Thermal properties of nano-silica added concrete

Abstract

As energy costs are rising, the utilization of thermal insulating materials during construction has assumed paramount significance. The response of different building components to changes in external temperature depends on the material’s thermal properties. The investigation connected to concrete material thermal properties is an essential factor when concrete is used for constructing green buildings. The effect of adding nano-silica on the concrete’s thermal properties is explored, and the findings are shown in this paper. The experimental results reveal that compressive strength increases and density reduce for nano-silica added concrete. The investigation indicates that thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity decrease for concrete, whereas specific heat increases with a rise in nano-silica content. Also, a mathematical model was developed for the calculation of thermal conductivity.