Computational Building Physics

using COMSOL
Research, Education & Practice
dr.ir. Jos van Schijndel

User since 1998(?)

10-11-2011

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Contents

1.Introduction
Complexity and scale levels
My computational laboratory

2.Combined heat, moisture, air, stress models for

(building) constructions
3.From Material [~mm] to EU [~Mm] scale level
4.Conclusions

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1. Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
What is a Complex system?

Where are Complex systems in the built

environment?

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
The whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
Butterfly effect: Small parameter variations may produce
large variations in the long term behavior of the system.

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
Where are the dynamic complex systems at the
built environment ?
Everywhere and on several scales

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels

Material ~ mm

Present dynamic complex systems:

Material Physics
Durability

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels

Building ~ 10 m

Present dynamic complex systems:

Building Physics
Indoor climate
Building systems

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels

Urban Area ~ km

Present dynamic complex systems:

Urban Physics
Urban Climate
Urban district systems

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Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels

EU ~ 1 Mm

Present dynamic complex systems:

Global climate Physics
(Future) Climate
Mapping

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Introduction
My computational laboratory
Multi Buildings
HAMBase
MatLab

Multi Systems & Control

ODE
SimuLink

Multi Details
PDE
Comsol

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Tools Buildings modeling physics: HAMBase

scientific software: MatLab
Simulation and validation

Anne Frank House

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Tools Detail modeling

physics: PDEs
scientific software: Comsol

3D Moisture
Hunting Logde St. Hubertus

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Tools Systems&Control modeling physics: ODEs

scientific software: SimuLink
Building systems failure modeling

Dutch Maritime Museum

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Introduction
My computational laboratory

http://archbps1.campus.tue.nl/bpswiki/index.php/Hamlab

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Computational Building Physics

Research Matrix
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Computational Building Physics

Heat
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 1: Heat 3D

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Computational Building Physics

Heat+Moisture
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 2: Heat and moisture transport

PDEs
Potential T, LPc
PDE coefficients formulation
Material properties
function of T, LPc

T
(K 11T K 12 LPc )
t
LPc
C LPc
(K 21T K 22 LPc )
t
CT

LPc 10 log(Pc )
CT c
K 11
K 12 l lv p

Mw
Pc
,
Psat
a RT
LPc

w Pc

Pc LPc
Mw
Pc
Pc
,
K
p
Psat
a RT
LPc
LPc
Psat
,
p
T

C LPc
K 22
K 21

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Calculating PDE coefficients

using material properties, method 1/2
PDE coefficients lookup
tables calculated in MatLab
using:
heat conduction
coefficients
specific heat
density
liquid permeability
moisture retention curve
vapour permeability

T
(K 11T K 12 LPc )
t
LPc
C LPc
(K 21T K 22 LPc )
t
CT

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Calculating PDE coefficients

using material properties, result 2/2
T
(K 11T K 12 LPc )
t
LPc
C LPc
(K 21T K 22 LPc )
t
CT

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Verification
HAMSTAD Benchmark no 1
q he (Te T )
g0

q hi (Ti T ) llv ( pi p)
g ( pi p)

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Verification
Heat & Moisture

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Verification
Moisture
LPc based model

RH based model

Thanks to: Natalie Williams Portal (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)

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Computational Building Physics

Heat+Moisture+Air
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 3 HAM modeling

Influence of micro air movement

a

Outside

Inside

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HAM modeling
Physics
PDEs
Heat : C p

T
(T ) C p u T 0
t

P
( KP) 0; u KP
t
p
Moisture : v ( Dpv ) u pv 0
t
Air :

Boundary values
Heat : Flux : n (T ) h(Tinf T ); Insulation : n (T ) 0
Air : Pressure : P P0 ; Insulation : n KP 0
Moisture : Flux : n (Dp v ) ( p v inf p v ); Insulation: n (Dp v ) 0

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HAM modeling
Simulation of Relative Humidity

Air velocity
=0

Air velocity

Air velocity

+10 m /s

-10 m /s

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HAM modeling
Influence of micro air movement
a

Summary
A (so far immeasurable) low air movement of order 10-5
m/s seems to have significant impact on the RH
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Computational Building Physics

Heat+Moisture+Air+Stress
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 4 HAMS modeling

Including stress and strain

Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)

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Application 4 HAMS modeling

Including stress and strain

Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)

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Application 4 HAMS modeling

Including stress and strain

Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)

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Application 4 HAMS modeling

Including stress and strain

Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)

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Computational Building Physics

Heat, including Building Scale
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 5
Heat, including Building Scale

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Computational Building Physics

Heat, including Urban Scale
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 6
Wind & driving rain at Urban Scale

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Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale

..

Thanks to: David van Reenen

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Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale

Thanks to: David van Reenen

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Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale

Thanks to: David van Reenen

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Computational Building Physics

Heat, including EU Scale
Topic
Scale
~ mm

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress

~ m

~ km

~ Mm

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Application 8
Incorporate EU Scale
Weather Stations
Used as boundary
values for the external
climate

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Application 8
Incorporate EU Scale
Subject building
constructions to
external climates
Map performances

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Conclusion

COMSOL is a state-of-art Multiphysics modeling tool for doing

research in the area of building physics
High performance on
1,2 & 3D capabilities
Grid & solvers techniques
Visualization
Flexibility due to PDE abstraction level
Also an excellent tool for education
Our models are available at http://sts.bwk.tue.nl/hamlab/

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 Thank you
Questions?

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