Energy performance of buildings with multi-ribbed composite wall structural system

Abstract

Multifunctional multi-ribbed composite wall (MRCW) structural system has been increasingly used due to its dual load bearing and energy saving capacities. Most of existing studies were focused on its mechanical properties. This paper aims to evaluate its energy saving effect. To this end, two models are constructed using EnergyPlus for the same residential building in Beijing, China, but with different systems of MRCW and shear wall. The dynamic simulation of hourly energy consumption throughout one year is carried out at the building operation stage. The results show that the heating energy consumption is higher than the cooling energy consumption. The total energy consumption of the MRCW system can be reduced by 11.4% compared with that of the shear wall system. Further, the annual energy consumption of the residential building models in five typical climate regions in China with different orientations is simulated. The results show that the energy saving of MRCW system range from 5% to 13% in the five regions when compared with shear wall system, and the absolute value of energy saving is the largest in severe cold and cold regions. The north-south orientation is the best energy-saving orientation. Based on this study, it can be concluded that, other than carrying load, MRCW system can also save energy compared with shear wall system, especially in severe cold and cold regions.