Thermal network model for anisotropic heat transfer in 3D printed complex geometry structures

Abstract

The sustainability of 3D printed buildings has drawn increasing attention in research. As a foundation for assessing energy efficiency and sustainability, it is crucial to consider the thermal performance of 3D printed walls during the structural design phase. 3D printed walls exhibit anisotropic thermophysical properties and complex heat transfer processes. However, there is a lack of studies accounting for these aspects. This work proposes a thermal network model suitable for objects with changing directions of principal thermal conductivities. The key is to store information on sizes, directions and properties. Analytical solution verification and experimental verification under two-dimensional conditions agree well with the actual results. The numerical simulation of the anisotropic 3D printed wall with complex geometry shows that the reinforced structures and the cavities cause alternating surface temperature distributions, with an average temperature difference of about 0.75 °C. Due to the barrier effect of the inclined printed structure, the triangular cavities show higher temperatures than the square cavities. The proposed model is significant for characterizing the relationship between structure and thermal performance and can be used to optimise the thermal design of 3D printed walls.