Işık, Erdem; Kahraman, Gökhan; Atalar, Aydın

This study examines the high‑temperature thermal response of andesite stones extracted from two different elevations of Mount Ağrı (Türkiye) in order to improve material selection strategies for engineering applications. Thermal conductivity and density values of the samples were first measured under laboratory conditions. The specimens were then heated to 850 °C and cooled by natural convection while surface temperatures were recorded at fixed time intervals using a thermal camera. Based on these measurements, convective heat transfer coefficients were determined, and the time‑dependent thermal diffusivity and Biot numbers were subsequently calculated using the first-term approximation of the Fourier series. Metallographic examinations were conducted to correlate the thermal behavior with microstructural characteristics. Results indicate a pronounced effect of elevation on thermal performance. The sample obtained from the higher elevation exhibited substantially greater thermal diffusivity, reaching 2.93 × 10⁻5 m2 s−1 at 360 s and decreasing to 8.96 × 10⁻6 m2 s−1 at 1300 s. In contrast, the lower‑elevation andesite showed lower diffusivity values (1.83 × 10⁻5 m2 s−1 at 360 s and 5.9 × 10⁻6 m2 s−1 at 1300 s). Conversely, Biot numbers were consistently higher for the lower‑elevation sample, decreasing from 0.60 to 0.29 during the cooling process, whereas the high‑elevation sample displayed values from 0.314 to 0.165. Metallographic analysis confirmed that variations in microstructure—linked to different geological formation conditions—directly influenced these thermophysical properties. Overall, the findings demonstrate that andesite sourced at higher elevations possesses superior thermal diffusivity and more favorable heat‑transfer characteristics at elevated temperatures. These results highlight the importance of geological origin in the design, assessment, and selection of natural stone materials for high‑temperature engineering applications.

İncele

Işik, Erdem; Kahraman, Gökhan; Atalar, Aydın

The use of natural stones in buildings is increasingly popular due to both their decorative appearance and their thermal performance. Proper use of these stones in buildings is crucial for energy conservation and preventing condensation within structural components. This study investigated heat transfer and condensation in the wall of a house made from natural andesite stone in Iğdır, Turkey, under steady-state conditions and different wall combinations. Samples were created from natural stones extracted from two different elevations in the foothills of Mount Ararat, with measured thermal conductivity values of 1.73 W/m·K (higher elevation– Haverage) and 1.31 W/m·K (lower elevation– Laverage). In the wall model using a 3-cm thick insulation board between two natural stones from the higher elevation, condensation occurred on the outer surface of the insulation layer. This can negatively impact the durability and thermal performance of the structure, and such design should be avoided. The highest heat flux of 18.27 W/m² was observed in the non-insulated wall made of higher elevation stones, while the lowest heat flux of 6.68 W/m² occurred in the model using a 3-cm insulation board between two lower elevation stones. No condensation risk was found in this configuration. The difference between the worst and best cases in terms of heat flux was approximately threefold, emphasizing the importance of proper material selection and insulation design. These findings provide guidance for energy-efficient building design using natural stone.

İncele