Simulations of moisture gradients in wood subjected to changes in relative humidity and temperature due to climate change
Journal article, 2018

Climate change is a growing threat to cultural heritage buildings and objects. Objects housed in historic buildings are at risk because the indoor environments in these buildings are difficult to control and often influenced by the outdoor climate. Hygroscopic materials, such as wood, will gain and release moisture during changes in relative humidity and temperature. These changes cause swelling and shrinkage, which may result in permanent damage. To increase the knowledge of climate-induced damage to heritage objects, it is essential to monitor moisture transport in wood. Simulation models need to be developed and improved to predict the influence of climate change. In a previous work, relative humidity and temperature was monitored at different depths inside wooden samples subjected to fluctuating climate over time. In this article, two methods, the hygrothermal building simulation software WUFI® Pro and the Simplified model, were compared in relation to the measured data. The conclusion was that both methods can simulate moisture diffusion and transport in wooden object with a sufficient accuracy. Using the two methods for predicted climate change data show that the mean RH inside wood is rather constant, but the RH minimum and maximum vary with the predicted scenario and the type of building used for the simulation.

Climate change

Relative humidity

Hygrothermal simulation models

Measurements

Wood

Typical and extreme weather conditions

Experimental research

Climate variations

Moisture transport

Author

Charlotta Bylund Melin

Nationalmuseum

Carl-Eric Hagentoft

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Technology

Kristina Holl

Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP)

Vahid Nik

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Lund University

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Technology

Ralf Kilian

Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP)

Geosciences (Switzerland)

2076-3263 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 10 378

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Building Technologies

Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Climate Research

DOI

10.3390/geosciences8100378

More information

Latest update

11/20/2018