Modelling and testing of a granular insulating material

In the following article, the Authors present the results of initial researches into a building component needed for thermal insulation. The building component is a elastic insulation plate made from recycling materials. The solution is protected by industry patter Elastyczna pyta izolacyjna No 23 621 for Silesian University of Technology Gliwice. The paper presents the determination method of effective thermal conductivity for granular materials. It is based on the geometrical model for the determination of granular medium structure, which is based on the theory of the highest-density arrangement of equal-sized spheres. The elaborated by the Authors modeling results, obtained on the basis of an innovative description (definition) of granular medium, were addressed to the commonly applied two-component medium. To verify the correctness of the calculation model proposed by the Authors, the results were subjected to validation, basing on the thermal conductivity of elastic plates in a hot plate apparatus.