Shape floor effects on heat losses to the ground

In this paper, the effect of the floor shape on the steady-state heat flow to the ground of an insulated slab on the ground floor is investigated. A rectangular floor, a square one, and L- and H-shaped floors are considered. The thermal processes in the ground are analyzed by means of a finite element code, validated in accordance with the requirements of International Standard ISO 10211. The results of numerical analysis are compared with the results obtained by the International Standard method ISO 13370. The results show that the heat losses to the ground are significantly influenced by the floor shape: ranging from an H-shaped floor to a square one the steady-state ground global heat transfer coefficient decreases by about 22%. The analysis also highlights that the methodology provided by the International Standard overestimates the losses compared to numerical calculations.