Architectural

Assembly-Scale and Whole-Building Energy Performance Analysis of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) Façade Systems

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Abstract

Majority of building energy consumption is used to heat and cool enclosed spaces. An innovative ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) façade system has the potential to reduce building energy consumption. The objectives of this research are (1) to analyze the heat and moisture transfer within the UHP-FRC façade panels, and (2) assess the energy performance of a proposed UHP-FRC façade system in comparison with conventional sandwich panel façade system in commercial building context (large office, medium office, and small office buildings). A transient hygrothermal analysis is conducted to investigate heat and moisture transfer within the UHP-FRC façade system and evaluate the risk of mold growth in internal layers of the façade system for different boundary conditions. A simulation-based building energy performance analysis is conducted to investigate the energy performance of the UHP-FRC panel system in the commercial building context (three DOE prototype commercial buildings are used as building context) in fifteen locations with different climate and weather conditions (45 scenarios). The results of the hygrothermal analysis showed that the UHP-FRC panel assembly’s performance is superior to the conventional panel regarding combined heat and moisture transfer. Although the result of building energy simulations showed that the energy savings of using the UHP-FRC panel depend on the building type and climate condition, in 44 out of 45 scenarios, the total energy savings were positive. It is expected that the results of this research help develop the next generation of high-performance energy-efficient façade systems using UHP-FRC.

Keywords: Building façad systems, assembly-scale, whole-building energy performance analysis, thermal bridging, hygrothermal analysis, Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC)

How to Cite:

Abediniangerabi, B., Shahandashti, S. M., Bell, B., Chao, S. & Makhmalbaf, A., (2019) “Assembly-Scale and Whole-Building Energy Performance Analysis of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) Façade Systems”, International Interactive Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Concrete 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.21838/uhpc.9655