A new method to estimate point thermal

transmittance based on combined two-

dimensional heat flow calculation
Jaanus Hallik, Targo Kalamees
Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Research Group, TalTech University
BACKGROUND

Standardized calculation of point

thermal transmittances not used in
practice due to lack of skills and time
consuming model preparation in 3D
analysis software.
The aim of the study
• Propose a method to estimate
point thermal transmittance based
on difference in two 2D numerical
finite element calculations.
BACKGROUND

The equivalent length of thermal bridge heq

was defined which incorporates the effect of
additional thermal transmittance in third
dimension when multiplied by the difference
of two thermal coupling coefficients derived
for two-dimensional cross sections.
MATERIAL AND METHODS

An external wall construction with external

insulation layer, wind barrier and ventilated
cladding was assessed in this study.

wind barrier layer

insulation layer

load bearing structure

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The thermal conductivity (λ, W/(mK)) of

• internal load bearing structure,
• insulation layer and
• wind barrier layer layer
along with metal thermal bridging
element was varied.
the length of metal bracket in third
dimension was varied to include
brackets with 0.06 m / 0.12 m / 0.18 m
length in third dimension.
In total 102 combinations
RESULTS

Numerical calculations were performed using methodology, boundary

conditions and modelling rules described in ISO 10211:2017 using
software package Physibel Trisco (FDM).
RESULTS

• Additional thermal
bridge length is not
affected by thermal
conductivity of load
bearing wall and
insulation layer.
• Thermal resistance
of wind barrier layer
as well as thermal
conductivity of metal
bracket has strong
effect.
MAIN RESULT

Several (12) multiple linear regression

models were fitted to the numerically
calculated data (statistical analysis software
R) to find a best fit with least amount of
additional terms.
The goodness of fit was assessed by
considering the adjusted R-squared for each
model and the p-value for each coefficient
estimate.

Final fitted model:

MAIN RESULT

The relative error varies between

-9.2% … +15.1% (small point TB)
Typical deviation from the
numerically calculated values
were significantly lower with:
• +2.7% (0.25 quantile) and
• +3.2% (0.75 quantile).
CONCLUSION

The new method is expected to work accurately

for thermal bridges with small point thermal
transmittance (façade mounting brackets,
fixation elements etc).

Limitations
• Assumes uniform geometry in third dimension
• with point thermal transmittances < 0.2 W/K.
• Not suitable for larger protrusions in building
envelope (concrete columns, steel beams
etc).
THANK YOU