Theoretical Modeling of the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Concrete

The durability of concrete is significantly influenced by the thermal properties of its constituents. Developing predictive models for the thermal conductivity of concrete remains a complex yet essential task for understanding its temperature behavior. As the pore volume fraction increases, heat transfer within the concrete is inhibited, with porosity variation emerging as a critical factor in controlling thermal conductivity. The enigmatic nature of the pores within concrete adds further complexity. To address these issues, a theoretical model using the Generalized self-consistent approach was developed to determine the effective thermal conductivity. This model acknowledges the multiscale and multiphase characteristics of concrete, as well as the pronounced irregularity of its composite components at each scale. Predicted results were compared with available experimental data, revealing a strong correlation between the model’s predictions and empirical evidence. Notably, the discrepancy between the experimental results and the generalized self-consistent model predictions is less than 8.5%.