Numerical Geometry Optimization and Modelling of Insulation Filled Masonry Blocks

Abstract

Due to current energy performance requirements, masonry block producers developed thermal insulation filled masonry blocks to achieve lower thermal transmittance. However, the internal structural geometry of these blocks remained simple: producers mostly using only large rectangular hollows to fill with different insulating materials, such as mineral wool, polystyrene or expanded perlite. Manufacturers did not address the optimization of the internal geometry of the insulation filled masonry blocks before. In this study, a new masonry design approach is presented using finite element method and conjugated heat and moisture transfer analysis with derivative-free shape optimization of the internal structural geometry of an existing masonry block to get the best possible hygrothermal performance from the blocks. In the paper, the optimization process is presented through the results of mineral wool filled blocks, which gave combined parallelogram and trapezoidal shaped internal geometries depending on the bounds of the optimization. The study showed that the masonry products designed by optimization have lower thermal transmittance than the reference value. Using the presented optimization method in designing masonry blocks leads to more energy efficient structures using the same or even less materials, without increase of producing cost.