Thermal technical analysis of lightweight timber-based external wall structures with ventilated air gap

Abstract

Lightweight timber-based structures are an increasingly common part of envelopes of new buildings due to increasing requirements for their energy performance. In addition, due to the fact that wood is a sustainable material, it can be assumed that the share of these structures in civil engineering will continue to increase. The subject of this article is the thermal analysis of timber-based lightweight structures under winter conditions to expand information about thermal processes in these structures. This article deals with the lightweight timber-based external wall structures with a ventilated facade and a double-skin roof structure. Experimental temperature measurements inside the structures and ventilated air gaps are used to perform the thermal analysis. By comparing experimental and theoretical data obtained by performing numerical simulation, it was shown that for achieving an ideal match of numerical simulations and measured physical properties it is necessary to take into account not only external temperatures affecting these structures, but also other factors such as solar radiation and heat emission into the cold night sky. In the case of the external walls with ventilated facade, the benefit of a ventilated air gap has been demonstrated in relation to smaller temperature fluctuations that affect the structures.