Energy Efficient Potential of Traditional Curved-roof Forms In Hot Arid Regions

This paper investigates the effect of various vaulted and domed roof geometries on their solar behaviour under given summer and winter conditions. In order to evaluate the solar performance of flat and curved roofs geometrical configurations, a parametric study testing the received solar radiation intensity (W/m²) on flat, vaulted, and domed roofs with different span-to-height ratios and orientations was carried out using a published solar computer model. The results of this model were followed by validation tests using other two commercially available computer tools to carry out a brief solar and thermal analysis of selected curved-roof geometries. The evaluated curved-roofs solar performance and main findings of the present research have been compared with recently published independent research. It is believed that this paper establishes a sound theoretical basis for the validity of various claims of the climatic advantages of different curved-roof forms in hot-arid regions. As part of a continuing post-doctoral research, which aims at introducing solar and architectural design-guidelines for different traditional curved-roof forms, this paper concludes number of curved-roof forms’ solar behaviour and their energy efficient potential in hot-arid climates.