The use of COMSOL for Building Constructions Engineering regarding Heat and Moisture transport

Hunting Lodge St. Hubertus is one of the most prominent Dutch buildings from the early twentieth century. It is a preserved national monument of exceptional cultural and historical interest. This is why the Dutch Government Building Agency has expressed its concern about the observed moisture damage in the tower of the building. The main objective of this study was to map the causes of the moisture problems in the tower and to recommend possible solutions to repair the damage whilst preventing further deterioration. An extensive study of wind and wind-driven rain (WDR) was conducted to provide insight into the moisture load of the building facade, using measurements and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. The following damage categories are distinguished: efflorescence, cracking, soiling, moist spots, mechanical damage and biological growth. It is concluded from this study that a connection exists between the rain load of the facades and the damage on the inside, since most damage is observed on the interior surface of the facade that is most subjected to WDR. It is concluded that the moisture problems are indirectly dependent on the WDR load. The rain penetrates to the interior at places of inadequate detailing and therefore causes damage mainly near openings in the facade and on the inside of the facade below balconies. It is of great importance to improve the detailing of the joints of the different building elements. Because of the difficulty to solve the problems concerning rain penetration nearby openings in the solid outer walls by improving the detailing of the frames whilst maintaining the authentic character of the facade, it is furthermore recommended to use a moisture-resistant restoration plaster in the tower that can withstand the crystallization of salts without causing damage. The COMSOL software was used for modeling the moisture transport through the walls of the tower