Application of computer simulation to study heat transfer in concrete with different densities

Resumo

Thermal comfort in buildings has been researched through new materials that reduce energy consumption. Lightweight concrete appears as an alternative for civil construction as it presents particular characteristics such as lower specific mass and a higher thermal insulation capacity than conventional concrete. The objective of this work was to evaluate the heat transfer process in concretes with different densities using computational modeling. A mathematical model for heat transfer in concrete blocks with different densities was implemented and all simulations were carried out using the Ansys Student 2023 R2 program. Normal Density Concretes (CDN) and Foamy Cellular Concretes (CCE) were produced with two different proportions, one with 10% foam (CCE10) and the other with 20% foam (CCE20), using air-entraining additives to generate foam. The simulation results presented a good representation of the heat transfer phenomenon when compared with the experimental results. They showed that the addition of foam to concrete reduces thermal conductivity, improving energy efficiency in buildings, demonstrating the potential of these materials for applications in civil construction.