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Isothermal moisture flow in building materials: modelling, measurements and calculations based on Kirchhoff's potentia

Arfvidsson, J. and J. Claesson
2000
Building and Environment 35(6): 519-536


Arfvidsson, J. and J. Claesson, (2000), "Isothermal moisture flow in building materials: modelling, measurements and calculations based on Kirchhoff's potentia", Building and Environment 35(6): 519-536.
Abstract:
The modelling of non-linear, isothermal moisture flow in porous media without hysteresis is considered. Different formulations based on different potentials for the Fickian moisture flow are compared. Kirchhoffs how potential, i.e. the integral of any state-dependent moisture flow coefficient, is introduced. The problem with a highly variable flow coefficient vanishes. The theoretical, numerical and computational basis for isothermal moisture transport in building materials using Kirchhoff potentials is described. It is shown that the use of Kirchhoffs potential has clear advantages compared to models using a moisture flow coefficient. There is a conceptual simplicity. Only the relation between moisture content and Kirchhoffs potential is used in the internal process, while the relation between Kirchhoffs potential and any intensive variable is needed at boundaries. Precisely these relations are obtained in measurements, while the flow coefficients require a troublesome derivation. The use of Kirchhoffs potential simplifies considerably the numerical calculation, since flow coefficients and ensuing interpolation problems are avoided. Complete sets of data for moisture flow and equilibrium are given for five common building materials. In two examples, numerical calculations are compared to experimentally determined moisture distributions.

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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Arfvidsson, J.
Jesper Arfvidsson
  1. A new algorithm to calculate the isothermal moisture penetration for periodically varying relative humidity at the boundary
  2. Moisture Buffer Value of Materials in Buildings
  3. Moisture transport in porous media. modelling based on Kirchhoff potentials
  4. PC-based method to calculate moisture transport  
Claesson, J.
  1. A transient pressurization method for measurements of airtightness
  2. PC-based method to calculate moisture transport  



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