Building Materials Research Articles

Measuring the real radon exhalation from walls in buildings

Building materials may significantly contribute to indoor radon activity concentration. Measuring the radon exhalation rate directly on the existing building elements represents the most accurate and reliable method to assess the building materials’ contribution. However, due to the method’s inner difficulties, no specific apparatus has been developed and documented in the literature.An innovative apparatus has been designed, constructed, and commissioned to measure the radon exhalation rate in situ from vertical surfaces of existing building walls. The apparatus is non-destructive, completely self-standing, and easily transportable. The sealing mechanism has been demonstrated to assure airtightness similarly to destructive setups. The measurements’ repeatability is less than 10% at different radon exhalation rates.The apparatus introduced is the only available solution to measure the site-dependent contribution of building materials to the indoor radon concentration. The apparatus allows for improving the specificity, so the effectiveness, of the remedial interventions to reduce the radon-related health risk.

Integrating phase change materials in buildings for heating and cooling demand reduction – A global study

This study aims to analyse the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in building envelopes globally, focusing on its ability to reduce the energy demand and its economic viability. This study conducted extensive simulations using the DesignBuilder software across 5,684 locations globally and utilising artificial intelligence (AI) models to extend the simulation further to 73,515 locations, evaluating the impacts of PCM properties such as melting temperature (MT) and thickness. The main findings indicate that pronounced annual energy savings, 2500 to 3000 kWh, are observed in equatorial regions including northeast Brazil, central Africa, and the Malay Archipelago. Additionally, the optimal utilisation of increased PCM thickness is contingent upon selecting the correct MT and is most effective in regions with high average maximum temperatures, while the most common effective thickness is 20 mm. The study demonstrates that MT significantly affects energy savings, more than PCM thickness, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate MT based on climatic conditions. The 25 °C MT is most effective within lower latitude range (−15° to 30°), averaging 743.2 kWh greater savings than the 21 °C option. The 21 °C MT shows superior performance outside of this range, however the advantage is marginal as the average savings is 251.0 kWh. Economically, regions such as the USA, southern Europe (Spain and Italy), Brazil, and northern Australia show the best viability for PCM integration, aligning energy efficiency improvements with substantial economic returns. This comprehensive analysis suggests that tailored PCM integration strategies are essential for maximising energy savings and advancing sustainable building practices.

Oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues- phosphogypsum foamed ceramics: Basic properties, microsintering mechanism and heavy metals solidification

Oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues(ODPR) and phosphogypsum(PG) are typical types of industrial solid waste in China, characterized by low utilization rate and high output. The large amount of untreated accumulation will release heavy metals(HMs) and other pollutants, posing risks to the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a high value-added building material product that can reduce environmental hazards while improving utilization rate. Based on this background, this study uses ODPR and PG as raw materials to explore their potential applications in the field of foamed ceramics. Research has shown that different sintering processes have a significant impact on the appearance and performance of products. By adjusting the preparation process, foamed ceramic products with excellent performance can be prepared. When the sintering temperature is 925℃, the foaming agent dosage is 3 %, and the raw material ratio ODPR:PG:Borax=35:45:20, a foamed ceramic product with a porosity of 60.95 %, water absorption rate of 3.4 %, compressive strength of 4.8 MPa, thermal conductivity of 0.8016 W/(m·k), and acid and alkali resistance of 98.57 % and 99.44 % can be prepared. The product meets the relevant requirements of “Fired heat preservation brick and block (GB/T 26538)” and “ General Specification for porous ceramic products (GB/T 16533)”. The HMs content test showed that the Ni and Pb contents in the pre-sintered blanks were the highest, at 0.6308 mg/kg and 0.3182 mg/kg, respectively. However, after high-temperature calcination, the solidification rate of HMs could reach up to 98.93 %, and the leaching amount was significantly reduced. The three further evaluation methods indicate that HMs in the pre-sintered blanks and foamed ceramic products do not pose significant ecological risks. The research results provide a green inorganic insulation material in the field of solid waste control and building materials.

Graphene oxide modified with magnesium hydroxide derived from dolomites for dyes adsorptions and supercapacitor

This research highlights the novelty of using dolomite as an Mg(OH)2 source for synthesizing GO/Mg(OH)2 nanocomposite, a dye adsorbent and supercapacitor material. So far, dolomite has only been conventionally used as fertilizer and building material. By utilizing dolomite as Mg(OH)2 raw materials, this nanocomposite shows high efficiency in removing methylene blue (MB) up to 97 % with adsorption kinetics following a pseudo-second-order model. At an optimal pH of 5, this material can be used repeatedly with satisfactory results. For supercapacitor applications, GO/Mg(OH)2 has a specific capacitance of 117.80 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 and 90 % cyclic capacity retention, making it an excellent candidate in modern energy storage technology.

Evaluating the environmental impacts of brick production from waste plastic

The building and construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of the total process-related greenhouse gas emissions, out of which 11% of emissions are related to the production of building materials. To achieve environmental sustainability, it is imperative that these emissions be minimized through a novel approach. We propose that instead of using conventional building techniques of wood-based construction for interior walls of a house, bricks manufactured from waste plastic be used. In this paper, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out for the building materials used in the construction of interior walls for a standard 2450 sq. ft. home, and the results are compared to the bricks manufactured from waste plastic. Plastic bricks are manufactured by sorting and shredding the waste plastic and then bailing it in a superheated steam environment. The LCA is modeled in SimaPro 9.5.0.1, using the Ecoinvent v3 database and the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 impact assessment method. The results indicate that the use of waste plastics in construction leads to reduction in the water consumption by 26%, terrestrial ecotoxicity by 59%, mineral resource scarcity by 81%, and the land use by 99% when compared to conventional construction activities. Our research work provides a novel pathway towards sustainable construction practices through this life cycle assessment study, and the results can be further improved by using eco-friendly energy sources and natural resource-based adhesives. Future work needs to be carried out to explore the mechanical and structural properties of the bricks and their use in large-scale commercial applications, as well as innovative brick designs that eliminate the need for adhesives.

Reducing the embodied carbon using bio-based building materials: the biogenic carbon content of timber

Abstract In recent decades, several efforts have been made towards the reduction of operational energy and therefore carbon, thanks to the introduction of mandatory compliance in many national regulations, achieved by using specific certification tools. As operational carbon diminishes, the significance of embodied carbon - emissions released before the building and infrastructure begins to be used - will continue to increase as a portion of total emissions. Strategy for reducing embodied carbon include the use of building components derived from plants, which absorb atmospheric carbon during their growth through photosynthesis. Wood stands out among building materials, not only for its ability to store biogenic carbon but also for its lower emissions as per life-cycle assessments (LCA). The purpose of this paper is to conduct an LCA of a wooden building using a Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) software, and to explore three methodologies for assessing biogenic carbon in LCA. It follows the two primary calculation methods provided by the EN 15804 and ISO 21930 standards for LCA, along with an additional “dynamic approach”. Key procedural discrepancies between the explored methodologies arise, guiding designers to adopt varying strategies in minimising a building’s carbon footprint. This research aspires to underscore the shortcomings and advantages of prevalent methods.

Modelling of Glass Soiling Due to Air Pollution Exposure at Urban and National Scales: Coimbra (Portugal) Case Study

Impacts of air pollution are not limited to human health and ecosystems, but are also important for building materials. The main objective of this study is the quantification and mapping of air pollution effects on the materials, namely the soiling effect of modern glass. An integrated modelling approach was implemented to quantify and analyze the spatial distribution of glass soiling due to exposure to air pollution. The methodology is based on an integrated modelling approach (transportation-emissions-dispersion modelling) applied with high spatial resolution for Coimbra (Portugal) urban area and compared with national scale modelling, showing the important contribution of local pollution sources affecting spatial variability in the soiling effect. Air quality data from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) were used to quantify the soiling effect at national scale. The results are presented and analyzed in terms of haze. The results obtained at national scale suggest that the average time to reach a 1% haze is 320 days, and this time is reduced to 180 days in the most affected areas. However, urban scale modelling applied with a detailed characterization of local pollution sources in Coimbra provides significantly different results and reveals that in the most affected areas, near road traffic, 1% haze could be reached in approximately 80 days. The methodology proposed and implemented in this study provides relevant information for the maintenance and preservation of building materials and highlights the importance of integrated modelling with high spatial resolution for the assessment of the soiling effect in the built environment.

Turning Waste into Treasure: Utilizing Environment-Pollutant Graphite Tailings as Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic Building Materials

Graphite tailings, as solid waste residuals from graphite extraction and refinement, pose serious risks to the surrounding ecological environment and the safety of residents’ lives. However, it is desirable but challenging how to rationalize the utilization of graphite tailings and further to develop their functionality. Herein, we demonstrate a "turning waste into treasure" strategy: capitalizing on the characteristics of graphite tailings in visible light absorption and rich metal catalytic sites, graphite tailings are employed as photocatalysts and fine aggregates to manufacture photocatalytic building materials, achieving sustainable use. Tailings powder from Luobei, Heilongjiang Province is selected as the photocatalyst, we discover that it exhibits photocatalytic degradation capability for methylene blue (MB) in water under visible-light irradiation: the degradation rates reach 70% within one hour and near-complete degradation within two hours, accompanying good recyclability. Structural analysis reveals that the graphite tailings are enriched with Fe2O3 and TiO2. They are capable of forming type-II heterojunction that enable efficient charge separation and transfer processes, transmitting photogenerated electrons to the active catalytic site to accomplish the photocatalytic degradation of MB. Moreover, other tailings, such as those from Jixi, also achieve photocatalytic degradation of MB, and cement specimens made with graphite tailings also bespoke photocatalytic degradation performance. This work is to provide solutions for the reuse of graphite tailings in the field of functional building materials, and to explore the feasibility of transforming graphite tailings from industrial solid waste to photocatalytic building materials.

Thermal characteristics of cementitious building materials with carbon and PCM for improved heat storage performance

The thermal properties of cementitious building materials were analyzed by integrating phase change materials (PCMs) and carbon materials to improve their heat storage performance. Four types of carbon materials, namely activated carbon (AC), carbon nanotubes (CNT), exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnPs), and graphene, were dispersed in PCMs and impregnated into artificial lightweight aggregates via vacuum impregnation to create cement building materials. Various parameters including compressive strength, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hydration heat, thermal conductivity, and dynamic heat transfer were evaluated According to the results, the thermal conductivity of PCM was significantly improved by incorporating carbon materials, and the specimen with CNT showed a result of 0.8386 W/m∙K, which is about 20 % higher than that of the specimen without carbon materials. Although the compressive strength decreased with the addition of PCMs, it remained above 20 MPa, thereby ensuring structural integrity. In the dynamic heat transfer test, the carbon/PCM specimen maintained a higher temperature during heat dissipation. It showed a high peak temperature and a time delay of about 2.5 hours during free cooling. The results showed that integrating PCMs and carbon materials into cementitious building materials could effectively improve their thermal performance, potentially saving building energy.

Review and Measure Winter Thermal Performance in CLT Building: A Case Study on Meldia Research Institute for Advanced Wood

Abstract CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) as a building material could help lower the carbon footprint of construction projects. Thermal performance and comfort in CLT buildings as a place to work are very important for optimizing comfort and work quality using CLT buildings. In winter conditions, measure and review is very necessary to optimize the desired building according to the standard level of comfort when working. The aims of this research is to measure and review indoor thermal comfort of CLT building during winter, with the case study Meldia Research Institute for Advanced Wood, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu. This research method involves measuring indoor temperature intensity in winter to understand how CLT buildings can achieve an optimal balance of thermal comfort. The results of measurements using PMV analysis of both rooms with the HVAC on at a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius are that the PMV value tends from a Slightly warm condition (+1) to a Neutral (0) at each measurement time and at all points. Room 1 has the highest PMV value between slightly cool (-0.5) to Slightly warm (+1), while room 2 has the lowest value between Cool (-2) to Slightly warm (+1). These findings can guide building designers in developing architectural solutions that are sustainable and focus on occupant well-being.

Sustainable practices in construction: Exposing the Potential of Waste as a Resource.

Abstract This paper examines the critical issues facing the construction and demolition industry in the countries of the European Union, with a particular focus on Germany. It presents strategies for waste management and sustainable development goals in construction sector. The construction industry is responsible for a significant proportion of waste production, which underscores the urgency of addressing the impending waste management crisis. The paper highlights the necessity for the implementation of circular-oriented construction practices that prioritize recycling and the reduction of waste, aiming to improve the efficient use of resources in building design and construction. Using a real non-residential building demolition as a case study, the paper outlines specific steps to determine building materials and document demolition procedures. This study presents a variety of selective demolition strategies, with consideration of end-of-life scenarios for materials, including reuse, recycling, and downcycling. The analysis highlights the complexity of the demolition process, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive evaluation methodologies. By closing the material cycle and prioritizing reuse and recycling, it is possible to achieve sustainable and long-term value retention of building materials. Additionally, methods such as life cycle assessment and material flow analysis for waste streams are introduced. The environmental impact of the demolition of the “Elementum” office building in Munich was analyzed and the CO2 emissions calculated, in relation to transport distances. Results were presented on the reduction in CO2 emissions due to the elimination of transport to landfill and the associated impact on the Life Cycle Assessment. By considering factors such as resource conservation, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and pollution, stakeholders can make informed decisions to mitigate negative environmental impacts.

Data-driven bio-integrated design method encoded by biocomputational real-time feedback loop and deep semi-supervised learning (DSSL)

Today, under the imperatives of synthetic biology (Synbio), material-based design strategies are conceived as biofactories that can recapitulate the functionalities of living systems for developing building materials with controllable structural features. These strategies include biofabrication techniques such as vitro-culturing, Fabrication Information Modeling (FIM), growth parametrization, machinery systems, and genetic programming articulated bioproducts as the construction material for low-carbon buildings. However, these biophysical systems need interactive development by data-oriented models and decision-maker tools that can mine, measure, and re-configure the complexity in biological systems through monitoring and controlling in a higher integration toward systemic decision-making solutions. This research presents a real-time feedback loop as the bio-integrated design method for design and fabrication of Gluconacebacter Xylinus (GX) Bacterial Cellulose (BC) with Transfer Learning (TL) and Deep Semi-Supervised Learning (DSSL) through TensorFlow and Keras Python libraries. The loop started by mining datasets from BC growth via the VGG16 pre-trained model. In this stage, the loop can learn the material behavior over the growth process and attribute features to a measured BC thickness. Based on this attribution, the loop can drive real-time classifying of input datasets to thickness-based classes and guide the Region of Interests (ROIs) to a user-designed thickness till the captured features are fitted to the user-input class features. The training results over 8640 images show a 0.001 learning rate, an average loss of 0.18 (540 total steps), an accuracy of 0.706, and a precision of 0.752 for the feature extractor model. For the classifier, a 0.15 average loss (3375 total steps), an accuracy of 0.829, and a precision of 0.712 demonstrate the models' efficiency in pattern recognition and classification. Also, the loop operation persistently exhibits a more than 50% precision rate, displaying the loop's high performance in achieving user-designed 3D shapes. This research aims to a transformative shift in bio-integrated design based on feedback loops as the foundational step towards intelligent bio-digital design platforms. Also, this ground can break designing with biological systems based on desired tasks for the new generation of designers called biodesigners.

Impact of employing phase change material in building wall on energy consumption and thermal comfort level

Energy crises are becoming a problem for many, most of the energy being produced is utilized in buildings. Building design and materials that are used in buildings play a vital role in saving electricity. Sustainable cities are one of the eleventh goal of Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved and this study is in context of SDGs for developing tools to create this globe sustainable and efficient society for humans. Phase change material is a type of material that can absorb and release heat energy as it changes between solid and liquid states. This ability to store and release thermal energy makes PCM a promising material for use in building insulation, Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Systems, and other energy efficient applications. The use of PCM in buildings has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort levels. By incorporating PCM into building envelopes, such as walls, roofs, and floors, the material can absorb excess heat during the day and release it at night, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce the need for heating and cooling systems. This study investigates the impact of using PCM in building envelopes. In this regard office building rooms are modelled in CAD software and are simulated in energy plus software. The simulation results are validated by considering the experiment and numerical study as a reference from paper. Model room is simulated for Hyderabad, Pakistan. Building envelopes without PCM have conduction rate of around 106.6 W/m2, whereas building envelopes with PCM have conduction rate around 42 W/m2. This shows that utilization of PCM reduced heat conduction up to around 40%. PCM reduced energy consumption of around 33.25 kWh/year/m2. Results show that without PCM air temperature was above the thermal comfort value. it reached 300C in hot months, it reduced up to 270C with the incorporation of PCM.

Insulation materials for building : dealing with climate change along with other challenges yet to come

Abstract In France, numerous regulations have been enacted to tackle climate change. The initial ones focused on the use phase of buildings, while the last regulation considered both the construction and use phases. Meanwhile, issues such as energy supply and resource scarcity are becoming increasingly important, but no current regulations address these challenges. To go further than climate change, five impact categories are studied: global warming potential, abiotic depletion potential – fossil fuels, consumption of primary non-renewable energy, transport distances, and abiotic depletion potential – elements. These categories are used to rank 11 insulation materials: polyurethane, expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, rock wool, glass wool, hemp concrete, hemp wool, cellulose wadding, straw, semi-rigid wood fiber, and rigid wood fiber. For this purpose, we analyzed 664 Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) from the French EPD database, using a functional unit of 1 m² of insulation with an R-value of 5 m²•K/W. It appears that bio-based materials generally performed better than conventional ones across all five impact categories. However, the ranking based on the five indicators provided a nuanced view of the ranking solely based on the global warming potential and did not significantly alter the overall ranking.

The Potential of Tea Waste and Silica Fume as Partial Replacements for Cement in Bricks

Bricks are widely used building materials made from sand, cement, and water in standard proportions. However, the increasing demand for construction materials that use sand and ordinary Portland cement is leading to the depletion of natural resources. To address this issue, researchers are exploring alternative materials, such as Tea Waste (TW) and Silica Fume (SF), as partial replacements for cement bricks. This study used a mix proportion of 1:2.5 with a certain percentage of replacement materials and 0.5 of a water/cement ratio. The experimental results indicated that when TW and SF were substituted at 5% and 10%, respectively, the compressive strength of the cement bricks was adequate and met the minimum masonry unit requirements of the British Standard. Additionally, the density of the cement bricks (with TW and SF) was lower than that of solid bricks, and the water absorption met the requirements of the British Standard. However, the cement bricks' effective strength-to-weight ratio (s-w ratio) was lower than 1.0, except for the specimens with 5% TW and 10% SF. The optimum mix proportion was the cement brick with 5% TW and 10% SF as it achieved all the industry requirements.

A fine-segmentation algorithm for XCT images of multiphase composite building materials based on deep learning

In response to the challenges presented by the variable internal structures and complex components of multiphase composite building materials, this study introduces a novel image segmentation network named UT-FusionNet. Building on the U-Net model, UT-FusionNet integrates Transformer module and tensor concatenation and fusion mechanism to overcome the limitations of convolutional networks in relation to the receptive field. UT-FusionNet is employed to segment CT images of conventional concrete, grout consolidation bodies, and fiber-reinforced concrete. The results demonstrate that UT-FusionNet achieves superior segmentation accuracy and robustness, with Accuracy (ACC), Intersection over Union (IoU) and Dice scores exceeding 90 % across all subtasks. The mean accuracy metrics are 99.44 %, 96.70 %, and 98.31 %, respectively. This innovative end-to-end network offers robust support for detailed structural analysis, damage detection, and digital modeling of multiphase composite building materials through deep learning.

Approach to Design Sustainable Alkali-Activated Slag Recycled Aggregate Concrete: Mechanical and Microstructural Characterization

There is a steep increase in demand for concrete as the need for infrastructure is increasing with a rapid increase in urbanization. Consequently, there has been a surging demand for cement across the globe. By using alkaline concrete activated with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), cement usage can be eliminated in concrete, which addresses the issue of CO2 emissions concerned with the cement manufacturing process and promotes the use of industrial by-products as sustainable building materials. The current study focuses on proposing a methodology to design sustainable GGBS-based alkali-activated concrete incorporated with 100% coarse recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) recovered from construction and demolition (C&D), for various strengths by optimizing the mix proportions and verifying the same through experiments. From the current study, it is evident that this mix design procedure can be adopted to design alkali-activated slag recycled aggregate concrete (AASRAC) mixes for strengths ranging from 44MPa to 85MPa. The optimum values of alkalinity factor (λ) and NaOH concentration (M) i.e., 1.5 and 12, have a significant role in the development of high strengths which is attributed to the formation of hydrotalcite. Micrographs captured using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies reveal that the alkaline binders promote the development of a denser and stronger interfacial transition zone (ITZ) that enhances the strength of lower AA/B concretes at the microstructural level as Ca/Si ratio is higher for lower AA/B concretes. Global warming potential (GWP) analysis reveals that the alkali-activated concretes have significantly lower GWP compared to conventional OPC-based concrete by approximately 2.5 times. The mix-design chart proposed in this study may pave the way to designing structural grade AASRAC with enhanced performance for the desired strength, which may find its application in fast-track construction and manufacturing of prefabricated elements.

Impact of future climate scenarios on thermal performance and resilience of building façades: Canadian climate case study

Buildings in urban areas are responsible for a significant share of GHG emissions that directly contribute to climate change. Nevertheless, the built environment is vulnerable to the changing climate. Particularly, the unpredictable weather threatens the performance of building components, durability of building materials, and indoor environmental comfort. In this study, the impact of future climate on thermal performance of building façades in the Canadian climate is investigated using simulation analysis. To account for different climate conditions, three future weather scenarios pertaining to global temperature rise of 0.5°C, 1.5°C, and 2.5°C were compared with historical weather data. Both hourly and Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data were studied. The results, including thermal transmittance, heat flux, moisture content, and façade temperature were compared. This comparison could show the applicability of using averaged TMY data compared to the large hourly dataset. The results show a pattern of change in the façade's thermal and hygrothermal performance as temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation norms change in both seasons. The comparison between the TMY and the Yearly data showed an underestimation of heat transfer within the façade when the TMY data is used. The historical TMY data results showed the inadequacy of this weather file for climate impact assessments of facades in both summer and winter. The approach used in this study can be repeated for different climate conditions, acting as a tool to design façades and predict their performance in face of a changing climate.

Natural geometrical variations of Italian Phyllostachys edulis bamboo culms for construction purposes

Amid the increasing scarcity of raw materials, utilizing bamboo as a renewable building material offers significant environmental and economic benefits for the European construction sector. However, in Europe, the use of bamboo for construction remains limited due to a lack of studies on geometrical and material characteristics of European-cultivated bamboo species. Although bamboo is not typically grown in Europe, the number of bamboo plantations is steadily increasing in countries like Spain, France and Italy. Bamboos growing in temperate climates, however, are exposed to different environmental conditions during growth compared to bamboos from subtropical and tropical climates, such as those in China or Vietnam. As bamboo’s geometric properties are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions during growth, it is essential to investigate how bamboo culms of the same species grown in Europe compare to those from other regions. The present article reports findings on the geometry and geometric imperfections of 90 four-meter Italian bamboo culms. First, the Italian Phyllostachys edulis bamboo culms examined in this study are briefly introduced. Following, geometric imperfections of bamboo culms are defined, and the geometry measurement concept is presented. Subsequently, variations in internode lengths, diameters, wall thicknesses, ovalities, stem tapers and pre-deflections are described and analyzed. Finally, the findings from the Italian culms are compared with those from Asian Phyllostachys edulis. In summary, this article enhances the understanding of the geometric properties of bamboo grown in Europe, thereby advancing the use of cultivated bamboo culms in Europe and improving the overall understanding of bamboo characteristics across different climatic zones.

The hygric properties of cement mortar with salt spray deposition

Many buildings along the coast are exposed to the salt spray climate, but the hygric behavior of porous building materials under the influence of salt crystallization are unclear. In this study, an accelerated salt spray test was conducted on cement mortar. For samples with different salt spray cycles, chloride ion content was measured and saturated moisture content (wsat), open porosity (po) and apparent density (ρb) were obtained by a vacuum saturation test, while capillary absorption coefficient (Acap) and capillary moisture content (wcap) were determined from capillary absorption tests using innovative methods. Additionally, the pore characteristics and micromorphology of the samples were examined and analyzed using a mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that a large amount of deposited salt crystals mainly clogs pores with a diameter of 0.02 to 0.12 μm, resulting in a 18.7 % decrease in po as well as a 30 % decrease in Acap and a 17.4 % decrease in wcap subjected to 35 salt spray cycles. This finding supports a deeper understanding of fluid moisture absorption and transfer in building envelope materials in coastal areas.