The main objective of this study is to investigate the thermal conductivity of Najran granite. Najran city is a region in southern Saudi Arabia between longitudes 45° 1′ 15″ to 45° 09′ E and latitudes from 19° 01″ to 19° 5′ 30″ N. Najran region holds great geological and economic significance due to the abundance of valuable rock deposits that contribute substantially to the local and national economy as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Among the most common and widespread rocks in the area are Najran granite which is a natural building material known for its durability and aesthetic value [1]. Thermal conductivity is the material property that quantifies its ability to conduct heat [2]. The experiment employs the steady-state comparative method using a heat flow plate apparatus. Two granite samples, each with dimensions of 15 × 15 × 1 cm, were collected from the Najran Granite Factory. Once steady-state conditions were reached, the temperature difference across both materials was recorded, assuming an equal heat flux. Using the known properties of the reference material, the thermal conductivity and thermal resistance were determined for both samples. The thermal conductivity (K) values were 0.41 W/m·K for the first sample and 0.50 W/m·K for the second, while the corresponding thermal resistance (R) values were 1.084 m²·K/W and 0.88 m²·K/W, respectively. These findings highlight the efficient thermal behavior of Najran granite and support its suitability for sustainable building envelopes in hot and arid regions, improving thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption.
[1]- Abd El-Aal AK, Salah MK, Khalifa MA (2020) Acoustic and strength characterization of Upper Cretaceous dolostones from the Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt: The impact of porosity and diagenesis. J Pet Sci Eng 187(2020):106798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106798
[2]- M Flori, V Puţan and L Vîlceanu
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 163, International Conference on Applied Sciences (ICAS2016) 25–27 May 2016, Hunedoara, Romania