LAUSR

Abstract Aerated concrete (AC) is widely used in a cold region such as Kazakhstan because it can provide an excellent thermal insulation. In spite of many previous researches regarding thermal conductivity (λ) of normal concrete and/or autoclaved AC, there was paid a little attention to which components in the mix design and the hardening process of non-autoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC) are critical key factors for the λ. In this study, critical key material properties affecting the λ of NAAC was identified in terms of water to binder ratio (w/b), curing temperature, curing period, and relative humidity (RH). Moreover, a performance-based mathematical model used for prediction of NAAC λ was developed using the linear relationship of these parameters. Test results indicate that the λ of NAAC was mainly affected by 7-day curing age, curing temperature, and w/b, but less sensitive to RH. The performance-based mathematical model showed a good reliability to predict 28-day λ of NAAC, resulting in the fact that the R2 value of regression analysis for measured and predicted 28-day λ was 0.875.