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Moisture dynamics in brick, stone and concrete has a controlling influence on the durability and performance of the built environment. Water Transport in Brick, Stone and Concrete provides a unified description of transport processes involving saturated and unsaturated flow in porous inorganic materials and structures. It sets out fundamental physics and materials science, mathematical description and experimental measurement as a basis for engineering design and construction practice. Now in its third edition, the book combines a systematic presentation of the scientific and technical principles with new analyses of topics such as sorption isotherms, temperature dependence of sorptivity, time-dependent properties of cement-based materials, layered materials, air-trapping and driving rain. It serves as an authoritative reference for research workers, practising engineers and students of civil, building, architectural and materials engineering. Much of the fundamental work is relevant to engineers in soil science and geotechnics, as well as oilfield, chemical and process engineering.

Moisture transport in building materials significantly influences their durability, mechanical integrity, and thermal performance. This study presents an experimental investigation of moisture permeability in a range of traditional and modern wall elements, including autoclaved aerated concrete (ACC), ceramic blocks, silicate blocks, perlite concrete blocks, and concrete units. Both vapor diffusion and capillary transport mechanisms were analyzed under controlled climatic conditions using gravimetric and hygrometric methods. Among the tested materials, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) was selected for detailed numerical modeling because of its high porosity, strong capillarity, and widespread use in modern construction, which make it especially vulnerable to moisture-related degradation. Based on the experimental findings, a digital twin was developed to simulate hygrothermal behavior of walls made of ACC under various environmental conditions. The model incorporates advanced moisture transport equations, capturing diffusion and capillary effects while considering real-world variables, such as relative humidity, temperature fluctuations, and wetting–drying cycles. Calibration demonstrated strong agreement with experimental data, enabling reliable predictions of moisture behavior over extended exposure scenarios. This integrated approach provides a robust engineering tool for assessing the long-term material performance of AAC, predicting degradation risks, and optimizing material selection in humid climates. The study illustrates how coupling experimental data with digital modeling can enhance the design of moisture-resistant and durable building envelopes.

Bio-based materials represent a promising alternative in building envelope applications, with the aim of improving in-use energy efficiency. They have the advantage of being renewable, low embodied energy and CO2 neutral or negative. In addition, they are excellent thermal regulators. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art of bio-based materials used in building construction and their applications. The materials outlined include hemp, wood, date palm wood, cork, alfa and straw. Through this literature study we want to get a broad overview of the current state of theoretical and experimental studies of their hygrothermal characteristics and their thermal and energy performances. The aim is not to be exhaustive but to summarise the most important research results on these materials. This is the first part of a research work that deals with the contribution to the development of a new bio-based construction material to be used in building.

The primary goal of this review is to explore both the fundamental dynamics of moisture ingress and practical strategies for its mitigation. Moisture ingress remains a critical issue due to its impact on the structural integrity of buildings and the health and safety of occupants. This work adopts a systematic approach, focusing on key mechanisms of water transport—capillary action, vapour diffusion, and condensation—and how different parameters influence the process of moisture transport. Moisture ingress, whether through direct leakage, capillary action, air infiltration, or vapour diffusion, poses significant risks to the premature degradation of building envelope materials. In this study, emphasis has been placed on describing the methods for controlling liquid water movement, preventing condensation, and using moisture-resistant materials. Additionally in this study, the advanced design and hygrothermal performance simulation tools are examined; the use of such tools is considered essential for predicting and managing moisture-related issues in building envelopes. Finally, the significance of complying with moisture control standards and guidelines is highlighted, ensuring a comprehensive framework for effective moisture management in building design and maintenance. Beyond this review, key knowledge gaps in moisture control strategies have been identified, particularly in respect to material performance, the accuracy of predictive modeling, and the standardization of mitigation techniques. Addressing these gaps is essential for advancing building design, maintenance practices, and regulatory frameworks that together combine to enhance moisture resilience.

To develop green thermal insulation materials made of straw to replace high energy consumption and high pollution materials, such as asbestos and polystyrene, this paper reviews the relevant characteristics of straw as a thermal insulation filler and the research progress of mechanical straw building materials (i.e., the straw filler is placed in the interlayer and fasted by friction or gravity). Research studies on straw combustion, moisture absorption, and heat transfer mechanisms are reviewed. Additionally, the research status of three kinds of mechanical straw building materials, namely straw bales/laminated wallboards, beetle elytron plate walls, and mixed straw fillers, is also explained. This assessment shows that straw thermal insulation fillers have good fire safety and thermal insulation performance. The straw bale/laminated wallboard system is mature, with rich varieties and practical applications, while beetle elytron plate walls and mixed straw fillers are still in the development stage. Although there are many related research results, more reports on the heat transfer mechanism, material selection, and application forms are needed, which is an important direction for future systematic research. Actively promoting the application of green mechanical straw-filled sandwich structures in more fields will produce good social and economic benefits.

Experiments have been carried out to study the influence of moisture condition, including moisture content and its distribution, on the chloride diffusion in partially saturated ordinary Portland cement mortar. The mortar samples with water-to-cement (w/c) ratios of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6, cured for 1 year, were preconditioned to uniform water saturations ranging from 18 to 100%. The interior relative humidities of these partially saturated cement mortars, i.e. water vapour desorption isotherm (WVDI), were measured. The WVDI results in relation to the pore structures obtained from the mercury intrusion porosimetry tests of paste samples with the same w/c ratios were analyzed, which provided a basic insight into the moisture distribution in the non-saturated cement mortars. The relative chloride diffusion coefficients of cement mortars at various water saturations were determined based on the Nernst-Einstein equation and conductivity technique. It is found that the relative chloride diffusion coefficient Drc depends on the degree of water saturation Sw and WVDI. At a given Sw level, the Drc is larger for a higher w/c ratio. The role of the w/c ratio in the Drc–Sw relation, however, becomes less pronounced with increasing w/c ratio. There exists a critical saturation, below which the water-filled capillary pores are discontinuous and the Drc-value tends towards infinitely small. An increase of the w/c ratio results in a decrease of the critical saturation level.

A primary aim of RILEM TC 267-TRM: “Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs)” is to compare and evaluate the performance of conventional and novel SCM reactivity test methods across a wide range of SCMs. To this purpose, a round robin campaign was organized to investigate 10 different tests for reactivity and 11 SCMs covering the main classes of materials in use, such as granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, natural pozzolan and calcined clays. The methods were evaluated based on the correlation to the 28 days relative compressive strength of standard mortar bars containing 30% of SCM as cement replacement and the interlaboratory reproducibility of the test results. It was found that only a few test methods showed acceptable correlation to the 28 days relative strength over the whole range of SCMs. The methods that showed the best reproducibility and gave good correlations used the R3 model system of the SCM and Ca(OH)2, supplemented with alkali sulfate/carbonate. The use of this simplified model system isolates the reaction of the SCM and the reactivity can be easily quantified from the heat release or bound water content. Later age (90 days) strength results also correlated well with the results of the IS 1727 (Indian standard) reactivity test, an accelerated strength test using an SCM/Ca(OH)2-based model system. The current standardized tests did not show acceptable correlations across all SCMs, although they performed better when latently hydraulic materials (blast furnace slag) were excluded. However, the Frattini test, Chapelle and modified Chapelle test showed poor interlaboratory reproducibility, demonstrating experimental difficulties. The TC 267-TRM will pursue the development of test protocols based on the R3 model systems. Acceleration and improvement of the reproducibility of the IS 1727 test will be attempted as well.

Hempcrete is a sustainable biocomposite that can reduce buildings’ embodied energy while improving energy performance and indoor environmental quality. This research aims to develop novel insulating hemp-lime composites using innovative binder mixes made of recycled and low-embodied energy pozzolans. The characterization of composites’ mechanical and hygrothermal properties includes measuring compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and moisture buffer capacities. This study also investigates the impact of sample densities and water content on compressive strength at different ages. The findings suggest that mixes with a 1:1 binder to hemp ratio and 300−400 kg/m3 density have hygrothermal and mechanical properties suitable for insulating infill wall applications. Hence, compressive strengths, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity values range from 0.09 to 0.57 MPa, 0.087 to 0.10 W/m K, and 1250 to 1557 J/kg K, respectively. The average moisture buffer value for all hempcrete samples of 2.78 (gm/m2 RH%) indicates excellent moisture buffering capacity. Recycled crushed brick pozzolan can enhance the hygrothermal performance of the hemp-lime composites. Thus, samples with 10% crushed brick have the lowest thermal conductivity considering their density and the highest moisture buffer capacity. The new formulas of hydrated lime and crushed brick have mechanical properties comparable to metakaolin and hydraulic lime formulas.

There has been increasing interest in green and recyclable materials to promote the circular economy. Moreover, the climate change of the last decades has led to an increase in the range of temperatures and energy consumption, which entails more energy expenditure for heating and cooling buildings. In this review, the properties of hemp stalk as an insulating material are analyzed to obtain recyclable materials with green solutions to reduce energy consumption and reduce noise to increase the comfort of buildings. Hemp stalks are a low-value by-product of hemp crops; however, they are a lightweight material with a high insulating property. This study aims to summarize the research progress in materials based on hemp stalks and to study the properties and characteristics of the different vegetable binders that could be used to produce a bio-insulating material. The material itself and its microstructural and physical aspects that affect the insulating properties are discussed, as is their influence on durability, moisture resistance, and fungi growth. Research suggests using lignin-based or recyclable cardboard fiber to develop a bio-composite material from hemp stalk, but long-term stability requires further investigation.

Moisture ingress is a critical concern in buildings, as it may profoundly affect structural integrity, the energy efficiency of a building, and as well the quality of the indoor environment that, in turn, could influence the health and safety of building occupants. Moisture ingress can occur during any phase in the lifecycle of a building component, where environmental loads, such as precipitation, wind, snow, and elevated relative humidity, play a fundamental role in affecting the building structure. Climate change exacerbates the issue of moisture ingress by intensifying these loads. In this review paper, the statistical perspective on publications related to moisture ingress in building envelope materials (BEMs) was first assessed through a scientometric study. All relevant publications were gathered and manually filtered, and the selected papers were categorized based on the topics discussed. The results of the scientometric study, as presented in this paper, include a bar chart in which the number of publications in each category is illustrated; a science journal mapping diagram showing the interdisciplinary connections of the research; a cluster map depicting the network between topics; and an R&D momentum analysis reflecting the rate of growth and publication count in this field. Given the strong focus on material properties, this review also examines experimental methods for characterizing moisture transport properties in building materials used in BEMs. Additionally, the differences between various codes and standards centered on this topic are reviewed and discussed. This combined strategy is intended to comprehensively evaluate available information and approaches to permit identifying the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed.