Evaluation of the thermal bridging effects on the thermal performance of slab-on-grade floor foundation

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:345260

Al-Anzi, A A; Krarti, M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Joint Center for Energy Management

A steady-state solution is developed to determine the thermal interaction between a slab-on-grade floor and above-grade walls. In particular, the thermal bridging effects at the slab/wall joints are evaluated for various insulation configurations. Using a finite-difference numerical technique (FDM), the temperature field within the building envelope and the soil, the heat flux profiles along the foundation surfaces, and the total slab and wall heat losses are determined and analyzed for both interior and exterior insulation configurations. It was found that a significant thermal interaction exists between the slab-on-grade floor and the above-grade walls. In particular, it was found that adding thermal insulation to the slab or to the walls affects the thermal performance of both the slab and the walls.

• OSTI ID: 345260
• Report Number(s): CONF-9702141--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLOORS
FOUNDATIONS
HEAT TRANSFER
PERFORMANCE
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL INSULATION
WALLS