Investigation of raphia hookerl trunk as a potential ceiling material for passively cooled building design
2003
Etuk, S.E., Department of Physics, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Akpabio, L.E., Department of Physics, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Akpabio, K.E., Department of Physics, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
The present economic situation in Nigeria has made the search for alternative structurally and thermally suitable indigenous building materials necessary. This paper investigates and records the thermal properties of Raphia hookeri trunk with a view to establish its suitability as ceiling panel in building design for the tropical region, from the thermal properties point of view. Results indicate that thermal conductivity of Raphia hookeri tn.mkis 0.053 ± 0.002 WmlK-'. It has a bulk density of 278.667 ± 2.054 Kgm3 _ The specific heat capacity for the trunk is 2456.33±5.73 Jkg-1K-1_ Its thermal diffusivity value is 07.633 ± 0.202 x lO-sm2s-l, while its thermal absorptivity is 21.808 ± 0.278 m-I. The results show that the thermal properties of Raphia hookeri trunk compare favourably with those of other good insulators. Ifproperly harnessed, it could be used as efficient ceiling panel for passively cooled building design. A model for the estimation of temperature variation with thickness ofthe sample has been developed based on the experimental values and the existing theory on temperature variation with thickness of materials.
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