Analysis of heat fluxes in ceramic block type building pieces

Abstract

In Norte de Santander, Colombia, there is a ceramic cluster made up of 59 companies dedicated to the production of construction materials derived from clay, a vernacular material with a wide extraction potential in the region. Fired clay products in different hollow block presentations represent 15% of industrial production, these construction pieces are low cost and show a high demand in the local masonry market, therefore, their thermo-physical characteristics largely build the thermal envelope of “Cucuteña”. This research comparatively evaluates the thermal behavior of four types of ceramic blocks with different perforations, applying the finite element method in thermal simulations that consider a conductivity of 0.407 W/m°C in the ceramic to establish the influence of the shape on the temperature distribution and heat flow profiles of each piece subjected to environmental conditions of a warm semi-arid climate, with average maximum temperatures of 33 °C and an average maximum solar radiation of 796.8 Wh/m2 under extreme climatic conditions in the city of San Jose de Cúcuta, Colombia. The results of the study allow identifying the ceramic block of 6 rectangular holes as the product that, due to its physical characteristics, presents a better alternative to be applied in constructions that seek thermal efficiency.