Assessment of thermal and energy performance of masonry blocks prepared with date palm ash

Abstract

This article evaluates the thermal and energy performance of mortar blocks containing local agricultural waste. The mortar blocks were cast by the replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with varying amounts of date palm ash (DPA) in the range of 10–30%. Experiments and simulations were carried out to assess the thermal characteristics and energy performance of the specimens. A prototype office building was modeled and simulated in DesignBuilder (Version 6.1.06) with modified blocks prepared with DPA under the Arabian Gulf environment characterized by hot and humid climatic conditions of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The developed blocks are characterized as lightweight blocks based on density data which satisfy the requirement of ASTM C55-11. The analysis and simulation indicate that the incorporation of DPA improves the thermal resistance of up to 47%, enhances the indoor environment and yields annual energy consumption of up to 7.6%, consequently reduces the cost of masonry block production by ~ 11% without compromising the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The masonry blocks prepared with DPA found to be economical than conventional masonry blocks. It is postulated that the novel DPA-based developed blocks are significantly sustainable products which will contribute to the valorization of DPA waste along with the reduction in the cost of construction and operational cost of the building.

Scopes for Improvements in Energy Conservation and Thermomechanical Performance of Building Blocks in the Kingdom of Bahrain: A Literature Review

“…Experiments and simulation results depicted that thermal resistance (R-value) of the block loaded with 10%, 20%, and 30% DPA, in comparison to the control block (0% DPA), increased by 9.6%, 8.1%, and 47.4%, respectively. As per Noman Ashraf [36], DPA is a promising insulation material as it can reduce the average monthly indoor temperature by 2 • C without compromising the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the block, and cost analysis shows that the block with 30% DPA is the most effective, with a unit cost of $2.76. However, although, in this study, ASTM C90 standard [37] was followed to maintain the density and hence the mechanical strength of the blocks, appropriate analysis to measure the mechanical strength of the blocks was not presented.…”

Exploring the Impact of Rice Husk Ash Masonry Blocks on Building Energy Performance

“…The energy simulations were performed using the EnergyPlus simulation interface in DesignBuilder software (version 7.0.2). According to Ashraf et al [73], EnergyPlus calculations are based on a heat balance technique that takes into account how building models interact with outdoor weather conditions to evaluate the various loads on an hourly basis. The use of EnergyPlus has been recommended by several researchers.…”

Engineering Performance of Cement Mortar Cubes Containing Percentage of Date Palm Fibers and Leaf Ash

“…The pozzolanic activity in highvolume fly ash mortars after 7 days of cement hydrolysis improved their compressive strength Yousefi et al, [26] It was found that the pit sand-cement mortar prisms after 1, 2, 7 and 28 days achieved optimal strength at 11.11% and about 90% reduction in the permeability Kappel et al, [11] Inclusion of sewage sludge ash modified the performance of mortars to the point that they have compatible compressive strength and workability with those of ordinary mortars Mo et al, [18] It is viable to utilize waste from the paper industry in the form of biomass boiler ash and green liquor dreg to make mortars Blaisi [6] Development of Aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) mortars using treated fly ash as filler, assimilating 10% in weight of the aggregate and adding it into the mortar dosage as a new formulation. No environmental risk to human health when used as cement replacement [26] The FRM has been proven to be a successful confining technique for concrete beam Orasutthikul et al, [25] Inclusion of straight recycled nylon enhanced the flexural strength of mortars by 41% when compared to that of knotted recycled nylon, recycled PET, and PVA fibers Araya-Leterier et al, [2] There is a positive impact of pig hair as animal fiber to improve the tensile and flexural properties of the mortars Colombo et al, [4] There is a significant influence of FRM to strengthen schist walls…”

“…Araya-Leterier et al, [4] examined the effectiveness of new natural fibers on the damagemechanical performance of mortar. The new natural fibers in the form of pig hair were proven to enhance the tensile and flexural properties of the mortars under the study.…”