Ling, C S; Ahmad, M H and Ossen, D R (2007) The effect of geometric shape and building orientation on minimising solar insolation on high-rise buildings in hot humid climate. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 12(1), pp. 27-38. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
High-rise buildings are experiencing overheating condition in hot humid climate. For a high-rise built form, vertical surfaces are the most critical to the impact of solar radiation. This study examines the effect of geometric shapes on the total solar insolation received by high-rise buildings. Two generic building shapes (square and circular) have been studied with variations in width-to-length ratio (W/L ratio) and building orientation using the computer simulation program ECOTECT V5.2. The results revealed that the circular shape with W/L ratio 1:1 is the most optimum shape in minimising total solar insolation. The square shape with W/L ratio 1:1 in a north-south orientation receives the lowest annual total solar insolation compared to other square shapes. This optimum shape (CC 1:1) receives the highest amount of solar insolation on the east-orientated wall, followed by the south-, west- and north-orientated walls respectively. This study guides designers on choosing optimum geometric shape and appropriate orientation for high-rise buildings.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | geometric shape; high-rise; solar insolation |
| Index terms: | humid climate, overheating, high-rise building, solar insolation, designer, built form, program, solar radiation, variation, computer simulation, geometric shape |
| Subjects: | design features, urban form and morphology, profession, energy systems, contractual condition, thermal systems, climate science, construction type, modelling and simulation, software systems |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Design Practice, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Contract Administration, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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