International Journal of Materials Science and Applications

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An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction

Received: 18 June 2015    Accepted: 06 July 2015    Published: 15 July 2015
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Abstract

Provision of suitable grain silos in humid tropical climates has generated research interests on the possibility of using local materials for construction. Termite mound clay (TMC), a material available in abundance was investigated as a potential construction material. A major factor determining the suitability of construction materials for grain silos is its thermal properties. Therefore, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and thermal mass of TMC were determined and compared with those of concrete and stainless steel which are commonly used for silo construction. TMC was collected, crushed and sieved using a 500μm sieve to remove coarse particles and foreign materials. The TMC powder obtained was mixed with water using volumetric ratio of 1:5 (i.e. water to clay) after which the thoroughly mixed clay was carefully fed into the mould and left to air-dry for 5 days. The samples were dried in the oven at 105oC for about 48 hours to remove all the moisture. Results revealed that thermal conductivity ranged from 0.17 to 0.24 W/(m•K) with an average value of 0.21 compared to concrete and steel which range between 0.8 – 1.28 and 16.3 – 16.7 W/(m•K) respectively. Specific heat capacity had an average value of 2576.94 J/(kg•K) compared with concrete and steel which had values of 960 and 490 J/(kg•K) respectively. Thermal diffusivity had a mean value of 1.47×10-8 m2/s in comparison to concrete and steel whose calculated values were 6.63 ×10-7 and 4.18 ×10-6 kJ/(m3•K) respectively while thermal mass had a mean value of 4723.5 kJ/(m3•K) compared to 2112.0 and 3831.8 kJ/(m3•K) for concrete and steel respectively. It was concluded that TMC offers a thermally suitable alternative to these two for grain silo construction in the humid tropics.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17
Published in International Journal of Materials Science and Applications (Volume 4, Issue 4, July 2015)
Page(s) 266-271
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Termite Mound Clay, Silo, Thermal Conductivity, Specific Heat Capacity, Thermal Diffusivity, Thermal Mass

References
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[3] Y. Mijinyawa, E.B. Lucas and F.O. Adegunloye (2007): Termite Mound Clay as Material for Grain Silo Construction, Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGREjournal. Manuscript BC 07 002 Vol IX July 2007; http://cigr-ejournal.tamu.edu/submissions/volume9/BC%2007%20002%20Mijinyawa%20final%2024July2007.pdf
[4] J.T. Mills (1989): Spoilage and heating of stored agricultural products: prevention, detection and control. (Publication: 1823E) Includes Index. Bibliography: SB129.M54 1988 631.5’68 C88099204-2.
[5] C.M. Geoffrey, L.O. Gumbe, H.J. Chepete and J.O. Agullo (2011): Rural structures in the tropics. Design and development. CTA Postbus 380, 6700 AJWageningen, The Netherlands; www.cta.int.
[6] HGCA-Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (2011): Grain storage guide for cereals and oilseeds. Third edition; www.hgca.com
[7] B.A. Alabadan (2006): Evaluation of Wooden Silo during Storage of Maize (Zea mays) in Humid Tropical Climate; Agricultural Engineering International; the CIGR Ejournal, Manuscript BC 05 013, Vol VIII.
[8] A.C. Yunus (2002): Heat Transfer: A Practical Approach second edition. Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill companies. ISBN-10: 0072458933 ISBN-13: 978-0072458930.
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[12] D. Baggs. and N. Mortensen (2006): Thermal Mass in Building Design. The BDP Environment Design Guide is published by The Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
[13] W. Rory., P. Kenny and V. Brophy (2006): Thermal Mass and Sustainable Building, Improving Energy and Occupant Comfort. UCD Energy Research Group, University College Dublin.
[14] Y. Mijinyawa and M.O. Omobowale (2013): Determination of Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Termite Mound Clay Relevant to Silo Construction; International Journal of Materials Engineering, Vol. 3 No. 5; pp. 103-107.
[15] A.K. Aremu and H.U. Nwannewuihe (2011): Specific Heat of Ground Fresh Sheanut Kernel (Butyrospernumparadoxum) as Affected by Particle Size, Moisture Content and Temperature. Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 177-183 © Scholarlink Research Institute Journals, 2011 (ISSN: 2141-7016) jeteas.scholarlinkresearch.org.
[16] J. Folaranmi (2009): Effect of Additives of the Thermal Conductivity of Clay; Leonardo Journal of Sciences, Issue 14, pp. 74 – 77.
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[18] Wikipedia (2015): List of Thermal Conductivities; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_thermal_conductivities; Date Accessed: 17/02/2015.
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Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

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  • APA Style

    Omobowale Mobolaji Oluyimika, Mijinyawa Yahaya, Faruk S. (2015). An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction. International Journal of Materials Science and Applications, 4(4), 266-271. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17

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    ACS Style

    Omobowale Mobolaji Oluyimika; Mijinyawa Yahaya; Faruk S. An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction. Int. J. Mater. Sci. Appl. 2015, 4(4), 266-271. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17

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    AMA Style

    Omobowale Mobolaji Oluyimika, Mijinyawa Yahaya, Faruk S. An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction. Int J Mater Sci Appl. 2015;4(4):266-271. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17,
      author = {Omobowale Mobolaji Oluyimika and Mijinyawa Yahaya and Faruk S.},
      title = {An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction},
      journal = {International Journal of Materials Science and Applications},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {266-271},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmsa.20150404.17},
      abstract = {Provision of suitable grain silos in humid tropical climates has generated research interests on the possibility of using local materials for construction. Termite mound clay (TMC), a material available in abundance was investigated as a potential construction material. A major factor determining the suitability of construction materials for grain silos is its thermal properties. Therefore, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and thermal mass of TMC were determined and compared with those of concrete and stainless steel which are commonly used for silo construction. TMC was collected, crushed and sieved using a 500μm sieve to remove coarse particles and foreign materials. The TMC powder obtained was mixed with water using volumetric ratio of 1:5 (i.e. water to clay) after which the thoroughly mixed clay was carefully fed into the mould and left to air-dry for 5 days. The samples were dried in the oven at 105oC for about 48 hours to remove all the moisture. Results revealed that thermal conductivity ranged from 0.17 to 0.24 W/(m•K) with an average value of 0.21 compared to concrete and steel which range between 0.8 – 1.28 and 16.3 – 16.7 W/(m•K) respectively. Specific heat capacity had an average value of 2576.94 J/(kg•K) compared with concrete and steel which had values of 960 and 490 J/(kg•K) respectively. Thermal diffusivity had a mean value of 1.47×10-8 m2/s in comparison to concrete and steel whose calculated values were 6.63 ×10-7 and 4.18 ×10-6 kJ/(m3•K) respectively while thermal mass had a mean value of 4723.5 kJ/(m3•K) compared to 2112.0 and 3831.8 kJ/(m3•K) for concrete and steel respectively. It was concluded that TMC offers a thermally suitable alternative to these two for grain silo construction in the humid tropics.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - An Investigation into the Thermal Properties of Termite Mound Clay Applicable to Grain Silo Construction
    AU  - Omobowale Mobolaji Oluyimika
    AU  - Mijinyawa Yahaya
    AU  - Faruk S.
    Y1  - 2015/07/15
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17
    T2  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    JF  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    JO  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    SP  - 266
    EP  - 271
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2643
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20150404.17
    AB  - Provision of suitable grain silos in humid tropical climates has generated research interests on the possibility of using local materials for construction. Termite mound clay (TMC), a material available in abundance was investigated as a potential construction material. A major factor determining the suitability of construction materials for grain silos is its thermal properties. Therefore, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity and thermal mass of TMC were determined and compared with those of concrete and stainless steel which are commonly used for silo construction. TMC was collected, crushed and sieved using a 500μm sieve to remove coarse particles and foreign materials. The TMC powder obtained was mixed with water using volumetric ratio of 1:5 (i.e. water to clay) after which the thoroughly mixed clay was carefully fed into the mould and left to air-dry for 5 days. The samples were dried in the oven at 105oC for about 48 hours to remove all the moisture. Results revealed that thermal conductivity ranged from 0.17 to 0.24 W/(m•K) with an average value of 0.21 compared to concrete and steel which range between 0.8 – 1.28 and 16.3 – 16.7 W/(m•K) respectively. Specific heat capacity had an average value of 2576.94 J/(kg•K) compared with concrete and steel which had values of 960 and 490 J/(kg•K) respectively. Thermal diffusivity had a mean value of 1.47×10-8 m2/s in comparison to concrete and steel whose calculated values were 6.63 ×10-7 and 4.18 ×10-6 kJ/(m3•K) respectively while thermal mass had a mean value of 4723.5 kJ/(m3•K) compared to 2112.0 and 3831.8 kJ/(m3•K) for concrete and steel respectively. It was concluded that TMC offers a thermally suitable alternative to these two for grain silo construction in the humid tropics.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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