Thermal Properties of Conventional and High-strength Concrete

Abstract

Important characteristics for the Nordic countries: a freeze-thaw resistance and an ability of a material to keep heat inside the building. This paper aims to define the thermophysical properties of a high-strength concrete, compare the discovered performance with the conventional concrete properties. With this object in mind two experiments in cold chamber “CHALLENGE 250” have been conducted and followed by analysis. In these experiments, the insulation of facades is beyond the framework of the investigation. Only the thermophysical properties of concrete are taken into account. The samples were affected by temperature fluctuations. Results from the experiments show that strength characteristics of a material are in indirect ratio to accumulation properties of a structure. This conclusion is directly related to porosity of material and additives. During 70 minutes, with outside temperature being below zero, the temperature inside the concrete dropped to an average. As the outside temperature increases significantly to more than zero, the temperature inside the concrete has become below average (continued to decline) in 70 minutes. The more strength of material, the better thermophysical properties. High-strength concrete is less susceptible to temperature fluctuations, therefore more heat-resistant. As mentioned in the paper below, the material has one disadvantage: this is a large cost per cubic meter.