Análisis térmico de paneles de tierra comprimidos y su aplicación en las diferentes zonas climáticas de Ecuador

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the thermal characteristics of compressed earth panels (BTC) used in social housing, with a construction system that combines BTC and bamboo. The house is designed modularly to expand according to users’ needs. These houses are located in the cities of Cuenca, which has a rainy continental climatic zone; Macas, which has a hot and humid climatic zone; and Machala, which has a very hot and hu-mid climatic zone, using land designated for the construction of affordable housing. To achieve this objective, environmental data and relevant factors from each site are collected and recorded in the Design Builder software. This allows for simulations that enable the analysis of the internal thermal comfort of each area of the house. This approach not only facilitates the selection of the most suitable BTC masonry option but also contributes to maintaining the sustainability of the project. Based on the collected data, formal criteria are established, considering pre-existing characteristics and analysis of the different climatic zones. Initially, the houses show thermal discomfort at certain times of the day. However, the proposed adjustments throughout the research improve thermal conditions for users, achieving an optimal balance between activity schedules in each space and achieving an overall sensation of thermal comfort for most of the analyzed climatic zones. The conclusion is that the BTC-bamboo system is a viable alterna-tive that contributes to the construction of social housing in various climatic zones of Ecuador.