Experimental assessment of gypsum walls applied in Brazilian construction

Abstract

The construction of one family dwellings using gypsum walls is a common practice in North-east Brazil, a region classified as Tropical dry climate. The abundant gypsum availability associated with low precipitation lead to the development of a constructive approach where gypsum walls are applied both as interior partitions and envelope components. As the option for this constructive strategy is mainly empirical, a detailed study has been conducted to evaluate the actual performance of this type of walls. Gypsum blocks with different levels of hydrophobic additions were tested. The experimental campaign included the evaluation of some hygrothermal properties: thermal conductivity, capillary absorption and water vapour permeability. Conclusions on the potential reduction of capillary absorption by hydrophobic agents are presented. Additionally, a set of numerical simulations using WUFI software were performed, highlighting the effect of different Brazilian climates on the durability of this type of walls.