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Abstract: In recent years, several studies about factors influencing the heat transfer in single-leaf walls composed by lightweight ceramic bricks of large format have been made, in order to reduce energy losses. Separate works have highlighted the relevance of some parts composing the wall such as the different types of internal voids in the brick, different types of tongue and groove system and different types of horizontal joint. This paper seeks to integrate these studies in order to give an overview of factors that influence the heat transfer and study the importance of each one of them, from an energy point of view. For this purpose, the influence of every factor in the equivalent thermal transmittance of the external walls of building is compared.
It is remarkable that a single-leaf wall built with a geometrically optimized brick and thin horizontal joint gives masonry wall many significant advantages, because the amount of heat flux dissipated through the horizontal mortar joint is greatly reduced. Better insulated walls mean that there is less need to use home heating and cooling systems. This means less energy consumption and a proportional decrease in GHG emissions, in line with the objectives for 2020 set in the EEP.
Keywords: Lightweight clay block; energy efficiency; horizontal joint; thermal transmittance; tongue and groove system; single-leaf wall; grinding
1. INTRODUCTION
Currently, and as a necessary measure, is promoting the use of renewable energies [1], energy saving and energy efficiency in all sectors of all countries, to protect the environment, promote health, save money, and contribute to adequate sustainable development.
The construction industry has had to improve their constructive solutions for exterior walls to improve the characteristics of the materials that it use, so as to reduce energy losses and make a moderate use of it. Lowdensity, lightweight materials are now being used.
Recent studies have shown the influence of cladding materials used on building walls on CO2 emissions and energy consumption [2]. Seeking to explore further improvements in wall construction materials, other studies have shown how the porous nature of clay bricks can improve thermal characteristics [3, 4].
Lightweight ceramic blocks in single-leaf walls [5], meet these new requirements well. Masonry walls built with such bricks blend good noise insulation, high mechanical strength, exceptional...