@article{ajcea20261433,
author={{Diouf, Babacar and CISSE, Bator and BA, Mariama and Thilly, Kadia and Seck, Cheikh Tidiane},
title={Comparative Thermal Performance Analysis of Beam-and-Block Floor Systems Using Typha australis Earth Blocks and Conventional Concrete Blocks in Hot Semi-Arid Climates},
journal={American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture},
volume={14},
number={3},
pages={112--116},
year={2026},
url={https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajcea/14/3/3},
issn={2328-3998},
abstract={The building sector in Senegal faces significant energy and thermal comfort challenges, with approximately 60% of residential energy consumption devoted to cooling in a hot semi-arid climate where urban temperatures regularly exceed 35¨C40¡ãC. Conventional construction materials such as concrete exhibit high thermal conductivity (typically >1.4 W m<SUP>-1</SUP>K<SUP>-1</SUP>), exacerbating indoor heat gain. This study presents a quantitative comparative analysis of the thermal performance of two beam-and-block floor assemblies: one incorporating Typha australis¨Cearth hollow blocks and insulating panels, and a reference assembly using standard concrete hollow blocks. Steady-state thermal conduction calculations were performed in accordance with ISO 6946 and ADEME guidelines on multi-layer floor systems. Results demonstrate that the typha-based floor achieves a total thermal resistance of R<SUB>th</SUB> = 2.932 K m<SUP>2</SUP> W<SUP>-1</SUP> and a thermal transmittance of U = 0.341 W m<SUP>-2</SUP> K<SUP>-1</SUP>, compared to R<SUB>th</SUB> = 0.197 K m<SUP>2</SUP> W<SUP>-1</SUP> and U = 5.076 W m<SUP>-2</SUP> K<SUP>-1</SUP> for the concrete counterpart. The total heat flux through the typha floor (733.37 W for a 215 m<SUP>2</SUP> surface) is approximately 13 times lower than that of the concrete floor (9822.06 W). These findings confirm Typha australis as a high-potential bio-sourced insulating material suitable for sustainable bioclimatic construction in West Africa, capable of substantially reducing cooling energy demand while supporting local circular economies.},
doi={10.12691/ajcea-14-3-3}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}