Modeling of Thermal Performance of Foundation Walls in a Cold Climate

Pooneh Maghoul, Miroslava Kavgic, Kirill Bobko

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Cold Regions I

ABSTRACT: Since most efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings have concentrated primarily on above-grade envelopes, significant heat losses may occur due to the flow of heat from inside a building through the basement structure into foundation soils. Temperature changes generated in surrounding soils by heat losses may result in coupled moisture and energy transport. Cold climates lead to freezing of pore-water in soil near the ground surface. Freezing involves temperature gradients and moisture migration. Despite its importance, the impact of phase change (freezing/thawing) on the thermo-hydraulic regime of unsaturated soils surrounding building foundations is not well known. The paper simulates coupled heat and mass transfer in the unsaturated freezing soil surrounding building foundations in cold climates and studies the impact of thermal insulation on heat loss through the basement wall and slabs.

RÉSUMÉ: Puisque la plupart des efforts visant à améliorer l'efficacité énergétique des bâtiments se sont principalement concentrés sur des enveloppes hors-terre, des pertes de chaleur importantes peuvent engendrer à travers de la structure de souterrain en raison du flux de chaleur de l'intérieur d'un bâtiment aux sols de fondation. Les changements de température générés dans les sols par des pertes de chaleur peuvent entraîner un transfert couplé de l'humidité et de l'énergie. Les climats froids entraînent une congélation près de la surface du sol. La congélation implique des gradients de température et une migration de l'humidité. Malgré son importance, l'impact du changement de phase sur le régime thermo-hydraulique des sols entourant les fondations du bâtiment n'est pas bien connu. Cet article étudie le transfert couplé de chaleur et de masse dans un sol non saturé gelé entourant les fondations de bâtiments dans des climats froids et l'impact de l'isolation thermique sur les pertes de chaleur à travers de la structure de souterrain.

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Cite this article:
Pooneh Maghoul; Miroslava Kavgic; Kirill Bobko (2017) Modeling of Thermal Performance of Foundation Walls in a Cold Climate in GEO2017. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2017Paper139,author = Pooneh Maghoul; Miroslava Kavgic; Kirill Bobko,title = Modeling of Thermal Performance of Foundation Walls in a Cold Climate,year = 2017}