical Two-Dimensional Analysis Approach,” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 106, 2001, pp. 318-324.
[18]	M. A. Antar and L. C. Thomas, “Heat Transfer through a Composite Wall with an Evacuated Rectangular Gray Body Radiating Space: A Numerical Solution,” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 110, No. 2, 2004, pp. 36-45.
[19]	M. A. Antar, “Multi-Dimensional Effects in Estimating the Heat Loss across Building Envelopes,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Thermal Engineering Theory and Applications, Al-Ain, 3-6 January 2006.