Numerical Simulation Method on Thermal Performance of Frame Supported Glass Curtain Walls

Abstract:

An investigation was made into steady state heat transfer mechanism and optical properties of frame supported glass curtain walls (FSGCW) are investigated. The differential method was applied to establishing the numerical computation model of the heat transfer and optics performances of glass systems. Based on the two dimensional steady state heat transfer theory, the thermal performance finite element model was derived and established for frame systems in boundary conditions of convection, radiation as well as the couple of them. The FSGCW thermal performance analysis software was developed based on the secondary compiling of the AutoCAD using Visual C++ and ObjectARX. The proposed theory and numerical method was verified on the basis of a comparative study of various prevailing commercial softwares.

Key words:frame supported glass curtain walls; thermal performance; radiation and convection; numerical method