Influenza della porosità sulle proprietà dei materiali. Un approccio fenomenologico basato sulla geometria frattale

In this thesis, the correlation between microstructure and properties of porous materials is analysed using Fractal Geometry. In particular, the effect of pore size distribution in fluid transport, thermal conductivity and some mechanical properties is studied. Materials used in cultural heritage, contemporary architecture and industrial engineering such as limestone, earth based materials, traditional ceramics, advanced ceramics (zirconia and alumina) and binder have been examined. The porosimetry experimental data has been acquired by mercury intrusion technique. In this research, a model based on fractal of Sierpinski carpet is used. By mixing fractal units with different dimension and configuration, it was possible to create a microstructure of material similar to experimental. Some fractal analytical procedures have been developed to predict thermal conductivity, sorptivity, water vapour permeability and elastic modulus. The data obtained by fractal model has been compared with experimental data. The results obtained are quite close to experimental ones and it has been revealed that this procedure is more effective than other model proposed in the recent literature.