Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil
Masonry, which constitutes a large area of many buildings’ envelopes, represents important thermal performance and energy consumption functions. Clay hollow block geometry can influence these results. In this sense, this work aims to numerically evaluate the thermal properties and energy efficiency...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1594 |
| _version_ | 1797590020659347456 |
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| author | Ivo Almino Gondim Hipólito Sousa Alexandre Bertini |
| author_facet | Ivo Almino Gondim Hipólito Sousa Alexandre Bertini |
| author_sort | Ivo Almino Gondim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Masonry, which constitutes a large area of many buildings’ envelopes, represents important thermal performance and energy consumption functions. Clay hollow block geometry can influence these results. In this sense, this work aims to numerically evaluate the thermal properties and energy efficiency improvement provided by new geometries of clay blocks in the Brazilian context. Two commercial block geometries were selected, and new internal void geometries were proposed, maintaining approximately the same percentage of voids. The new formats were submitted to numerical simulation using Abaqus/CAE 2020 software, to obtain their thermal resistance. Finally, an energy simulation study was carried out in three housing typologies located in two Brazilian cities, Curitiba and Fortaleza, using EnergyPlus 9.2 software. Geometric changes resulted in reductions in thermal transmittance values of greater than 30% for the blocks and 20% for the walls. Regarding possible energy reduction, the study demonstrated that there is a non-significant reduction in values for periods of higher temperature (hottest month), in the evaluated schedule use, as well as a potential for savings (34% in the apartment typology for the coldest month) at lower temperatures. Findings of this study serve as a reference to discuss improvements in clay hollow brick geometry regarding energy efficiency and thermal comfort in the Brazilian context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:14:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3961b363871d43ed81fb9c189b709d5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:14:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-3961b363871d43ed81fb9c189b709d5b2023-11-18T18:36:00ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-06-01137159410.3390/buildings13071594Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for BrazilIvo Almino Gondim0Hipólito Sousa1Alexandre Bertini2Construction Institute, CONSTRUCT/GEQUALTEC, Faculty of Engineering, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalConstruction Institute, CONSTRUCT/GEQUALTEC, Faculty of Engineering, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Structural Engineering and Building, Federal University of Ceará, Campus PICI, Fortaleza 60455-760, BrazilMasonry, which constitutes a large area of many buildings’ envelopes, represents important thermal performance and energy consumption functions. Clay hollow block geometry can influence these results. In this sense, this work aims to numerically evaluate the thermal properties and energy efficiency improvement provided by new geometries of clay blocks in the Brazilian context. Two commercial block geometries were selected, and new internal void geometries were proposed, maintaining approximately the same percentage of voids. The new formats were submitted to numerical simulation using Abaqus/CAE 2020 software, to obtain their thermal resistance. Finally, an energy simulation study was carried out in three housing typologies located in two Brazilian cities, Curitiba and Fortaleza, using EnergyPlus 9.2 software. Geometric changes resulted in reductions in thermal transmittance values of greater than 30% for the blocks and 20% for the walls. Regarding possible energy reduction, the study demonstrated that there is a non-significant reduction in values for periods of higher temperature (hottest month), in the evaluated schedule use, as well as a potential for savings (34% in the apartment typology for the coldest month) at lower temperatures. Findings of this study serve as a reference to discuss improvements in clay hollow brick geometry regarding energy efficiency and thermal comfort in the Brazilian context.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1594building envelopeceramic masonryenergy savingsnumerical analysisthermal performance |
| spellingShingle | Ivo Almino Gondim Hipólito Sousa Alexandre Bertini Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil Buildings building envelope ceramic masonry energy savings numerical analysis thermal performance |
| title | Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil |
| title_full | Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil |
| title_short | Changes in Clay Hollow Block Geometry for Energy Efficiency Benefits—Thermal Simulation for Brazil |
| title_sort | changes in clay hollow block geometry for energy efficiency benefits thermal simulation for brazil |
| topic | building envelope ceramic masonry energy savings numerical analysis thermal performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1594 |
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