Experimental evaluation of shape factor of axis-symmetric sunken structures

This paper investigates the dependency of shape factor of the axis-symmetric fully sunken structures (viz. cubical, square prismatic, pyramidal, and cylindrical) in terms of their depth and orientation. Experimental evaluations of the shape factor in reducedscale models were carried out at laboratory using thermal simulation method in different conditions. The method was used to determine shape factor, which can be used to determine heat loss from ground to structure or structure to ground fully sunken with different orientations. Maximum and minimum values of the shape factor in set-I and set- II conditions were calculated as 90.18 and 9.93, respectively. In set-II condition, the value varied from 16.49 to 35.28. At D/L = 2, the shape factor in set-VI condition (17.26%) was compared to that in set-VII condition. Similarly, the shape factor in set-IX (33.47%) was compared to that in set-VIII condition. This comparison helps design a better building structure of fully buried nature to ensure higher thermal comfort. © 2020 Sharif University of Technology. All rights reserved.