DEVELOPMENT OF A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY TEST RIG
In all solids, energy may be transferred by means of elastic vibrations of lattice moving
through the crystal in the form of waves. Jensen et al. worked on validation of a thermal
conductivity measurement system for fuel compacts. The device is said to be operated at 300 K to
1200 K. The current design has been adapted from ASTME 1225. [1].
In recent years, many industrial applications wide range of textile materials were used as
thermal insulators. It’s thermal insulating properties depends on their thermal conductivity,
density, thickness, thermal emission characteristics. It has been found polyester fabric has higher
thermal resistance and specific heat resistance than polypropylene. One of the most important
effect of temperature in thermal conductivity and material density on the response of the textile
fabrics as insulators. According to the study of Jirsak et al. They concluded that the thermal
conductivity decreases with increasing material density. [2].
For bulk materials, the temperature drop across the interface is primarily due to the
roughness of the surface because it is generally impossible to have “automatically smooth contact”.
In 1950’s methods have been made for thermal conductivity and thermal contact resistance in bulk
materials. These methods are transient and steady-state. [3].
According to the study of Camilla Foyn Eithun, methods for measuring thermal
conductivity are divided into two different groups, namely steady-state methods and transient
methods. Steady state conditions refer to constant temperature at each point of the sample, i.e. not
a function of time. The transient methods are used to record measurements during the process of
heating up or cooling down a material or fluid. These methods have the advantage of giving
quicker measurements than the steady state methods. [4].
In the British system of measurements, thermal conductivity, identified universally by the
symbol ‘k’ is presented algebraically in B.T.U, inch per hour, square foot, degree F. In the metric
system, two sets of terms are commonly used—kilogram calorie per hour, meter, degree C., and
milliwatts per centimeter, degree C. Values for building are frequently presented in the first set of
these terms and results of scientific evaluations in the second set. [5]
Development of Sound Absorption Test Rig
Sound incident on a material is reflected, absorbed, and transmitted. When
materials installed on the walls of a room, its absorbing effect includes the transmitted sound as
well as the pure absorption in the material. In this sense an open window is considered a “perfect”
absorber, but is a really a perfect transmitter. [6].
When a sound waves strikes the interface separating two media of different physical
properties (e.g., air and water), as was already seen, some of the wave disturbance is reflected and
some transmitted (and in general refracted) through the second medium. The transmission of the
sound energy is thus affected by the presence of the boundary. [7].
There are basic methods of measuring sound absorption. The first method comprises the
use of a reverberation room giving results valid for random incidence in a diffuse sound field and
is suitable for large object, furniture, panels, etc. The second method comprises use of an
impedance tube, giving results for valid for normal incidence in a plane wave sound filed, which
is suitable for testing small samples. [8].
According to Vigran et al. (1997), shows the comparison between measurement results of
the acoustic absorption coefficient and impedance using two different methods, the standing wave
tube and free field method. They analyzed the effect of the constraints at the tube wall on the
absorption coefficient of an elastic porous metal. They concluded that the friction between the
material and the tube was stiffening, the material and proved that impedance tube measurements
should be used carefully in the cases where the elasticity of the frame contributed to the surface
impedance of the material. [9].
Studies on the sound absorption of porous materials have been done since 1970’s. Delany
and Bazley’s study on glass fibers and mineral wool has the absorption coefficient of their cellular
sound-absorbing materials were lower in low frequency, and is kept at an upward tendency as the
frequency went up. [10].
REFERENCES
[1]. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-
ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 8, Issue 2 (Jul. - Aug. 2013), PP 60-66 [Link]
[2]. Mechanical Engineering Department of the National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt,
AUTEX Research Journal, Vol. 6, No 3, September 2006 © AUTEX
[3]. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0427
[4]. Camilla Foyn Eithun, Development of a Thermal Conductivity Apparatus: Analysis and
Design, pp 3, 2012
[5]. U.S. Forest Service Research Paper, Thermal Conductivity of Wood-base Fiber and Particle
Panel Materials, pp. 1-3, June 1967
[6]. Floyd R. Watson, The Absorption of Sound by Materials, Vol. XXV, pp. 5-6, 1927.
[7]. William Belton, The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 17, pp. 24, 1974.
[8]. Anand Nandanwar, M. C, Kiran, K. Ch. Varadarajulu, Influence of Density on Sound
Absorption Coefficient of Fibre Board, pp. 2, 2017.
[9]. Xabier Sagartzazu, J. M. Pagalday, Luis Harvella-Nieto, Review in Sound Absorbing
Materials, pp. 4-5, September 2007.
[10]. Liming Peng et al., Mechanic and Acoustic Properties of the Sound Absorbing Material
Made from Natural Fiber and Polyester, 2015 ©
