Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene
Incorporating voids to enhance heat transfer properties in building structures is an innovative approach for evaluating the structural and physical performance of integrated building components. While voided lightweight formers reduce material density, they may compromise the member’s load-bearing c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525003651 |
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| author | Rastislav Ingeli Miroslav Čekon Lucia Paulovičová |
| author_facet | Rastislav Ingeli Miroslav Čekon Lucia Paulovičová |
| author_sort | Rastislav Ingeli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Incorporating voids to enhance heat transfer properties in building structures is an innovative approach for evaluating the structural and physical performance of integrated building components. While voided lightweight formers reduce material density, they may compromise the member’s load-bearing capacity, making mechanical resistance a critical factor in their development. This study investigates existing lightweight concrete slab systems that incorporate air voids. Additionally, considering the increasing adoption of these systems worldwide, it introduces a new advancement in lightweight technology: concrete slabs voided with expanded polystyrene (EPS). The thermal properties of these slabs and those incorporating plastic void formers were compared. Experimental results revealed comparable thermal performances for samples employing EPS and plastic void formers. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the experimental data and estimate the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs in roof structures. These analyses identified the impact of thermal conductivity parameters on the energy efficiency of real-scale components for building applications. When employing EPS voids, the equivalent thermal conductivity ranged from 0.929 W/(m·K) to 0.834 W/(m·K), depending on slab thickness, which amounts to a reduction of up to 47 % compared with solid reinforced concrete. Furthermore, cost analysis demonstrated the competitiveness of both technologies, with potential cost reductions of 4.6–7.9 %, positioning them as promising solutions for the construction sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a0d3e55b46d54f5f8d4b7d19346cfed0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-a0d3e55b46d54f5f8d4b7d19346cfed02025-08-20T02:10:06ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e0456710.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04567Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyreneRastislav Ingeli0Miroslav Čekon1Lucia Paulovičová2Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Radlinskeho 11, Bratislava 810 05, SlovakiaSlovak University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Radlinskeho 11, Bratislava 810 05, Slovakia; Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Construction and Architecture, Dubravska cesta 9 Bratislava 845 03, Slovakia; Corresponding author at: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Construction and Architecture, Dubravska cesta 9 Bratislava 845 03, Slovakia.Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Radlinskeho 11, Bratislava 810 05, SlovakiaIncorporating voids to enhance heat transfer properties in building structures is an innovative approach for evaluating the structural and physical performance of integrated building components. While voided lightweight formers reduce material density, they may compromise the member’s load-bearing capacity, making mechanical resistance a critical factor in their development. This study investigates existing lightweight concrete slab systems that incorporate air voids. Additionally, considering the increasing adoption of these systems worldwide, it introduces a new advancement in lightweight technology: concrete slabs voided with expanded polystyrene (EPS). The thermal properties of these slabs and those incorporating plastic void formers were compared. Experimental results revealed comparable thermal performances for samples employing EPS and plastic void formers. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the experimental data and estimate the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs in roof structures. These analyses identified the impact of thermal conductivity parameters on the energy efficiency of real-scale components for building applications. When employing EPS voids, the equivalent thermal conductivity ranged from 0.929 W/(m·K) to 0.834 W/(m·K), depending on slab thickness, which amounts to a reduction of up to 47 % compared with solid reinforced concrete. Furthermore, cost analysis demonstrated the competitiveness of both technologies, with potential cost reductions of 4.6–7.9 %, positioning them as promising solutions for the construction sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525003651Voided slabEquivalent thermal conductivityNon-homogeneous structuresSustainable developmentThermal performanceCost analysis |
| spellingShingle | Rastislav Ingeli Miroslav Čekon Lucia Paulovičová Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene Case Studies in Construction Materials Voided slab Equivalent thermal conductivity Non-homogeneous structures Sustainable development Thermal performance Cost analysis |
| title | Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| title_full | Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| title_fullStr | Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| title_short | Enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| title_sort | enhancement of the thermal performance of voided concrete slabs filled with expanded polystyrene |
| topic | Voided slab Equivalent thermal conductivity Non-homogeneous structures Sustainable development Thermal performance Cost analysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525003651 |
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