Thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene composite lightweight concrete

Niluka Athukorala; M. Thishan; Andrew Shea

doi:10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854

Thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene composite lightweight concrete

Niluka Athukorala, M. Thishan, Andrew Shea

University of Moratuwa

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study establishes the thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite lightweight concrete and investigates the results of a range of laboratory test methods, which are then compared with real-world performance. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were measured for a range of densities and mean temperatures via three different experimental methods: modified transient plane source (MTPS), transient plane source (TPS), and heat flow meter (HFM). Furthermore, CT-scanned image analysis (CTIMA) of a representative sample was conducted to evaluate the total porosity, effective thermal conductivity and tortuosity of the product. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were in the range of 0.09–0.19 W/m. K, 0.22 - 0.92 J/m³. K× 10⁶ and 0.14 - 0.64 m²/s × 10⁻⁶, respectively, while the density of the samples varied from 424 kg/m³ to 552 kg/m³. For different instruments, the mean temperatures used were 26 ± 1 °C, 23 ± 1 °C, and 52 ± 1 °C. The tortuosity was 5.11 ± 0.17 when the total porosity was 0.611 ± 0.004. Furthermore, the method of testing could influence these outcomes. The results from TPS and CTIMA are comparable with real-world performance and are recommended for use as reliable design values for Building Information Modelling-based analysis.

Original language	English
Article number	100854
Journal	Next Materials
Volume	8
Early online date	17 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 17 Jun 2025

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the industrial partner EPCI homes (Pvt.) Ltd., the owner Mr. Niranjan Fernando, and his staff, who supplied the samples, constructed the model houses, and facilitated the acquisition of in-situ measurements. The authors gratefully acknowledge the University of Bath Doctoral College and Faculty of Engineering Design for their support as part of the visiting postgraduate scholarship scheme.

Keywords

Commercial lightweight concrete product
EPS and concrete composite
Sustainable building material
Thermal characterization methods
Thermal transmission properties

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Engineering (miscellaneous)
General Materials Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{9127c5359ca5447eb6b4345f46307718,

title = "Thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene composite lightweight concrete",

abstract = "This study establishes the thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite lightweight concrete and investigates the results of a range of laboratory test methods, which are then compared with real-world performance. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were measured for a range of densities and mean temperatures via three different experimental methods: modified transient plane source (MTPS), transient plane source (TPS), and heat flow meter (HFM). Furthermore, CT-scanned image analysis (CTIMA) of a representative sample was conducted to evaluate the total porosity, effective thermal conductivity and tortuosity of the product. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were in the range of 0.09–0.19 W/m. K, 0.22 - 0.92 J/m3. K× 106 and 0.14 - 0.64 m2/s × 10−6, respectively, while the density of the samples varied from 424 kg/m3 to 552 kg/m3. For different instruments, the mean temperatures used were 26 ± 1 °C, 23 ± 1 °C, and 52 ± 1 °C. The tortuosity was 5.11 ± 0.17 when the total porosity was 0.611 ± 0.004. Furthermore, the method of testing could influence these outcomes. The results from TPS and CTIMA are comparable with real-world performance and are recommended for use as reliable design values for Building Information Modelling-based analysis.",

keywords = "Commercial lightweight concrete product, EPS and concrete composite, Sustainable building material, Thermal characterization methods, Thermal transmission properties",

author = "Niluka Athukorala and M. Thishan and Andrew Shea",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Next Materials",

issn = "2949-8228",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene composite lightweight concrete

AU - Athukorala, Niluka

AU - Thishan, M.

AU - Shea, Andrew

PY - 2025/6/17

Y1 - 2025/6/17

N2 - This study establishes the thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite lightweight concrete and investigates the results of a range of laboratory test methods, which are then compared with real-world performance. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were measured for a range of densities and mean temperatures via three different experimental methods: modified transient plane source (MTPS), transient plane source (TPS), and heat flow meter (HFM). Furthermore, CT-scanned image analysis (CTIMA) of a representative sample was conducted to evaluate the total porosity, effective thermal conductivity and tortuosity of the product. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were in the range of 0.09–0.19 W/m. K, 0.22 - 0.92 J/m3. K× 106 and 0.14 - 0.64 m2/s × 10−6, respectively, while the density of the samples varied from 424 kg/m3 to 552 kg/m3. For different instruments, the mean temperatures used were 26 ± 1 °C, 23 ± 1 °C, and 52 ± 1 °C. The tortuosity was 5.11 ± 0.17 when the total porosity was 0.611 ± 0.004. Furthermore, the method of testing could influence these outcomes. The results from TPS and CTIMA are comparable with real-world performance and are recommended for use as reliable design values for Building Information Modelling-based analysis.

AB - This study establishes the thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite lightweight concrete and investigates the results of a range of laboratory test methods, which are then compared with real-world performance. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were measured for a range of densities and mean temperatures via three different experimental methods: modified transient plane source (MTPS), transient plane source (TPS), and heat flow meter (HFM). Furthermore, CT-scanned image analysis (CTIMA) of a representative sample was conducted to evaluate the total porosity, effective thermal conductivity and tortuosity of the product. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity were in the range of 0.09–0.19 W/m. K, 0.22 - 0.92 J/m3. K× 106 and 0.14 - 0.64 m2/s × 10−6, respectively, while the density of the samples varied from 424 kg/m3 to 552 kg/m3. For different instruments, the mean temperatures used were 26 ± 1 °C, 23 ± 1 °C, and 52 ± 1 °C. The tortuosity was 5.11 ± 0.17 when the total porosity was 0.611 ± 0.004. Furthermore, the method of testing could influence these outcomes. The results from TPS and CTIMA are comparable with real-world performance and are recommended for use as reliable design values for Building Information Modelling-based analysis.

KW - Commercial lightweight concrete product

KW - EPS and concrete composite

KW - Sustainable building material

KW - Thermal characterization methods

KW - Thermal transmission properties

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105008274096&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854

DO - 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100854

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105008274096

SN - 2949-8228

VL - 8

JO - Next Materials

JF - Next Materials

M1 - 100854

ER -

Thermal characteristics of commercially manufactured expanded polystyrene composite lightweight concrete

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this