IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i18p6474-d1235093.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization of Thermal Bridges Effect of Composite Lightweight Panels with Integrated Steel Load-Bearing Structure

Author

Listed:
  • Domagoj Tkalčić

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Bojan Milovanović

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Mergim Gaši

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marija Jelčić Rukavina

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Ivana Banjad Pečur

    (Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

In order to maintain the quality of construction for nearly zero energy buildings and to reduce the pressure on construction workers with the addition of the need for faster and simpler structures, the use of cavity-insulated LSF (lightweight steel frame) panels is increasing. Requirements for performance quality, quality of life, and low energy consumption have led to the need for closer examination of heat transfer through building elements. Due to the impact on increased heat losses, thermal bridges can cause structural damage due to the increased risk of water vapor condensation on the interior surface. In this paper, numerical heat transfer analysis with the optimization of thermal bridges for LSF cavity insulated walls was made in order to reduce the overall transmission heat losses. The effects of different cavity insulation materials (mineral wool and polyurethane foam) on overall heat transferred through the building elements were analyzed. Additionally, in order to reduce the effect of thermal bridges caused by the steel frame structure, the PVC spacers between the steel and sheathing panels are introduced into calculation models. Lastly, additional layers of insulation were added on the internal and external sides of the LFS panels in order to minimize the effect of thermal bridges and maximize air tightness. Combinations of all three setups were made for wall–window, ceiling–wall, wall–floor joints for the numerical calculation. For each setup, the temperature distribution and overall heat transferred through the building elements were calculated. Different thermal bridge designs have a significant influence on the overall heat transfer, and by choosing the optimal design, the transmission heat losses can be reduced by up to 67%.

Suggested Citation

  • Domagoj Tkalčić & Bojan Milovanović & Mergim Gaši & Marija Jelčić Rukavina & Ivana Banjad Pečur, 2023. "Optimization of Thermal Bridges Effect of Composite Lightweight Panels with Integrated Steel Load-Bearing Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-24, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:18:p:6474-:d:1235093
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6474/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6474/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paulo Santos & Paulo Lopes & David Abrantes, 2023. "Thermal Performance of Lightweight Steel Framed Facade Walls Using Thermal Break Strips and ETICS: A Parametric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Eduardo Roque & Romeu Vicente & Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida, 2021. "Indoor Thermal Environment Challenges of Light Steel Framing in the Southern European Context," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Paulo Santos & Gabriela Lemes & Diogo Mateus, 2020. "Analytical Methods to Estimate the Thermal Transmittance of LSF Walls: Calculation Procedures Review and Accuracy Comparison," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-27, February.
    4. Paulo Santos & Gabriela Lemes & Diogo Mateus, 2019. "Thermal Transmittance of Internal Partition and External Facade LSF Walls: A Parametric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-20, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Victor Lohmann & Paulo Santos, 2020. "Trombe Wall Thermal Behavior and Energy Efficiency of a Light Steel Frame Compartment: Experimental and Numerical Assessments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, May.
    2. Paulo Santos & Keerthan Poologanathan, 2021. "The Importance of Stud Flanges Size and Shape on the Thermal Performance of Lightweight Steel Framed Walls," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Paulo Santos & Paulo Lopes & David Abrantes, 2022. "Thermal Performance of Load-Bearing, Lightweight, Steel-Framed Partition Walls Using Thermal Break Strips: A Parametric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Paulo Santos & Diogo Mateus & Daniel Ferrandez & Amparo Verdu, 2022. "Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Thermal Break Strips’ Improvement in Facade LSF Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Paulo Santos & Paulo Lopes & David Abrantes, 2023. "Thermal Performance of Lightweight Steel Framed Facade Walls Using Thermal Break Strips and ETICS: A Parametric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Eduardo Roque & Romeu Vicente & Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida & Victor M. Ferreira, 2022. "The Impact of Thermal Inertia on the Indoor Thermal Environment of Light Steel Framing Constructions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Paulo Santos & Telmo Ribeiro, 2021. "Thermal Performance Improvement of Double-Pane Lightweight Steel Framed Walls Using Thermal Break Strips and Reflective Foils," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Tao Lu & Lauri Vähä-Savo & Xiaoshu Lü & Katsuyuki Haneda, 2023. "Thermal Impact of 5G Antenna Systems in Sandwich Walls," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-17, March.
    9. Paulo Santos & Gabriela Lemes & Diogo Mateus, 2020. "Analytical Methods to Estimate the Thermal Transmittance of LSF Walls: Calculation Procedures Review and Accuracy Comparison," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-27, February.
    10. João M. P. Q. Delgado & Ana S. Guimarães & João Poças Martins & Diogo F. R. Parracho & Sara S. Freitas & António G. B. Lima & Leonardo Rodrigues, 2023. "BIM and BEM Interoperability–Evaluation of a Case Study in Modular Wooden Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:18:p:6474-:d:1235093. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.