Date of Defense
17-4-2025 12:30 PM
Location
F1-1077
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Architectural Engineering
College
COE
Department
Architectural Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Abdul Rauf
Keywords
Date palm leaves fiber, thermophysical properties, embodied energy, renewable insulation material, agricultural waste
Abstract
Rising energy usage and environmental contamination are among the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century. The construction industry significantly contributes to global climate change by emitting many greenhouse gases due to its high energy-intensive production processes of non-renewable materials and high energy consumption, necessitating more sustainable solutions. One viable strategy involves using waste resources and eco-friendly production techniques. The search for environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials has become increasingly essential in this context. Despite their effectiveness, traditional insulation materials pose serious environmental issues as they are non-renewable and have ecological impacts during manufacture and disposal. This study analyzes the potential of agricultural waste material, such as date palm leaf fiber, to create renewable, thermally efficient thermal insulation with low production requirements. The research investigates date palm leaf fiber thermophysical properties and embodied energy as insulation material to verify their performance level with traditional insulation methods. Combining experimental testing with comparative assessment and simulation creates new developments for sustainable building practices while demonstrating agricultural waste material's importance in innovative construction methods. Three successful insulation material samples incorporate date palm fibers with different binder materials between them: tapeten klister methylcellulose polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyurethane adhesive. The research conducted on thermophysical properties produced thermal conductivity values equal to 0.089 W/(m·K), 0.066 W/(m·K), and 0.071 W/(m·K) in the green insulators tested. The three-insulation composite U-values spread from 0.032 to 0.055 W/m²K, and R-values lay between 14.10 to 22.77 W/m²K. This research demonstrates that turning date palm leaves waste into insulation materials is an effective solution for developing environmentally friendly substitutes for high-priced petroleum-based and toxic insulation products. Moreover, the embodied energy of the three insulation materials was 7.48 MJ, 13.8 MJ, and 10.4 MJ, respectively. This insulation achieved good thermophysical properties and can be incorporated within building envelopes during construction, reducing energy consumption, especially cooling loads. Furthermore, biomaterial insulation materials exhibit low embodied energy because they require less energy processing and transportation. This has been confirmed through simulation analysis of the material's embodied energy, enhancing its environmental benefits. However, other properties, such as mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics, remain a challenge, underscoring the need for further research and innovation in this area.
Included in
DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF THERMOPHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND EMBODIED ENERGY OF INSULATION MATERIALS FROM DATE PALM LEAVES FIBERS
F1-1077
Rising energy usage and environmental contamination are among the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century. The construction industry significantly contributes to global climate change by emitting many greenhouse gases due to its high energy-intensive production processes of non-renewable materials and high energy consumption, necessitating more sustainable solutions. One viable strategy involves using waste resources and eco-friendly production techniques. The search for environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials has become increasingly essential in this context. Despite their effectiveness, traditional insulation materials pose serious environmental issues as they are non-renewable and have ecological impacts during manufacture and disposal. This study analyzes the potential of agricultural waste material, such as date palm leaf fiber, to create renewable, thermally efficient thermal insulation with low production requirements. The research investigates date palm leaf fiber thermophysical properties and embodied energy as insulation material to verify their performance level with traditional insulation methods. Combining experimental testing with comparative assessment and simulation creates new developments for sustainable building practices while demonstrating agricultural waste material's importance in innovative construction methods. Three successful insulation material samples incorporate date palm fibers with different binder materials between them: tapeten klister methylcellulose polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyurethane adhesive. The research conducted on thermophysical properties produced thermal conductivity values equal to 0.089 W/(m·K), 0.066 W/(m·K), and 0.071 W/(m·K) in the green insulators tested. The three-insulation composite U-values spread from 0.032 to 0.055 W/m²K, and R-values lay between 14.10 to 22.77 W/m²K. This research demonstrates that turning date palm leaves waste into insulation materials is an effective solution for developing environmentally friendly substitutes for high-priced petroleum-based and toxic insulation products. Moreover, the embodied energy of the three insulation materials was 7.48 MJ, 13.8 MJ, and 10.4 MJ, respectively. This insulation achieved good thermophysical properties and can be incorporated within building envelopes during construction, reducing energy consumption, especially cooling loads. Furthermore, biomaterial insulation materials exhibit low embodied energy because they require less energy processing and transportation. This has been confirmed through simulation analysis of the material's embodied energy, enhancing its environmental benefits. However, other properties, such as mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics, remain a challenge, underscoring the need for further research and innovation in this area.