Degradation Control of Walls with Rising Damp Problems: Numerical and Mathematical Analysis of the Evaporative Process

Abstract

Degradation in walls of Historical Building with rising damp is a complex problem to solve, due to the thickness and heterogeneity of those walls. The traditionally treatment techniques used (such as watertight barriers, injection of hydrofuge products, etc.) show, sometimes, to be ineffective or too expensive, justifying the need to find a new approach. Experimental studies validate the effectiveness of a new treatment technique applied to the walls of old buildings wall base ventilation system. Building Physics Laboratory (LFC) is developing a model of this technique. The sizing of the treatment system is based on knowledge of the characteristics of the wall, of the geometry of the ventilation system and of the building being dealt with. In this work it is described the moisture transfer process between the moving air flux, inside the system, and the wall. Experimental results were used to validate the mathematical solution and the values obtained are very similar.