An experimental data set for benchmarking 1-D, transient heat and moisture transfer models of hygroscopic building materials. Part I: Experimental facility and material property data

Abstract

As numerical models of heat and moisture transfer in porous building materials advance and numerical investigations increase in the literature, there remains a need for simple accurate and well-documented experimental data for model validation. The aim of this two part paper is to provide such experimental data for two hygroscopic building materials (cellulose insulation and spruce plywood) exposed to 1-D and transient boundary conditions. Part I of this paper describes the transient moisture transfer (TMT) facility used to generate the experimental data as well as the uncertainty and repeatability of the measured data. The measured material properties are also presented to fully document the experimental data set and permit its use by other researchers.