A Comparison on Simulation and Validation of Rural Residential Buildings Using Low Cost Technologies

Engineers and architects are using engineering simulations to design buildings to attain energy efficiency, sustainable goals and utilize renewable resources. Fluid dynamics simulations have proven to be a powerful and effective tool providing flexible solutions. These simulations are used as an optimization and validation tool at an early phase in the design process. Building, as one of the largest industries, has significant impacts on the environment and natural resources. Air velocity, temperature and humidity ratio are the most important parameters for the determination of building thermal comfort. Rural residences accommodate major population and were not much taken care of by the designers and builders. Selection of building materials and construction techniques found to play a major role in the sustainable development of rural building sector. Mud block construction and rat trap bonded brick wall construction were simulated and analysed for temperature and relative humidity distribution indoors at standard outdoor conditions. Thermal validation was done and the analysis depicts the advantage of rat trap bonded wall construction for natural building cooling and thermal comfort.