Assessment of moisture risk of wooden beam embedded in internally insulated masonry walls with 2D and 3D models. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Xiaohai; Carmeliet, Jan; Derome, Dominique
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 193(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Interior thermal insulation -- Clay brick masonry wall -- Wooden beam-end -- Hygrothermal model -- 2D and 3D modelling; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107460
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Internal insulation of masonry walls may significantly increase the decay risk of embedded wooden beams due to lower temperature and consequently lower drying potential in retrofitted existing walls. Since high moisture contents will affect performance and service life of wood, the assessment of moisture-related damage risks in wooden beam-ends in internally insulated masonry walls is particularly relevant to heritage buildings. The proper selection of indoor and outdoor materials and the addition of an embedded heating source offer means of decreasing this risk. Numerical studies of hygrothermal performance of wooden beam-ends support risk assessment but traditionally this has been performed with 2D models. Therefore, in order to assess whether a 2D numerical model can represent accurately the 3D hygrothermal behavior of wooden beam-ends, the difference between 2D and 3D model results of the hygrothermal performance of wooden beam-ends embedded in internally insulated masonry wall is analysed for a northern continental climate. Given the small differences in relative humidity, temperature and mould index between the 2D and 3D models, it is suitable to replace 3D models with 2D ones for predicting the risk of moisture-related problems in the wood beam-end when studying the impact of different envelope components. However, for evaluating the effect of active heating on wooden beam-end performance, it is found that a 3D hygrothermal model should be used. In this case, a 2D model cannot accurately model heating locally at the beam-end resulting in an over prediction of temperature and thus in an underprediction of the moisture damage risk. Highlights: Moisture risk of wooden beam in internally insulated masonry is evaluated with 2D and 3D models. 3D models can be replaced with 2D ones for assessing moisture risk in the wood beam-end. For evaluating the effect of active heating on wooden beam-end, a 3D model should be used.