Parameter determination for heat and moisture simulations of repair mortars

Abstract eng:
The determination of adequate parameters for heat and moisture transport simulations of building materials is often regarded as difficult and time-consuming. Considering the wide variety of mortars and masonry units in historic masonry and the large range of available materials for repair, a realistic estimation is an absolute necessity to obtain satisfactory results. Moisture retention and liquid permeability are identified as the most important parameters; both are a function of moisture content. Absorption and drying tests are proposed as the most important experiments, where the absorption may be replaced by a Karsten test, using an improved procedure. Further, pore size distribution results through MIP tests are convenient to establish the moisture retention curve, which can in turn be used to calculate a permeability curve, using Mualem's model. Whereas some of the proposed procedures imply simplifications, a simple calibration procedure is proposed to account for inaccuracies and to make sure the material's response is realistic in the most important processes.

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