Thermal Conductivity of Fractal-Textured Foamed Concrete

Abstract

To provide scientific guidance for the use of foamed concrete (FC) in construction engineering, a thermal conductivity calculation method, based on the fractal model of FC, has been developed. The thermal conductivity (TC) of FC has been tested by the transient planar heat source method in order to verify the reliability of the proposed calculation model. The FC was made of cement, fly ash, and ore powder, and cured under natural conditions for 7 d, 14 d, 28 d, and 42 d, respectively. The TC of FC gradually decreases with the increase in age. The fractal dimension of FC can be determined by both the box-counting method and compressive strength test, and the dimensions determined by both methods are similar. The TC of FC at different porosities and curing ages can be calculated by the fractal dimension, and the estimated values are basically consistent with the test data.