PROBLEM 2.

16
KNOWN: Different thicknesses of three materials: rock, 18 ft; wood, 15 in; and fiberglass
insulation, 6 in.
FIND: The insulating quality of the materials as measured by the R-value.
PROPERTIES: Table A-3 (300K):

Material Thermal
conductivity, W/m⋅K
Limestone 2.15
Softwood 0.12
Blanket (glass, fiber 10 kg/m3) 0.048

ANALYSIS: The R-value, a quantity commonly used in the construction industry and building
technology, is defined as
L ( in )
R≡
( )
.
k Btu ⋅ in/h ⋅ ft 2 ⋅D F
2
The R-value can be interpreted as the thermal resistance of a 1 ft cross section of the material. Using
the conversion factor for thermal conductivity between the SI and English systems, the R-values are:
Rock, Limestone, 18 ft:
in
18 ft × 12
( )
−1
R= ft = 14.5 Btu/h ⋅ ft 2 ⋅D F <
W Btu/h ⋅ ft ⋅D F in
2.15 × 0.5778 ×12
m⋅K W/m ⋅ K ft
Wood, Softwood, 15 in:

( )
15 in −1
R= = 18 Btu/h ⋅ ft 2 ⋅D F <
W Btu/h ⋅ ft ⋅D F in
0.12 × 0.5778 × 12
m⋅K W/m ⋅ K ft
Insulation, Blanket, 6 in:

( )
6 in −1
R= = 18 Btu/h ⋅ ft 2 ⋅D F <
W Btu/h ⋅ ft ⋅D F in
0.048 × 0.5778 × 12
m⋅K W/m ⋅ K ft
COMMENTS: The R-value of 19 given in the advertisement is reasonable.

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