Moisture transport across imperfect hydraulic contact interface - A parametric study

Material properties, water vapor permeability, sorption/suction isotherm and moisture diffusivity, are prerequisite for application of all hygrothermal models. Based on the experimental results and well-determined material properties, a numerical model was validated. This model was then used to analyze the sensitivities of the moisture flow across imperfect hydraulic contact interface with respect to these three material properties. The results indicated that the sorption/suction isotherm had to be determined as accurate as possible since it had significant effect on moisture flow across imperfect hydraulic contact interface. In addition, the moisture diffusivity of the material moisture transported from affected the duration of the wetting process but had no noticeable effect on the moisture flow across the interface. It was also found that, during the wetting process, moisture diffusivity of the material moisture transported to and water vapor permeability of both composing materials had no critical effect on moisture accumulation in building materials with imperfect hydraulic contact interface.