A comparative study of thermal performances of three mud dwelling units with courtyards in composite climate

Abstract

Jharkhand is a state in the eastern part of India. The tropic of Cancer (23 and a half degree north line) passes through Ranchi district in Jharkhand. Mud huts with burnt clay tiled roofs in Ranchi district in Jharkhand are an integral component of the state’s vernacular architecture. They come in various shapes, with a number of them having a courtyard type of plan. In general, it has been stated that courtyard type dwelling units show better thermal performance during summer and winter. In this paper, three types of mud huts with courtyards are taken as a study and through temperature measurements in the south side rooms and “Ecotect-Autodesk” (Version 2011) software simulations, their thermal performance during the hotter and colder parts of the year are observed. Thereafter, based on the study, the thermally better performing dwelling types in summer and winter are identified among the three sub-types studied. It is found that all courtyard type dwellings do not necessarily show better thermal performance in summer and winter in composite climate. Certain recommendations with respect to increasing thermal comfort in general in courtyard type huts are made.

Keywords:

• mud huts
• courtyard
• thermal performance
• temperature measurements
• simulations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janmejoy Gupta

JANMEJOY GUPTA Dr Janmejoy Gupta is an Architect-Urban Planner with more than 12 years of industrial and teaching experience. Recently completed doctorate in Architecture. Presently Assistant Professor in Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. Research areas are passive design strategies for thermal comfort in dwellings, Sustainability, and Urban Planning. Dr Gupta is an Indian Green Building Council Accredited Professional and has worked on a number of green building documentations.

Manjari Chakraborty

MANJARI CHAKRABORTY Dr Manjari Chakraborty, Professor, Architecture Department, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India has three decades of simultaneous exposure in the profession, teaching, research, and administration in Architecture. She has qualifications in Architecture, Environment, Information Technology, and Research.

Arnab Paul

ARNAB PAUL Arnab Paul is a LEED Green Associate and currently a Graduate Student in the Construction Management Program at Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN, USA. He is also working as a Project Management Intern with a local General Contractor named American Constructors Inc. Arnab completed his Bachelors in Architecture at BIT Mesra, Ranchi.

Vamsi Korrapatti

VAMSI KORRAPATTI Vamsi Korrapati completed his Bachelors in Architecture at BIT Mesra, Ranchi. He is currently pursuing post graduation in project management from Australian National University, with a keen interest in green architecture. His research areas include sustainable architecture and Vernacular architecture.