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ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIB – 2012/2013 (module not running this year)

Module 4D11 - Building Physics

Leader:	Dr Mauro Overend (mo318@eng)
Timing:	Michaelmas Term
Prerequisites:	4D13 helpful
Structure:	16 lectures with integrated examples sessions + coursework (note: available to 3rd year students as Shared module in Part IIA)
Assessment:	*Material / Format / Timing / Marks* Lecture Syllabus / Written exam (1.5 hours) / Start of Easter Term / 75 % Coursework / Report / End of Lent Term / 25 %

AIMS

This module covers the basic theoretical aspects of energy flows within buildings and the transfer of energy between buildings and the environment. It explores the conditions and performance requirements in buildings and the novel energy efficient technologies and design strategies that are essential for designing sustainable, comfortable and architectural sensitive buildings.

LECTURE SYLLABUS

Heat and mass transfer (4L: A McRobie)

Introduction to the relevance of building physics
Definition of heat and mass transfer and conservation
Convection. conduction, radiation and applications
Air, vapour, moisture transfer and applications
Combined heat and mass transfer, steady state and transient applications

Light and lighting(3L: T. Chenvidyakarn, M.Overend)

Definition and measurement of light quantities: Overcast skies, daylight components in a room.
Requirements for lighting levels and visual comfort:
Artificial lighting and energy saving
Renewable solar energy

Building energy simulation (2L: R Choudhary)

Principles of building energy simulation
Practical exercise in building energy simulation

Other forms of renewable energy (1L: M Overend, A White)

Renewable energy technologies and building integration
Ground Source heat pumps

Acoustics (3L: T Lewers)

Definition of noise quantities measurement
Room acoustics and desirable measurement
Sound insulation: Wall performance and sound absorbers

The holistic design approach (1L: R Thomas)

Architectural engineering intent for sustainable buildings and cities

COURSEWORK

This will involve field measurements of environmental parameters within buildings and the immediate external environment. The field data will be compared with published standards and building energy calculations and submitted in the form of a report.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of the module students should:

Appreciate the principal aspects of environmental physics relevant to the inside and outside of buildings (air movement, light temperature, humidity, noise);
Be able to perform simple calculations of light levels, insulation, ventilation air flow and noise transmission in buildings;
Appreciate the underlying physics, strengths and limitations of computer models of complex real-world environments;
Have some experience of devices used to measure environmental parameters and how these parameters relate to human comfort;
Appreciate some of the ways sustainable buildings can be developed.

REFERENCES

Please see the Booklist for Group D Courses for references to this module.

Last updated: May 2012

teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk