Altering the Thermal Behavior of Precast Concrete Panels Through Optimizing Surface Pattern

Precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) are widely used in construction for several reasons,one of the more important reasons is the thermal performance since it implements an insulation layer sandwiched between two layers of concrete, which improves the thermal resistance of the wall assembly considering that most of energy loss in buildings is through the exterior walls.Concrete can be an ideal material for energy saving, due to its thermal mass which acts as a thermal battery for the building, absorbing energy during the day and releasing it at night. Many energy codes recognize the benefits of thermal mass and require less insulation for mass walls.Many designs can be applied to the exterior layer of PCSPs mainly for esthetics. These designs can also influence the thermal lag by increasing or decreasing the time expected to absorb or release the heat.The proposed research is aimed to investigate the effect of the architectural patterns on the exterior layer of the precast concrete sandwich panel on the thermal lag in terms of absorbing, storing, and releasing heat energy.