A critique on characterising interface resistances with maximum moisture flows. (20th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Janssen, Hans
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 243(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05-20
• Subjects: Interface resistance -- Hydric resistance -- Hydraulic contact -- Brick–mortar interface; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: A recent article overestimates the impacts of the brick–mortar interface resistance. Its post-interface flows are too low, they do not reproduce the moisture absorption. Characterisation of material interfaces by post-interface flows is moreover queried. Inherently, these flows may depend on surrounding material and interface location. This limits their usability to the same structure only, thus foiling generalisation. Abstract: In February 2018, this journal published the article "Interface influence on moisture transport in buildings". This critique firstly establishes that the reported 'hydric resistance' values overestimate the impacts of the material interfaces for the brick–mortar 'hydraulic contact' samples. It is shown that the actual flows after crossing the brick–mortar interface are 2 to 5 times higher than indicated by the article's 'hydric resistance' values. This critique secondly demonstrates that the article's main idea of characterising material interfaces with a maximal post-interface-flow is not dependable nor generalisable. This flow is not necessarily constant in time, and may depend on the interface's actual location, the surrounding materials' properties and the imposed boundary conditions, hence defying all generalisation. The conclusion of this critique is therefore that the processing methods and results of the disputed article are not reliable.