Simulation and Verification of Coupled Heat and Moisture Modelling

N. Williams Portal[1], M. van Aarle[2], and J. van Schijndel[2]
[1]Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
[2]Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Published in 2011

This paper includes the implementation and comparison of two types of moisture potentials for the combined transport: the natural logarithmic of the suction pressure (LPc) and the relative humidity (RH). The finite element method has been utilized to evaluate coupled 1D thermal and hygric transport by means of COMSOL Multiphysics.

The combined transport mechanisms were described by the Coefficient Form PDE multiphysics modelling tool, which was thereafter parameterized by advanced material and boundary functions. The two developed models were verified with the normative benchmark test of European Provisional Standard prEN 15026.