Physical thermal properties and comparative analysis of the ecological straw constructive modules

Abstract

Understanding the physical and thermal material properties is important, due to it helps to determine the thermal comfort and how green is an architectural space, decreasing the energy consumption and avoiding the use of artificial cooling systems. This research is based on three stages: the design, simulations, and analysis of the results. The first stage developed three modules made of straw as a core material, wood and cardboard reinforcement. Successively, the thermal analysis simulation of the modules was carried out using the software ANSYS to determine each one thermal performance under extreme solar radiation of San Jose de Cucuta, Colombia. Thus, obtaining the temperature distribution exterior-interior and the heat fluxes for each typology. The results of the simulation show better thermal benefit in one specific module compared to the others, demonstrating that the implementation of an air chamber is the best strategy to reduce heat transfer in the design of the module, encouraging the use of straw as a constructive system. This research promotes the development of widely viable innovative sustainable construction solutions to configure any type of architectural enclosure in rural areas surrounding the city.