Experimental Analysis of Moisture-Dependent Thermal Conductivity, and Hygric Properties of Novel Hemp-shive Insulations with Numerical Assessment of Their In-Built Hygrothermal and Energy Performance

The use of lime as a binder in hemp-lime considerably increases the drying time of hemp-lime after casting. Furthermore, lime is a non-renewable mineral resource. As such, this paper explores the effectiveness of using an alternative non-mineral binder instead of lime to formulate a novel hemp-shive insulation. The moisture-dependent thermal conductivity, adsorption isotherm, vapour diffusion resistance factor, and in-built hygrothermal performance of four variants of a novel bio-based insulation were investigated. The hygrothermal performance of the novel hemp-shive insulation was compared with that of a previously developed novel hemp-lime insulation. No significant variation in thermal conductivity of hemp-shive insulations between the equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) at 0% and 50% relative humidity (RH) was observed, but there was a substantial increase in thermal conductivity hemp-shive insulations when the material reached the EMC at 98% RH. The average dry thermal conductivity values of hemp-shive and hemp-lime insulations were also similar. The adsorption isotherms of hemp-shive insulations were determined at 0%, 20%, 50%, 70%, 90%, and 98% relative humidity steps. At 98% RH, the moisture adsorption capacity of hemp-shive insulations was 4-to-5-times higher than that of hemp-lime insulation. Hemp-shive insulations' vapour diffusion resistance factor (µ value) was about double the µ value of hemp-lime insulation. Hemp-shive insulations exhibited 4-to-5-times higher water absorption resistance than that of hemp-lime insulation. Numerically determined porosity values of hemp-shive agree with the values of wood-based insulation materials of similar density. Finally, using all experimentally acquired data as inputs, dynamic whole-building hygrothermal simulations were carried out and the results show that novel hemp-shive insulation materials perform at a similar level to the hemp-lime insulation in terms of heating and cooling energy demand but require 45% less energy for humidification. However, the relative humidity inside the hemp-shive wall remains higher than 70%, which can potentially induce mould growth.

Determining the Vapour Resistance of Breather Membrane Adhesive Joints

Due to increasingly stringent requirements, tapes and adhesive joints are a commonly used method to ensure tightness and energy efficiency in modern building envelopes. Previous studies have researched and tested properties such as the strength and tightness of adhesive joints. So far, water vapour resistance has been neglected. This article aims to determine the vapour resistance and shed light on possible consequences of vapour-tight adhesive joints in breather membranes used in roof assemblies. Laboratory measurements of vapour resistance were conducted according to NS-EN ISO 12572:2016, known as the cup method. Eleven products of breather membranes were tested. Results from the laboratory measurements were used to evaluate the impact of vapour-resistant adhesive joints related to the drying of built-in moisture. The simulation programs WUFI 2D and WUFI Mould Index VTT were used to model scenarios for moisture transport and risk for mould growth. Laboratory results show that the vapour resistance of breather membrane adhesive joints varies from 1.1 to 32 m in sd-value. Three of the tested products have a vapour resistance larger than 10 m, while four products have an sd-value less than 2.0 m. The sd-values of the membranes themselves range between 0.027 and 0.20 m. All tested adhesive joints are considerably more vapour tight than the Norwegian recommended value for breather membranes (<0.5 m). However, the mould growth analysis shows that the risk of mould growth is low in most practical cases, except when using adhesive joints with the highest vapour resistance in roofs assembled during autumn.

A comparative study on the effects of air gap wind and walking motion on the thermal properties of Arabian Thawbs and Chinese Cheongsams

This paper reports on an experimental investigation on the effects of air gap, wind and walking motion on the thermal properties of traditional Arabian thawbs and Chinese cheongsams. Total thermal resistance (It) and vapour resistance (Re) were measured using the sweating fabric manikin - 'Walter', and the air gap volumes of the garments were determined by a 3D body scanner. The results showed the relative changes of It and Re of thawbs due to wind and walking motion are greater than those of cheongsams, which provided an explanation of why thawbs are preferred in extremely hot climate. It is further shown that thermal insulation and vapour resistance of thawbs increase with the air gap volume up to about 71,000 cm(3) and then decrease gradually. Thawbs with higher air permeability have significantly lower evaporative resistance particularly under windy conditions demonstrating the advantage of air permeable fabrics in body cooling in hot environments. Practitioner Summary: This paper aims to better understand the thermal insulation and vapour resistance of traditional Arabian thawbs and Chinese cheongsams, and the relationship between the thermal properties and their fit and design. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for designing ethnic clothing used in hot environments.