Optimizing Concrete Performance: Investigation on Thermal and Moisture Enhancement by Applying a Bio-Based Layer to the Geometrical Concrete Panel

Building envelopes—especially roofs and facades—have been found to be the primary elements influencing a building's energy efficiency and thermal performance. Since it increases the façade's shaded area, using surface geometry as a design variable could be crucial to the structure's thermal specifications. This would increase the shaded areas by, accordingly, reducing the amount of heat that is stored and transferred into interior spaces. Six geometrical patterns were created using an experimental method based on a review of the literature in order to test the viability of the surface geometry. It found that the presence of alcove spaces deeper and against flow obstructions caused the most water holding for their deepest grooves and greater obstruction to the linear flow channel than other panels. The best thermally performed patterns among the six patterned samples, have been intensely measured thermally by measuring the thermal conductivity and taking thermal images in various weather conditions after adding bio-based layer to their outer surface. The study found that adding a bio-based layer could also lower the average surface temperature of the panel by 4°. This would be checked by the thermal performance evaluation in terms of keeping moisture in the samples and lowering the amount of heat that was stored and transferred.