SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP29481S

Settling of Loose-Fill Insulations Due to Vibration

Source

Vibration and impact testing of loose-fill cellulosic, fiberglass, and rock wool insulations has been carried out to provide a data base for settled density tests. The ratio of final density to initial density for the three materials has been determined for repeated 19-mm (0.75-in.) drops, repeated 152-mm (6.0-in.) drops, and vibrations at frequencies from 10 to 60 Hz with displacements from 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) to 6.35 mm (0.25 in.). Repeated 19-mm or 152-mm drops increased the density ratio for rock wool insulation specimens the most, while the cellulosic insulation specimens were affected the least. Density ratios after 200 19-mm drops averaged 1.75 for loose-fill rock wool, 1.45 for loose-fill fiberglass, and 1.27 for loose-fill cellulosic insulations.

Vibration tests for 7200 s at 0.1-mm displacement and 15 Hertz produced negligible changes in the densities of all three loose-fill insulations. An 1800-s vibration test at 2.5 mm (0.1 in.) and 10 Hz resulted in average density ratios of 1.05, 1.11, and 1.18 for specimens of loose-fill cellulosic, rock wool, and fiberglass insulations, respectively. Changes in either frequency of vibration, displacement, or test duration can be used to achieve a wide range of laboratory results. Efforts to correlate laboratory results with in situ density measurements are presented.

Author Information

Yarbrough, DW
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tenn.
Wright, JH
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tenn.
McElroy, DL
Metals and Ceramics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn.
Scanlan, TF
Metals and Ceramics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn.
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Details
Developed by Committee: C16
Pages: 703–714
DOI: 10.1520/STP29481S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4856-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0230-9