APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL MODELLING STRATEGIES TO THE HYGROTHERMAL ANALYSIS OF MASONRY WALLS

This study investigates the hygrothermal transport mechanisms in brick masonry, focusing on the applicability of different modelling approaches, namely detailed micro-modelling, continuous micro-modelling, discrete micro-modelling, and macro modelling. The research addresses the challenge of balancing computational efficiency with accuracy in simulating heat and moisture transport within masonry structures. By examining a representative cross-section of a brick masonry wall subjected to external environmental loads, the study evaluates the effectiveness of these models in predicting hygrothermal behaviour. While thermal transport can be adequately represented by simplified models due to the relatively homogeneous distribution of thermal properties, moisture transport presents a greater complexity. In particular, the detailed micro-modelling approach highlights the limitations of simplified models in capturing localized moisture effects. A significant challenge arises in calibrating models for moisture transport parallel to the bed joints, where continuous lime mortar joints act as preferential moisture paths. This leads to discrepancies when applying calibration parameters derived from experiments on transport perpendicular to the bed joints. The findings of this study underscore the need for further research to refine calibration methods, explore different material combinations, and improve the accuracy of homogenization techniques, ultimately enhancing the reliability of hygrothermal simulations in masonry
structures.