最佳不透明建筑围护结构设计的选择取决于几个因素，包括外观、寿命周期成本、结构完整性，以及保护室内空间免受天气和噪音影响的能力。近年来，美国的住宅通常使用木框架墙，因为其初始成本低且易于施工。最近对通过建筑围护结构传递能量及其对供暖和制冷燃料成本的影响的重视，促使人们加大了设计更具成本效益围护结构的努力。爱荷华州立大学能源研究所二楼安装了四个不同的框架墙试验段。 每段墙体的热工性能已在现场研究了两年。测量了有框架效应和无框架效应时的稳态热阻，年复一年的热阻变化，以及夏季的瞬态热流。本文介绍了研究结果，并将其用作开发每种结构的生命周期成本的基础，该成本可用于确定新结构的最佳框架墙设计。引文:德克萨斯州休斯顿ASHRAE学报第88卷第1部分研讨会

The choice of an optimum opaque building envelope design depends on several factors including its appearance, life cycle cost, structural integrity, and the ability to shield the interior space from weather and noise. Residences in the United States have typically utilized wood frame walls in recent years because of the low initial cost and ease of construction. Recent emphasis on energy transfer through building envelopes and its impact on heating and cooling fuel costs has resulted in increased efforts to design more cost-effective envelopes.Four different frame wall test sections have been installed in the second story of the Iowa State University Energy Research House. The thermal performance of each wall section has been studied in situ for a period of two years. Measurements have been made of the steadystate thermal resistances with and without framing effects, the change in resistance from year to year, and the transient heat flow in summer. Results of the study are presented here and are used as a basis to develop the life cycle cost of each construction, which can be used to determine the optimum frame wall design for a new structure.