Executive Summary : | The main objective of proposal is to improve thermal comfort in structures through use of ready-made thermal insulation foam plasters. The proposed plasters play the role of thermal insulation (eliminating the need for additional thermal insulation layer), and hence results in reduced wall thickness (savings in floor area), reduced density and reduced cost. Moreover, these plasters can be applied on interior as well as exterior walls and are devoid of issues such as flammability. To the best of author's knowledge, there is no study reported on the performance of thermal insulation foam plasters in buildings considering Indian climatic conditions which highlights the major research gap. Further, there is no literature reported on analysis of economic and environmental benefits of its use in buildings from Indian context. Hence, more studies are necessitated in this direction to find the thermal insulation plasters suitable for different climatic zones of India. Considering the aforementioned research gaps, the present study proposes to design, develop and carry out performance testing of ready mix thermal insulation foam plaster which can result in energy efficient structures. Optimization of design of ready-made foam plaster to be incorporated in building will be carried out through studies on rheological, mechanical and thermal related characteristics. Further, the techno economic assessment will be carried out through Numerical analysis using Design Build Software to analyse the performance of foam plaster for different climatic conditions of India. The optimum thickness of plaster and suitable amount of foaming agent will be derived for different study locations in India based on maximum energy saving and thermal comfort. Based on the energy savings, the economic benefits of the developed product can be determined based on the payback period needed to recover the cost of foam plaster used in buildings. The reduction in CO2 emission found out using Design Builder software will help to assess the environmental benefits.Validation of the optimum design of foam plasters will be done through prototype testing and real field testing in buildings in Guwahati. |