Experimental study to obtain the thermal conductivity coefficient of concrete

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

emad parvazeh ¹

Hadi Farzan ¹

Mehran Ameri ²

Mohammad shafiey ¹

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Vali-e- Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

10.22067/jacsm.2026.96507.1384

Abstract

The thermal performance of concrete plays a critical role in energy-efficient building design, particularly in structures integrating photovoltaic-integrated photovoltaic-thermal (PIPVT) systems, where enhanced heat transfer is essential for effective thermal energy recovery and photovoltaic temperature regulation. The novelty of this study lies in the experimental enhancement and quantification of concrete's thermal conductivity using iron shavings as a conductive additive, with results validated through a custom-designed measurement apparatus. Due to the limitations of conventional devices in accurately measuring the thermal properties of concrete, a dedicated experimental setup was developed and calibrated. The thermal conductivity of plain concrete was first determined, followed by mixtures incorporating approximately 2 weight percent(wt%) and 5.5wt% iron shavings,5%concrete concentrate, and a small amount of hemp fiber. The results showed increases in thermal conductivity of 53%,65%, and 30%, respectively, while the hemp fiber caused a slight reduction of 2%. A comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements demonstrated approximately 85%agreement, confirming the reliability of the developed apparatus.

Keywords

concrete

thermal conductivity

iron filings

Subjects

• Heat transfer

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