Research activities dealing with high-performance windows aim at improving glazing and frame thermal properties. The development of sustainable materials with high insulating characteristics may play a pivotal role to increase standards for indoor comfort and energy saving. Within this work, we designed an innovative frame embodying a highly sustainable material deriving from paper waste, acting as an effective “thermal break” for window frames, to consistently reduce the frame conductance. We reported a full thermal characterization of the experimental material and compared the performance of the new frame both with currently used as well as obsolete frames, widely adopted in the existing building stock. Finite element method was used to model the frames and assess their thermal figures of merit, according to current technical standards. Frame transmittance of 1.08 W · m−2 · K−1 and window transmittance of 0.94 W · m−2 · K−1 were calculated, compatible with uses in the most challenging climatic zones, both in new buildings and in energy retrofit or existing constructions.
Sustainable Materials for Highly Insulated Window Frames: Thermal Performance and Finite Elements Modelling / Cannavale, Alessandro; Liuzzi, Stefania; Rubino, Chiara; De Carlo, Vincenzo; Ayr, Ubaldo; Martellotta, Francesco (LECTURE NOTES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING). - In: Multiphysics and Multiscale Building Physics Proceedings of the 9th International Building Physics Conference (IBPC 2024). Volume 4: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Lighting and Acoustics / [a cura di] Umberto Berardi. - STAMPA. - Singapore : SpringerH, 2025. - ISBN 978-981-97-8316-8. - pp. 359-364 [10.1007/978-981-97-8317-5_52]
Sustainable Materials for Highly Insulated Window Frames: Thermal Performance and Finite Elements Modelling
Cannavale, Alessandro;Rubino, Chiara;Ayr, Ubaldo;Martellotta, Francesco
2025
Abstract
Research activities dealing with high-performance windows aim at improving glazing and frame thermal properties. The development of sustainable materials with high insulating characteristics may play a pivotal role to increase standards for indoor comfort and energy saving. Within this work, we designed an innovative frame embodying a highly sustainable material deriving from paper waste, acting as an effective “thermal break” for window frames, to consistently reduce the frame conductance. We reported a full thermal characterization of the experimental material and compared the performance of the new frame both with currently used as well as obsolete frames, widely adopted in the existing building stock. Finite element method was used to model the frames and assess their thermal figures of merit, according to current technical standards. Frame transmittance of 1.08 W · m−2 · K−1 and window transmittance of 0.94 W · m−2 · K−1 were calculated, compatible with uses in the most challenging climatic zones, both in new buildings and in energy retrofit or existing constructions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
