Fabrication and energy efficiency of translucent concrete panel for building envelope

Abstract

A translucent concrete panel (TCP) is a novel construction material for building envelopes. It combines light conduits, such as optical fibers (OFs), and lightweight, high-strength concrete, enabling it to transmit light and carry the external load. A set of TCPs was cast using OFs with a large diameter (17.8 mm). The compressive strength was 39.6 N/mm2, which is qualified to carry the external load as the structural components. The thermal conductivity of the TCP was 0.2114 W/(m·K), indicating excellent thermal insulation performance compared to traditional building envelopes, such as glass curtain walls (GCW) and masonry facades. To investigate the energy consumption of a TCP, a one-roomed office building was modeled numerically. Three cities were selected to analyze the monetary cost and energy consumption of various building envelopes. These building envelopes were made of a masonry wall, GCW, and TCP. The simulation results revealed that the model with a TCP envelope had the lowest electricity consumption, monetary cost, and payback period. Moreover, it was more energy efficient in Stockholm and Nanjing than in Singapore. The novel TCP is applicable in building envelopes and other areas where light transmission and load-bearing are required.