This article evaluates the thermal and energy performance of mortar blocks containing local agricultural waste. The mortar blocks were cast by the replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with varying amounts of date palm ash (DPA) in the range of 10–30%. Experiments and simulations were carried out to assess the thermal characteristics and energy performance of the specimens. A prototype office building was modeled and simulated in DesignBuilder (Version 6.1.06) with modified blocks prepared with DPA under the Arabian Gulf environment characterized by hot and humid climatic conditions of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The developed blocks are characterized as lightweight blocks based on density data which satisfy the requirement of ASTM C55-11. The analysis and simulation indicate that the incorporation of DPA improves the thermal resistance of up to 47%, enhances the indoor environment and yields annual energy consumption of up to 7.6%, consequently reduces the cost of masonry block production by ~ 11% without compromising the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The masonry blocks prepared with DPA found to be economical than conventional masonry blocks. It is postulated that the novel DPA-based developed blocks are significantly sustainable products which will contribute to the valorization of DPA waste along with the reduction in the cost of construction and operational cost of the building.

中文翻译：

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用枣棕灰评估砌块的热和能量性能

本文评估了包含当地农业废弃物的砂浆砌块的热能性能。砂浆砌块是通过用10％至30％范围内的不同量的枣椰子灰（DPA）替代普通波特兰水泥（OPC）来浇铸的。进行实验和模拟以评估样品的热特性和能量性能。在DesignBuilder（版本6.1.06）中，使用由DPA准备的经过修改的模块对一幢办公楼进行建模和仿真，以阿拉伯海湾环境为特征，沙特阿拉伯Dhahran具有湿热气候条件。根据密度数据，可以满足ASTM C55-11的要求，将已开发的砖块表征为轻质砖块。分析和模拟表明，DPA的加入可将热阻提高多达47％，改善室内环境，并产生高达7.6％的年能耗，因此在不影响砌筑成本的情况下将砌块的生产成本降低了约11％。物理，化学和机械性能。发现用DPA制备的砌块比常规砌块经济。据推测，基于DPA的新型开发块是具有显着可持续性的产品，将有助于DPA废物的增值以及降低建筑成本和建筑物运营成本。因此，在不影响物理，化学和机械性能的情况下，将砌块的生产成本降低了约11％。发现用DPA制备的砌块比常规砌块经济。据推测，基于DPA的新型开发块是具有显着可持续性的产品，将有助于DPA废物的增值以及降低建筑成本和建筑物运营成本。因此，在不影响物理，化学和机械性能的情况下，将砌块的生产成本降低了约11％。发现用DPA制备的砌块比常规砌块经济。据推测，基于DPA的新型开发块是具有显着可持续性的产品，将有助于DPA废物的增值以及降低建筑成本和建筑物运营成本。