Service Life Assessment of Historical Building Envelopes Constructed Using Different Types of Sandstone: A Computational Analysis Based on Experimental Input Data

Abstract

Service life assessment of three historical building envelopes constructed using different types of sandstone is presented. At first, experimental measurements of material parameters of sandstones are performed to provide the necessary input data for a subsequent computational analysis. In the second step, the moisture and temperature fields across the studied envelopes are calculated for a representative period of time. The computations are performed using dynamic climatic data as the boundary conditions on the exterior side of building envelope. The climatic data for three characteristic localities are experimentally determined by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute and contain hourly values of temperature, relative humidity, rainfalls, wind velocity and direction, and sun radiation. Using the measured durability properties of the analyzed sandstones and the calculated numbers of freeze/thaw cycles under different climatic conditions, the service life of the investigated building envelopes is assessed. The obtained results show that the climatic conditions can play a very significant role in the service life assessment of historical buildings, even in the conditions of such a small country as the Czech Republic. In addition, the investigations reveal the importance of the material characteristics of sandstones, in particular the hygric properties, on their service life in a structure.

Computational simulation of hygrothermal processes in historical building envelopes provided with interior thermal insulation

“…The material properties of calcium silicate (CS) and sheep wool (SW) were determined in the laboratories of the Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague within the frame of this project and were stored in the material database. The other materials namely sandstone (SL) [1], mineral wool (MW) [2], connecting layer (M2) [3], interior (IP) and exterior (EP) plasters [4] were analyzed in the same laboratories, but have been published earlier. All material parameters were measured according to the methodology described in [5].…”

Computational Analysis of the Energy Efficiency of Stone Walls: Current Situation and Possible Improvements

“…All the basic physical, heat and moisture transport and storage parameters used as input data (see Tables 1 and 2 Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague [6,[9][10][11] according to the methodology presented in [12].…”

“…In addition, magnificence and aesthetic function are also characteristic of natural stones. However, their weakest point can be seen in their poor thermal insulating capabilities [6]. This disadvantage used to be overcome by the extensive thickness of the walls, but according to current thermal standards this is not enough anymore.…”

Service life assessment of different types of plasters applied for the renovation of architectural heritage

“…All the basic physical, heat and moisture transport and storage parameters used as input data in presented calculations were measured in the laboratories of the Department of Materials Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague [3][4][5][6][7] according to the methodology presented in [8]. The gathered laboratory data are summarized in Tables 1-3 …”