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Hygrothermal properties of building materials
Research Guide
What is Hygrothermal properties of building materials?
Hygrothermal properties of building materials are the thermal and moisture-related characteristics, such as thermal conductivity, moisture diffusivity, and buffering capacity, that determine how these materials interact with heat and water vapor in construction applications.
Research on hygrothermal properties encompasses 29,674 works focused on sustainable earth construction materials like rammed earth and hemp concrete, covering moisture buffering and mechanical characteristics. Key studies model moisture movement under temperature gradients and thermal conductivity of soils using ordinary soil parameters. Comparative analyses review insulation materials' performance in the building sector.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Hygrothermal Performance of Rammed Earth
This sub-topic examines the coupled heat and moisture transfer properties in rammed earth walls, including thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, and moisture buffering capacity. Researchers study experimental characterization, numerical modeling, and performance under varying climatic conditions.
Moisture Buffering in Hemp Concrete
This sub-topic investigates the moisture adsorption and desorption kinetics of hemp concrete, focusing on its hygroscopic behavior and interaction with indoor environments. Researchers analyze material composition effects and dynamic performance in building simulations.
Thermal Conductivity of Plant Aggregate Insulations
This sub-topic covers the measurement and modeling of thermal conductivity in insulations made from plant aggregates like straw or cork. Researchers explore density, moisture content, and aging effects on insulating performance.
Water Sorptivity in Earth-Based Mortars
This sub-topic addresses capillary water absorption, sorptivity coefficients, and durability implications in mortars from earth and natural stabilizers. Researchers develop standardized testing methods and mitigation strategies against moisture damage.
Hygrothermal Simulation of Bio-Based Walls
This sub-topic focuses on finite element and finite difference models for simulating transient hygrothermal behavior in walls using bio-based materials. Researchers validate models against experimental data for whole-building energy analysis.
Why It Matters
Hygrothermal properties influence building energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and durability by managing heat and moisture transfer, critical for sustainable construction. For instance, Schiavoni et al. (2016) in "Insulation materials for the building sector: A review and comparative analysis" compared thermal performance of various insulators, aiding selection for reduced energy consumption. Asdrubali et al. (2015) in "A review of unconventional sustainable building insulation materials" highlighted natural alternatives to petrochemical foams, lowering environmental impacts from production. Papadopoulos (2004) in "State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for future developments" outlined advancements that enhance insulation efficacy, directly supporting lower heating and cooling demands in buildings. These properties also underpin moisture buffering in porous materials, as modeled in the 1957 paper "Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients" with 2311 citations, preventing issues like mold growth.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
Begin with "Insulation materials for the building sector: A review and comparative analysis" by Schiavoni et al. (2016) as it provides a broad comparative foundation on insulation performance essential for understanding hygrothermal basics in buildings.
Key Papers Explained
The foundational "Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients" (1957, 2311 citations) establishes theory for vapor and liquid transport, which Johansen (1977) in "Thermal Conductivity of Soils" builds upon by modeling heat conduction in moist soils. Schiavoni et al. (2016) in "Insulation materials for the building sector: A review and comparative analysis" and Asdrubali et al. (2015) in "A review of unconventional sustainable building insulation materials" apply these principles to review modern insulators. Papadopoulos (2004) in "State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for future developments" synthesizes progress, while Hall (1989) in "Water sorptivity of mortars and concretes: a review" complements with capillarity specifics.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current work emphasizes integrating hygrothermal models into sustainable materials like rammed earth and hemp concrete, though no recent preprints are available. Frontiers involve refining moisture buffering predictions for natural aggregates amid the field's 29,674 papers.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients | 1957 | Transactions American ... | 2.3K | ✕ |
| 2 | Thermal Conductivity of Soils | 1977 | — | 1.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Insulation materials for the building sector: A review and com... | 2016 | Renewable and Sustaina... | 928 | ✕ |
| 4 | Climate considerations in building and urban design | 1997 | Medical Entomology and... | 901 | ✕ |
| 5 | A review of unconventional sustainable building insulation mat... | 2015 | Sustainable materials ... | 895 | ✓ |
| 6 | Buildings as a global carbon sink | 2020 | Nature Sustainability | 884 | ✕ |
| 7 | Design with Climate: Bioclimatic Approach to Architectural Reg... | 1963 | Journal of Architectur... | 869 | ✕ |
| 8 | State of the art in thermal insulation materials and aims for ... | 2004 | Energy and Buildings | 863 | ✕ |
| 9 | Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials a... | 2002 | Energy and Buildings | 792 | ✕ |
| 10 | Water sorptivity of mortars and concretes: a review | 1989 | Magazine of Concrete R... | 791 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are hygrothermal properties in building materials?
Hygrothermal properties describe how building materials conduct heat and manage moisture, including thermal conductivity and water vapor diffusion. These properties affect energy performance and indoor climate control. Studies like Johansen (1977) in "Thermal Conductivity of Soils" model them using soil parameters for practical predictions.
How does moisture move in porous building materials?
Moisture moves in porous materials under temperature gradients via vapor transfer and liquid flow, influenced by moisture content. The 1957 paper "Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients" explains large apparent vapor transfer and net moisture effects through unsaturated flow theory. This reconciles experimental data on capillarity and diffusion.
What role do sustainable materials play in hygrothermal performance?
Sustainable materials like hemp concrete and rammed earth offer favorable hygrothermal properties for moisture buffering and insulation. Asdrubali et al. (2015) in "A review of unconventional sustainable building insulation materials" notes their lower embodied energy compared to polystyrene. Reddy and Jagadish (2002) in "Embodied energy of common and alternative building materials and technologies" quantify reduced environmental impacts.
How is thermal conductivity measured for soils in construction?
Thermal conductivity of soils is calculated via mathematical models incorporating ordinary soil parameters like moisture and density. Johansen (1977) in "Thermal Conductivity of Soils" developed such a model based on heat-transfer mechanisms in moist materials. It enables predictions for earth-based building applications.
What is water sorptivity in concretes and mortars?
Water sorptivity measures the capillary absorption rate of water into porous cement-based materials. Hall (1989) in "Water sorptivity of mortars and concretes: a review" details measurement methods grounded in unsaturated flow theory. It characterizes material durability against moisture ingress.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can models of moisture movement under temperature gradients be extended to modern bio-based insulators like hemp concrete?
- ? What are the long-term effects of coupled hygrothermal cycles on the mechanical integrity of rammed earth structures?
- ? How do local soil variations impact predictive accuracy of thermal conductivity models in sustainable earth construction?
- ? Which combinations of natural fibers optimize moisture buffering without compromising thermal resistance?
- ? What measurement standards best capture hygrothermal interactions in plant aggregate composites?
Recent Trends
The field maintains a corpus of 29,674 papers on hygrothermal properties, with emphasis on sustainable materials like rammed earth and hemp concrete for moisture buffering, as per cluster description.
Highly cited classics like "Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients" (1957, 2311 citations) and "Thermal Conductivity of Soils" (1977, 1070 citations) continue dominating, indicating steady reliance on established models.
No growth rate, recent preprints, or news in the last 12 months signals stable maturation without abrupt shifts.
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