Exploring the relationship between structurally defined geometrical parameters of reinforced concrete beams and the thermal comfort on indoor environment

The paper presents a research exploring the thermal mass effect of reinforced concrete beams with structurally optimised
geometrical forms. Fully exposed concrete soffits in architectural contexts create more than just visual impacts on the indoor
climate through their possible interferences with light, sound and thermal conditions. It is considered that the characteristics of
interferences would have close relationship with material and geometrical properties of the soffits; especially when the soffits are
other than flat form. In the current investigation the relationship between the thermal mass effect (and the implication on thermal
comfort) and the given geometrical parameters of exposed soffit reinforced concrete beams are explored.
The geometrical parameters of the beams are initially defined in means of structural optimisation. The beams consist of flange
and web in likeness of T-sectioned beams. However, both flange and web are curved vertically for the required bending and
shear capacity of the sections. At the same time, the web is also curved horizontally for increased shear capacities. In the
research, both the vertical and horizontal geometrical parameters are varied to observe the resultant heat exchange behaviour, and
the implication on thermal comfort indoor environment. However, the current paper presents the thermal mass characteristics of
one geometrical type.
The study is based on results derived from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, where Rhino 3D is used for
geometrical modelling of the beams and office space.