Heat Transfer for Slab-on-Grade Floors With Prescribed Heat Flux

A general solution of soil temperature distribution is developed for slab-on-grade floor with known heat flux distribution along the floor. The Interzone Temperature Profile Estimation (ITPE) technique is applied to determine the steady-state variation of temperature within the ground. A water table at constant temperature is assumed to exist at a given depth below the soil surface. As a first application of the general solution, the optimum thermal insulation distribution is obtained for a slab-on-grade floor and various desired level of heat flux at the slab floor. A second application of the developed solution presents a diagnostic method to determine the amount of the thermal insulation at the building foundation measured data for heat flux at the surface of the slab-on-grade floor. A parametric analysis is conducted to determine the effects of heat flux profiles and water table depths on the required insulation distribution along the foundation surface.