KWerte

K-Werte, also written as K-Wert or k-Werte, is a term used in German technical and scientific language to denote a set of values indexed by the variable k. The exact meaning of the k-Werte depends on the field and context, and they are typically used as coefficients, constants, or parameters within a formula or dataset. Because of this context dependence, there is no single universal definition for k-Werte.

In building physics and materials science, a common usage is the k-value (K-Wert) that describes thermal conductivity. This k, measured in watts per meter kelvin (W/(m·K)), indicates how readily a material conducts heat and is a key parameter in calculating heat transfer and insulation performance. Different materials have characteristic k-values that influence energy efficiency assessments.

In hydrology and soil science, K-values may refer to hydraulic conductivity, denoting how easily water can move through a medium. Units vary (for example meters per second or meters per day), and higher K-values correspond to more permeable materials, which affects groundwater flow and infiltration analyses.

In chemistry and physics, k often represents a rate constant in reaction kinetics or a wave number in wave mechanics. The exact units and interpretation of k-values in these cases depend on the order of the reaction or the physical model being used.

Because the term spans multiple disciplines, the precise meaning of k-Werte should be inferred from the relevant context, accompanying notation, and units. See also K-Wert in specific domains for discipline-specific definitions.