Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall
This study experimentally and numerically analyzes the hygrothermal performance of a wall constructed from compressed raw earth blocks under different thermal and hygric conditions. The goal is to evaluate the ability of unfired, unstabilized raw earth to regulate indoor temperature and humidity lev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005911 |
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| author | Sara Chehade Nicolas Dujardin David Giovannacci Abderrahim Boudenne |
| author_facet | Sara Chehade Nicolas Dujardin David Giovannacci Abderrahim Boudenne |
| author_sort | Sara Chehade |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study experimentally and numerically analyzes the hygrothermal performance of a wall constructed from compressed raw earth blocks under different thermal and hygric conditions. The goal is to evaluate the ability of unfired, unstabilized raw earth to regulate indoor temperature and humidity levels. Initial tests revealed strong thermal and moisture-regulating properties at the material level, justifying further investigation at the wall scale. A bi-climatic setup exposed the wall’s outer surface to fluctuating temperatures and humidity cycles while maintaining the inner surface at 20°C with varying relative humidity (30–50 % RH). Data on temperature and humidity were collected using sensors at different depths, and a numerical model based on Künzel's approach was applied to predict and analyze temperature and humidity variations. The results showed that the raw earth wall effectively dampened temperature fluctuations and regulated humidity, displaying a temperature gradient of 6°C between depths of 2.5 cm and 7.5 cm during temperature cycles. The wall also functioned as a moisture barrier, with internal moisture levels not stabilizing after 20 days at 80 % relative humidity. The numerical model accurately predicted temperature variations. Designed specifically for internal partitions, this type of wall shows great potential to improve indoor environmental quality by passively regulating temperature and humidity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f4360610bb447b88d8bb91d295abf82 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f4360610bb447b88d8bb91d295abf822025-08-20T03:13:32ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e0479310.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04793Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wallSara Chehade0Nicolas Dujardin1David Giovannacci2Abderrahim Boudenne3Univ Paris Est Creteil, CERTES, F-94010, Creteil, France; Corresponding author.Univ Paris Est Creteil, CERTES, F-94010, Creteil, FranceLaboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Champs-sur-Marne, FranceUniv Paris Est Creteil, CERTES, F-94010, Creteil, FranceThis study experimentally and numerically analyzes the hygrothermal performance of a wall constructed from compressed raw earth blocks under different thermal and hygric conditions. The goal is to evaluate the ability of unfired, unstabilized raw earth to regulate indoor temperature and humidity levels. Initial tests revealed strong thermal and moisture-regulating properties at the material level, justifying further investigation at the wall scale. A bi-climatic setup exposed the wall’s outer surface to fluctuating temperatures and humidity cycles while maintaining the inner surface at 20°C with varying relative humidity (30–50 % RH). Data on temperature and humidity were collected using sensors at different depths, and a numerical model based on Künzel's approach was applied to predict and analyze temperature and humidity variations. The results showed that the raw earth wall effectively dampened temperature fluctuations and regulated humidity, displaying a temperature gradient of 6°C between depths of 2.5 cm and 7.5 cm during temperature cycles. The wall also functioned as a moisture barrier, with internal moisture levels not stabilizing after 20 days at 80 % relative humidity. The numerical model accurately predicted temperature variations. Designed specifically for internal partitions, this type of wall shows great potential to improve indoor environmental quality by passively regulating temperature and humidity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005911Raw earthHygrothermal propertiesExperimental characterizationWall-scaleModel validationIndoor comfort |
| spellingShingle | Sara Chehade Nicolas Dujardin David Giovannacci Abderrahim Boudenne Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall Case Studies in Construction Materials Raw earth Hygrothermal properties Experimental characterization Wall-scale Model validation Indoor comfort |
| title | Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| title_full | Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| title_short | Experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| title_sort | experimental and numerical evaluation of heat and mass transfer of a compressed raw earth block wall |
| topic | Raw earth Hygrothermal properties Experimental characterization Wall-scale Model validation Indoor comfort |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005911 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarachehade experimentalandnumericalevaluationofheatandmasstransferofacompressedrawearthblockwall AT nicolasdujardin experimentalandnumericalevaluationofheatandmasstransferofacompressedrawearthblockwall AT davidgiovannacci experimentalandnumericalevaluationofheatandmasstransferofacompressedrawearthblockwall AT abderrahimboudenne experimentalandnumericalevaluationofheatandmasstransferofacompressedrawearthblockwall |