Abstract
An external wall panel (EWP) as a novel alternative to provide spatial flexibility and improve the performance of external walls was developed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the thermal performance of this EWP. A simulation analysis was carried out to scrutinize whether it was vulnerable to condensation, considering South Korea’s weather conditions, and find countermeasures to prevent this. Results indicated that the indoor surface temperature with the measures of added insulation materials and an inserted thermal-breaker was over 16.5 °C and that these methods could prevent condensation. In addition, this study assessed unsteady-state thermal characteristics, linear thermal transmittance, and the effective thermal transmittance of EWP. Effective thermal transmittance was estimated in consideration of the heat transmittance of EWP and the linear thermal transmittance of its slabs and its connection parts. The thermal characteristics of the building envelope are needed to analyze effective thermal transmittance and linear thermal transmittance-associated thermal bridges.
Highlights
According to statistical data in 2017, South Korea had 17.12 million housing units, and 10.37 million of them were apartment units [1]
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate thermal performance of the external wall panel (EWP) developed in this study and determine whether it was vulnerable to condensation, considering South Korea’s weather conditions [25,26]
Unsteady state thermal heat transfer characteristics such as the time lag and heat loss of the EWP were evaluated in this study
Summary
According to statistical data in 2017, South Korea had 17.12 million housing units, and 10.37 million (approximately 61%) of them were apartment units [1]. Because 95% of these apartments have a bearing wall system, residents are not allowed to change their residential space South Korea has witnessed an increase in apartments built with column-beam systems, enabling long-term usage through a structure with spatial flexibility, easy maintenance, and easy repair [7,8]. As an envelope applicable to multi-unit housings, this study developed a detachable EWP with flexibility and easy maintenance. It can be prefabricated at a workshop and installed on site. This panel was developed to ensure long-term usage by making EWPs attachable and detachable to improve the performance of external walls. From the outside to the inside, the EWP consisted of 30 mm of extruded cement panel, a 25 mm insulation board, and an aluminum frame for the exterior side, followed by 2 sheets of 85 mm glass wool, another
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