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A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Probabilistic hygrothermal assessment of various timber frame wall compositions
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8315-3955
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1156-8553
Abstract The market share of timber-based buildings is growing in Europe, due to their advantages concerning CO2 emissions and embodied energy. Regrettably, timber frame constructions are susceptible to moisture damage, and their proper design is thus crucial, with specific emphasis on the ratio of the vapour diffusion resistances of the weather barrier and vapour barrier. While some rules-of-thumb are available, these commonly do not consider climatic aspects nor moisture buffering, and hence do not guarantee optimal solutions. This study targets general guidelines, for various European climates and wall compositions. As this requires numerous simulations, a convolutional neural network is applied, performing over 135,000 simulations, covering 96 wall compositions and 54 European climates. The walls’ performance is evaluated via mould index and condensation amount. The results reveal that defining one single criterium to avoid moisture damage is impossible and hence that climate-specific guidelines are needed. It is also noticed that moisture buffering plays an important role in avoiding condensation run-off, much more than the vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers. Finally a matrix is defined with the criteria to avoid moisture damage, depending on climatic conditions and wall composition. The key result is that either the insulation material or the weather barrier must provide moisture buffering. Furthermore, each climatic condition and cladding type yields a different criterion for the required vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers.
Highlights General guidelines for European wood frame wall constructions are developed. The relative diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers are the focus. Probabilistic assessment through convolutional neural networks forms the base. The guidelines are (unavoidably) climate-specific, a single criterion is not viable. Moisture buffering in insulation material or weather barrier has a strong effect.
Probabilistic hygrothermal assessment of various timber frame wall compositions
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8315-3955
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1156-8553
Abstract The market share of timber-based buildings is growing in Europe, due to their advantages concerning CO2 emissions and embodied energy. Regrettably, timber frame constructions are susceptible to moisture damage, and their proper design is thus crucial, with specific emphasis on the ratio of the vapour diffusion resistances of the weather barrier and vapour barrier. While some rules-of-thumb are available, these commonly do not consider climatic aspects nor moisture buffering, and hence do not guarantee optimal solutions. This study targets general guidelines, for various European climates and wall compositions. As this requires numerous simulations, a convolutional neural network is applied, performing over 135,000 simulations, covering 96 wall compositions and 54 European climates. The walls’ performance is evaluated via mould index and condensation amount. The results reveal that defining one single criterium to avoid moisture damage is impossible and hence that climate-specific guidelines are needed. It is also noticed that moisture buffering plays an important role in avoiding condensation run-off, much more than the vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers. Finally a matrix is defined with the criteria to avoid moisture damage, depending on climatic conditions and wall composition. The key result is that either the insulation material or the weather barrier must provide moisture buffering. Furthermore, each climatic condition and cladding type yields a different criterion for the required vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers.
Highlights General guidelines for European wood frame wall constructions are developed. The relative diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers are the focus. Probabilistic assessment through convolutional neural networks forms the base. The guidelines are (unavoidably) climate-specific, a single criterion is not viable. Moisture buffering in insulation material or weather barrier has a strong effect.
Probabilistic hygrothermal assessment of various timber frame wall compositions
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8315-3955
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1156-8553
Abstract The market share of timber-based buildings is growing in Europe, due to their advantages concerning CO2 emissions and embodied energy. Regrettably, timber frame constructions are susceptible to moisture damage, and their proper design is thus crucial, with specific emphasis on the ratio of the vapour diffusion resistances of the weather barrier and vapour barrier. While some rules-of-thumb are available, these commonly do not consider climatic aspects nor moisture buffering, and hence do not guarantee optimal solutions. This study targets general guidelines, for various European climates and wall compositions. As this requires numerous simulations, a convolutional neural network is applied, performing over 135,000 simulations, covering 96 wall compositions and 54 European climates. The walls’ performance is evaluated via mould index and condensation amount. The results reveal that defining one single criterium to avoid moisture damage is impossible and hence that climate-specific guidelines are needed. It is also noticed that moisture buffering plays an important role in avoiding condensation run-off, much more than the vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers. Finally a matrix is defined with the criteria to avoid moisture damage, depending on climatic conditions and wall composition. The key result is that either the insulation material or the weather barrier must provide moisture buffering. Furthermore, each climatic condition and cladding type yields a different criterion for the required vapour diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers.
Highlights General guidelines for European wood frame wall constructions are developed. The relative diffusion resistances of weather and vapour barriers are the focus. Probabilistic assessment through convolutional neural networks forms the base. The guidelines are (unavoidably) climate-specific, a single criterion is not viable. Moisture buffering in insulation material or weather barrier has a strong effect.
Probabilistic hygrothermal assessment of various timber frame wall compositions
Tijskens, Astrid (author) / Janssen, Hans (author) / Roels, Staf (author)
Building and Environment ; 243
2023-07-14
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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