On the Selection of Thermal Protection for the Basement Slab of a Frame-Monolithic Building on Pile Foundations

Abstract

In frame-monolithic buildings on pile foundations, the presence of significant thermal bridges formed by the connections of the reinforced concrete grillage, columns, and basement slab elements leads to a violation of thermal protection. To mitigate the negative impact of thermal bridges, various methods of constructing the basement slab have been analyzed, including the use of a thermal break made of extruded polystyrene between the grillage and the slab, as well as a thermal break in the masonry with internal and external insulation of the slab. Using the certified program HEAT 3, three-dimensional fragments of
the corner section of the basement slab, including a reinforced concrete column and grillage, were modeled and calculated. The results of the numerical analysis showed that the application of a thermal break in both the grillage and the masonry significantly improves the thermal performance of the basement slab compared to traditional structural solutions. External insulation of the
basement slab contributes to the creation of a continuous thermal insulation circuit for the building. The most favorable impact on thermal protection is achieved when the column is shifted from the building's corner towards the interior.