EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF SANDWICHED

FERROCEMENT PANEL INCORPORATED WITH STYROFOAM, FIBERGLASS,

AND CELLULOSE

An Undergraduate Thesis
Presented to the
Faculty of Civil Engineering Department
College of Information Technology and Engineering
Philippine Engineering and Agro-Industrial College, Incorporated
Marawi City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Mohammad John-Nur B. Ali

Abdul Jalil Edres M. Ditucalan
Asnifah P. Laboging
Mohammad Harbi B. Liwalug
Mohammad Jann L.
Mamowalas

April 2023

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APPROVAL SHEET

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 ABSTRACT

An undergraduate thesis titled Experimental Study on the Thermal

Conductivity of Sandwiched Ferrocement Panel Incorporated with Styrofoam,
Fiberglass, and Cellulose authored by Abdul Jalil Edres M. Ditucalan, Mohammad
John-Nur B. Ali, Asnifah P. Laboging, Mohammad Harbi B. Liwalug,
Mohammad Jann L. Mamowalas.

Thesis Adviser: Engr. Al-Nor D. Ansao

Application of ferrocement in low-cost housing is known. However, as the

ferrocement elements are thin, their use for roofing and exterior walls raises doubts
regarding the thermal comfort inside the building. Thermal insulation is an essential
part of all buildings and performs many function since it reduces the heating or cooling.

The researchers will conduct an investigation towards a reduction of thermal

conductivity of ferrocement. Ferrocement has been regarded as highly versatile
construction material possessing unique properties of strength and serviceability.
Investigating the insulation property of ferrocement incorporated with different
recycled materials for insulation such as Styrofoam, fiberglass, and cellulose at varying
ferrocement mixture and formulation may provide principal information to the possible
optimum utilization of the said insulating recycled materials in the concreting structure
especially in thermal insulation of building, thereby reducing the cost of constructing
buildings. This study can be used lessening the negative impact of Styrofoam, fiberglass
and cellulose. Testing of the Thermal Conductivity of Sandwich Ferrocement Panel
Incorporated with Styrofoam, Fiberglass, and Cellulose test specimen will be conducted
using the device available.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Foremost, the group of researchers would like to begin by expressing their

heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty Allah (s.w.t), the most merciful, for granting them

the strength, guidance, and wisdom to complete this research. Without Allah's blessings

and grace, this achievement would not have been possible.

They are deeply grateful for Allah's guidance and protection throughout this

journey, and they offer their humble thanks for the countless blessings that Allah has

bestowed upon them. They acknowledge and seek forgiveness for any shortcomings or

mistakes that they may have made during this research, and they pray that Allah accepts

this work as a humble contribution to the pursuit of knowledge.

They also extend their gratitude to their families and friends for their support,

encouragement, and prayers. Their unwavering love and faith have been a constant

source of inspiration, reminding them of the importance of hard work, perseverance, and

humility. Most especially, they would like to express their sincere gratitude to their

thesis adviser, Engr. Al-nor D. Ansao, for his unwavering support, guidance, and

invaluable feedback throughout this journey. His expertise, patience, and dedication

have been

instrumental in shaping this research.

They would also like to extend their endless appreciation to the faculty members,

staff, and the higher management especially the school president of this institution, Dr.

Rasid

M. Paca for serving as the key tool for the researchers to have and accomplish this research.

May this institution continue to serve and give quality education for the Meranao students

and continue to produce productive individuals in our society.

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 DEDICATION

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the people

behind the success of this research project. I hope it reaches your hearts!

To Almighty Allah s.w.t., I am forever thankful to You our dear God for guiding

us throughout this journey. You are the light that shines in our darkest time. I am

extremely thankful to You for giving me strength, wisdom, and guidance throughout the

stages of this research.

To my family, Abe, Ome, brothers, sister, cousins, aunts, and uncles for their

undying support and unconditional love. Thank you for supporting and understanding

me. I could never be on my own without all of you. My heartfelt thanks to all of you.

To our dearest thesis adviser, Engr. Al-nor D. Ansao for aspiring and

encouraging us to turn this project possible. Thank you for sharing us the necessary

knowledge and ideas to achieve this. I would like to extend my gratitude to Engr.

Soraikh A. Abdul Nasser and Engr. Johary U. Bula for being our thesis panels as well

for their ideas and suggestions.

To our CITE Department Faculty for molding us to become future engineers in

our generation especially to our CITE Dean Engr. Yusoph S. Sani and to our school

administrator Sir Abdulhaq R. Ditucalan for letting us study our research.

To the kind family of Engr. Mohaimen B. Liwalug for accommodating us to

your warm home. Thank you, sir, for helping us!

To my besties for making my stay in PEACI memorable. I wouldn’t be able to

enjoy the life of being a student again without our fun memories

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 To my thesis buddies Harbi, Ma’am Labs, Jann, and MJ for their endless
support.

I am forever thankful to all of you for welcoming me in our group.

Abdul Jalil Edres “Ditucs” M. Ditucalan

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 DEDICATION

Every accomplishment would not be possible without the people behind us so I

would like to take this opportunity to thank these people.

Before extending appreciation to these people, I praise the creator of all, our

Almighty Allah s.w.t. Everything in this world is nothing without your power and

guidance. I am forever grateful for giving me the knowledge to accomplish this.

To my family, especially to my parents who are giving me unending support

despite of my adult age. I cannot do this without you and this is absolutely dedicated to

you because you are the individuals in this world, I want to make proud. I thank you for

taking care of my son every time I am not around for my teaching and schooling

responsibilities. To my son, Yaseen who I dreamed to be an Engineer/Aleem in the

future, this is dedicated to you my dearest son. You’ve been my great strength in doing

everything and I want to be a role model for you that seeking knowledge is an important

thing, education is the best legacy I can give to you.

To our dearest thesis adviser, Engr. Al-nor D. Ansao, I thank you for having a

mentor and a brother at the same time. You were not just my academic adviser, thesis

adviser, you played also as a brother to me who is sharing with me his best knowledge

when I ask a thing. I am praying for your better future and continue to be one of the

kindest people I ever met. I would like also to extend my gratitude to Engr. Soraikh A.

Abdul Nasser and Engr. Johary U. Bula for being our thesis panels as well for their

ideas and suggestions. To our research coordinator, my kuya Cum Laude Mr. Jamzien

U. Umpa, for imparting his best knowledge with us. Thank you for your guidance to

have the better output for this work.

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 To my co-faculty members for your moral support and telling me that I will be

able to do this. To ma’am Yas and Sir Manman, I thank you for being my consultants

both for my personal life and academics. Also, to ma’am Shata, ma’am Unte, ma’am

Ash, ma’am Nisa, and ma’am Jam for being my source of motivation that I can overcome

all of the challenges in my life.

To our school deans Engr. Yusoph S. Sani and Mr. Abdullah H. Edris, to our

school administrator Sir Abdulhaq R. Ditucalan for doing your responsibilities well for

the improvement of this institution. I also thank sir Haq for endless considerations. To

our school president, Dr. Rasid M. Paca, for being one of my idols since high school and

for being one of the servants of Lanao Del Sur in promoting education to produce more

productive individuals in our society

To my co-members in this thesis, Ditucs, Jann, and MJ for the great

participation to finish this work. I thank Ditucs for the strict though considerate

leadership in our group. I knew that you never failed to understand my situation. And of

course, to my lil brother Harbi “Bunso” and to his kind family for the walm welcome in

their home. I also thank him for playing a real brother to me and treating me as a real ate.

Asnifah “Ma’am Labs” P. Laboging

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 DEDICATION

To the Almighty Allah (S.W.T), the source of all knowledge, wisdom, and

inspiration. Your grace, your mercy, and your guidance have been instrumental in

helping me reach this milestone. You have blessed me with the ability to think critically,

to analyze deeply, and to communicate effectively. You have given me the curiosity and

passion to explore new ideas, to question assumptions, and to pursue excellence in all that

I do. Your divine hand has been with me every step of the way, guiding me through the

challenges and obstacles that I have faced.

I want to thank you for your unwavering support, your infinite kindness, and your

boundless love. You have been my rock, my comfort, and my strength during this

academic journey. Your presence has given me peace, hope, and courage, even in the

darkest of moments. This thesis is a reflection of the talents you have given me, the

opportunities you have provided me, and the blessings you have bestowed upon me. It is

a testament to the faith you have instilled in me, the values you have taught me, and the

purpose you have given me. I offer this thesis as a humble tribute to your greatness, your

majesty, and your sovereignty. May it bring glory to your name and honor to your

kingdom. I pray that you continue to guide me in all that I do, and that you bless me with

the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to serve you faithfully and diligently.

To my esteemed adviser and panel, this thesis is dedicated to you, the individuals

who have played an instrumental role in guiding and shaping my academic journey. Your

expertise, your knowledge, and your insights have been invaluable in helping me reach

this milestone. Your unwavering support and guidance have been a constant source of

inspiration for me. You have challenged me to think critically, to analyze deeply, and to

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communicate effectively. Your feedback and critiques have helped me refine my work

and improve my skills. You have shared with me your knowledge, your experience, and

your insights, and you have always been there to offer guidance and support whenever I

needed it.

Your mentorship has meant the world to me, and I am grateful for everything you

have done for me. You have not only been my advisors and panel but also my role

models and mentors. You have shown me what it means to be a true scholar, a

compassionate teacher, and a generous human being. This thesis is a reflection of the

lessons you have taught me, the skills you have helped me develop, and the knowledge

you have shared with me. It is a testament to the countless hours we have spent together,

discussing ideas, analyzing data, and refining my work. It is a tribute to the many

different perspectives and insights you have brought to my research, and the thoughtful

feedback you have given me throughout the process.

I want to express my deepest appreciation and respect for your dedication, hard

work, and generosity of spirit. You have made a significant impact on my academic

journey and helped me achieve my goals. This thesis is dedicated to you with heartfelt

gratitude and appreciation.

To my family and friends, who have supported me throughout this journey. Your

unwavering encouragement and love have been my rock, and I couldn't have

accomplished this without you. This thesis is dedicated to you all, with heartfelt gratitude

and appreciation.

To my beloved parents, I dedicate this thesis to you, the two people who have never

stopped believing in me. Your unconditional love, support, and encouragement have been the

driving force behind my academic success. Without your sacrifices. I would not be where I am
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today, holding this degree in my hand.

To my fellow thesis group members, Ditucs, Mj and Jann, whose unwavering

support, encouragement, and camaraderie made this journey not only bearable but also

enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, and expertise with me, for

pushing me beyond my limits, and for challenging me to be the best that I can be. Your

commitment to excellence, your passion for research, and your dedication to our project

have been a constant inspiration throughout this process. I am honored to have worked

with such a talented, innovative, and motivated group of individuals. This thesis is as

much yours as it is mine, and I am proud to share this accomplishment with each and

every one of you. Thank you for being my colleagues, my friends, and my mentors. I will

cherish our memories and our achievements forever.

To my beloved Sibling, Co-member, Momshie and also I called her as my dearest

ate, Ate Asnifah, who has been my confidante, my partner-in-crime, and my biggest

supporter through thick and thin. Your unwavering love, unwavering loyalty, and

unwavering belief in me have been a constant source of inspiration and motivation. I am

grateful for the countless memories, laughs, and adventures we have shared together, and

for the lessons and wisdom you have imparted upon me. You have been my rock, my

shoulder to lean on, and my best friend. This achievement is as much yours as it is mine,

and I dedicate it to you with all my heart. Thank you for being the best sibling a person

could ask for."

Mohammad “Harbs” B. Liwalug

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 DEDICATION

First and foremost, I would like to praise Allah the Almighty, the Most Gracious,

and the Most Merciful who showered us His blessings, especially for the strength,

courage, patience, wisdom, time and guidance in realization of this work.

This work is a fruit of countless and arduous sacrifices. This work is

wholeheartedly dedicated to the people who serve as an inspiration, to my beloved

family, especially to my loving mother, who have been my source of inspiration and gave

me strength when I thought of giving up, who continually provide her moral, spiritual,

emotional and financial support. Accomplishing this would hopefully make you proud of

me as much as I am proud of having you as my family.

This work is also dedicated to my friends, groupmates who have supported me

throughout the process and extended their help in the midst of problems while doing this

work. I will always appreciate all they have done to make this successful. It took a lot of

hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish this on time.

To all my very diligent professors, instructors, I also dedicate this to all of you,

for you have shared your knowledge and effective teachings to us. Thank you very much

Mohammad John – Nur “MJ” B. Ali

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 DEDICATION

To express my thanks to all those who contributed in many ways to the success of

this study and made it an unforgettable experience for me.

To our God Almighty who is always there when I am in need. Thank you for

guiding me and giving me strength in my everyday life. Thank you for always looking

out for me. Thank you for making all of these happened and ended it with a good

outcome Alhamdulillah.

To my dear parents Rasmia M. Lawi, thank you for giving me the support to

reach my dreams. Accomplishing this would hopefully make you proud of me as much as

I am proud pf having you as my parent. I love you mama.

To our friends who became our supporter and help us to any problem we faced.

They encourage us to finish this important research in time. They also give us inspiration

message every time.

To my co-researchers, Asnifah Laboging, Abdul Jalil Edris Ditucalan,

Mohammad Harbi Liwalug and Mohammad John-Nur, thank you for the encouragement

and determination.

I would like to sincerely thank our adviser, Mr. Alnor D. Ansao for your

guidance, support and patience throughout this study. And to the thesis committee, thank

you for the comments and questions you shared that is beneficial in the completion of this

study.

To all our very diligent professors, instructors, deans and also our admin, I also

dedicate this all of you, for you have shared your knowledge and effective teachings to

us. Thank you so much!

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 Mohammad Jann “Jann” L. Mamowalas

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………... i
APPROVAL SHEET…………………………………………………………………... ii
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………… iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………………………. iv
DEDICATION………………………………………………………………………… v
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………... xiv
LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………. xvi
LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………... xvii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study………………………………..…………………… 1
1.2 Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………… 3
1.3 Conceptual Framework……………………………………………………… 4
1.4 Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………. 5
1.5 Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………... 5
1.6 Scope and Limitation………………………………………………………... 6
1.7 Significance of the Study…………………………………………………….. 6
1.8 Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………... 7
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
2.1 Related Literature………………………………………………………......... 10
2.1.1 Thermal Conductivity……………………………………………... 10
2.1.2 Mortar……………………………………………………………... 13
2.1.3 Styrofoam………………………………………………................. 14
2.1.4 Fiberglass……………………………………………….................. 14
2.1.5 Cellulose………………………………………………................... 15
2.1.6 Insulation……………………………………………….................. 15
2.2 Related Studies……………………………………………………………… 20
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design……………………………………………………………... 22
3.2 Locale of the Study………………………………………………………….. 23
3.3 Specimen of the Study………………………………………………………. 23
3.3.1 Insulating Materials………………………………………………… 23
3.3.2 Manufacturing Process of Ferrocement Panel Based on Standards.. 24
3.4 Instruments of the Study…………………………………………………….. 25
3.5 Data Gathering Procedure…………………………………………………… 26
3.6 Data Analysis Procedure…………………………………………………….. 28
3.6.1 Determination of Thermal Conductivity of Ferrocement
Containing Styrofoam……………………………………………... 28

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 CHAPTER 4 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Average Thermal Conductivity (k)…………………………………………... 33
CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary and Findings……………………………………………………… 39
5.2 Conclusions………………………………………………………………….. 40
5.3 Recommendations…………………………………………………………… 40
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………... 41
APPENDIX
A– Preparation of Materials and Equipment…………………………………… 44
B– Insulating Materials………………………………………………………….. 47
C– Mixture Proportioning of Test Specimens…………………………………… 48
D– Experimental Setup………………………………………………………….. 49
E– Manual Calculations…………………………………………………………. 51
CURRICULUM VITAE……………………………………………………………… 67

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LIST OF TABLES

No. Descriptive Title Page

2.1 Thermal conductivity of selected building materials at 20ºC………... 11
3.1 Test Specimens………………………………………………………. 22
4.1 Recorded Data Needed for Computation of Thermal Conductivity…. 33
4.2 Average Value of the Thermal Conductivity (k) of Sandwiched
Ferrocement Panels…………………………………………………... 35

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LIST OF FIGURES
No. Descriptive Title Page

1.1 Schematic Diagram Showing the Relationship between the 4

Independent and Dependent
Variables………………………………..
3.1 Dimension of Ferrocement containing the Insulating Material/s …… 25
3.2 Pre-Fabricated Apparatus……………………………………………. 30
4.1 Average Thermal Conductivity of Sandwich Ferrocement Panels…... 37

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