Thermal analysis of wood-based test cells

The objective of the present paper is to evaluate the thermal performance of diverse wood-based panels in small-scale test cells of 1m x 1m x 1m of internal volume. The thermal evaluations took place under the climatic conditions of Curitiba, Brazil (latitude 25.5 degrees S, elevation 917 m above sea level), which is characterized by a subtropical climate with high daily and annual amplitudes of the air temperature. The research comprised of the following steps: (1) heat flux measurements through each panel configuration: (2) indoor temperature measurements under summer and winter climatic conditions. Reference material for indoor temperature comparisons was a prototype made with ordinary ceramic bricks, plastered on both sides. Air temperature measurements were carried out with data-loggers, heat flux plates were attached to an exposed north facade of each test cell, while incoming solar radiation was measured with an experimental solarimeter. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.