by A thesis submitted to the University of Plymouth in ... - PEARL home

and volumetric heat capacity, of building materials as found in, or proposed for,
real buildings. The lack of available and reliable data for in situ thermal
properties, and the imperative of improving energy efficiency in buildings, show
the benefits that would be gained from a simple, fast, economic tool that could
simultaneously measure these properties. The thermal probe technique, as
previously used to measure materials in a laboratory environment at the
University of Plymouth, potentially offers such a solution.
Chapter 2 investigates the thermal probe technique through a broad literature
review. The investigation includes the theoretical and practical development of
transient line source measurements, with a particular focus on their relevance to
materials of the type used in construction. This is followed in chapter 3 by an
introduction to the methodologies used in the subsequent investigation of
outstanding issues.
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