Building Science Thermal issues

Thermal issues related to buildings

Expansion & contraction of materials due to temperature changes

Thermal issues related to buildings

Thermal storage capacity or thermal mass of materials in the building and within the building enclosure

Thermal issues related to buildings

Transfer of heat within a building as well as between the interior and the exterior of the building

Thermal issues related to buildings

Temperature Scales
The Imperial temperature scale is based on Fahrenheit degrees. The Rankine temperature scale has the same increments as the Fahrenheit scale (212 between the freezing and boiling points of water), but the zero of the Rankine scale is absolute zero at 459.67F. The SI temperature scale is based on Celsius (formerly Centigrade) degrees. The Kelvin temperature scale has the same increments as the Celsius scale (100 between the freezing and boiling points of water), but the zero of the Kelvin scale is absolute zero at 273.15C.

Transfer of heat within a building as well as between the interior and the exterior of the building through the opaque and transparent elements of the building enclosure

Temperature Scales
Conversions between Fahrenheit & Celsius: C = (5/9) (F 32) F = (9/5) C + 32

Thermal Expansion of Materials

Comparisons of temperature scales: Imperial units size of degree: common temperature: freezing point of water: room temperature: human body temperature: boiling point of water: 1.8F 40F 32F 70F 98.6F 212F SI units 1.0C 40C 0C 20C 37C 100C

Thermal Expansion of Materials

The dimensional change of a material due to a change in temperature is essentially linear over a reasonable range of temperatures according to the following formula:

Thermal Expansion Coecients

Coecient of thermal expansion values for some common construction materials: material (x 10-6 /C) material wood, perpendicular to bre wood, parallel to bre marble glass (Pyrex) masonry limestone granite platinum glass (window glass) brick iron, soft forged 3.4 5.4 4.9 9.5 3.8 4.0 4.5 - 9.0 4.1 - 9.0 7.2 - 9.0 9.0 9.1 8 - 12 11.3 (x 10-6 /C) 11.7 12.1 13.7 14.0 18.0 19.0 23.5 25.2 68.0 77.0 87.9

L = C L T
where: L = dimensional change (m) C = coecient of linear expansion (/C or m/m C) L = length of the material (m) T = change in temperature (C)

concrete steel plaster gold silver brass aluminum iron, cast polycarbonate sheet rubber lead

thermal expansion of metals

thermal expansion of metals

thermal expansion of metals

Thermal Expansion of Windows & Skylights

Glazing elements, and in particular skylights, are often exposed to large temperature dierentials, and in turn high thermal stresses.