Methodology for the Next Generation of Building Thermal Modeling and Simulation

这项拟议的研究旨在研究下一代建筑热模拟和模拟的基础，并建立一个计算平台，在其中应用所产生的理论来为未来的热模拟问题提供解决方案。这将通过组织成三个分研究项目的研究活动来实现： 研究项目1-基础研究：(1)与结构模块集成的热模拟，允许对结构耐久性进行建模；(2)热模拟时间范围的理论研究：多年模拟与基于典型气象年(TMY)的年度模拟的比较；(3)新方法的验证：实验研究。 研究项目2-技术进展：(1)用于与基于BIM(建筑信息模型)的工程工具集成的智能建筑建模模块；(2)与常用热力建模软件的集成；(3)基于Simulink的平台。 研究项目3-应用研究：(1)工程案例研究；(2)入住后评估(POE)和对设计师的反馈。 在开发现有的热建模方法和仿真平台时，由于商业计算机的计算能力的限制，这些技术在学术研究和工业应用中都是有折衷的。例如，物理建筑系统通常过于简化，以生成数学模型，其中相关属性的值被认为是恒定的，建筑的长期性能只基于一年的气候条件来模拟，通常以TMY(典型气象年)的格式提供。这大大降低了热模拟结果的准确性和代表性，因此可能会对设计过程产生误导信息。随着更先进的计算机技术的发展，重新研究这一方法并开发新一代热模拟技术是合适的，它可以显著提高模拟研究的性能，但代价是对计算能力的要求更高。 这项研究将在建筑性能模拟领域产生新的知识，并为建筑构件和整个系统的耐久性建模增加新的能力。在这些基础研究成果的基础上，将开发和实现智能建筑模型，以便于在基于BIM(建筑信息模型)的仿真平台上使用。预计这项研究将提高热模拟研究的准确性，热模拟研究已成为IDP(集成设计过程)和可持续建筑发展的重要因素。

This proposed research is aimed to investigate the fundamentals for the next generation of building thermal modeling and simulation and to establish a computational platform in which the resulting theories are implemented to produce solutions for future thermal modeling problems. This is to be achieved through research activities organized into three sub research projects: Research Project 1 - Fundamental studies:(1) Thermal modeling integrated with structure modules that allows for the modeling of structure durability; (2)Theoretical study on the time horizon for thermal modeling: multiple-year simulation in comparison with Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) based annual simulation; (3) Validation of new method: experimental studies. Research Project 2 - Technical advances: (1) Smart building modeling modules for integration with BIM (Building Information Model) based engineering tools; (2) Integration with commonly used thermal modeling software; (3) SIMULINK based platform. Research Project 3 - Application studies: (1) Engineering case studies; (2) Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) and Feedback to designers. Limited by the computational capability of the commercial computers available when the existing thermal modeling methods and simulation platforms were developed, these technologies are availed with compromises for use in both academic research and industrial applications. For example, the physical building system is normally oversimplified to generate mathematical models in which the value of relevant properties are considered constant, and the long-term performance of a building is simulated only based on one-year of climatic conditions, typically available in the format of TMY (Typical Meteorological Year). This significantly reduces the accuracy and representativeness of thermal simulation results and thus is likely to produce misleading information for the design process. With much more advanced computer technologies, it is appropriate to re-investigate this approach and to develop a new generation of thermal modeling technology that can significantly improve the performance of simulation studies at the cost of much higher demand on the computational capacity. This research will generate new knowledge on the area of building performance simulation and add new ability for modeling the durability of building components and the entire system. Based on the outcomes of these fundamental studies, smart building models will be developed and implemented for easy use by BIM (Building information Model) based simulation platforms. It is anticipated that this research will improve the accuracy of thermal simulation studies that have become an important element for IDP (Integrated Design Process) and sustainable building development.