Computational Building Physics

using COMSOL

Research, Education & Practice

dr.ir. Jos van Schijndel
PAGE 1 10-11-2011
User since 1998(?)
PAGE 2 10-11-2011
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


PAGE 3 10-11-2011
What is a Complex system?


Where are Complex systems in the built
environment?


1. Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 4 10-11-2011
The whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts
Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 5 10-11-2011
Butterfly effect: Small parameter variations may produce
large variations in the long term behavior of the system.


Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 6 10-11-2011
Where are the dynamic complex systems at the
built environment ?

Everywhere and on several scales

Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 7 10-11-2011
Material ~ mm Present dynamic complex systems:
Material Physics
Durability


Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 8 10-11-2011
Building ~ 10 m Present dynamic complex systems:
Building Physics
Indoor climate
Building systems

Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 9 10-11-2011
Urban Area ~ km Present dynamic complex systems:
Urban Physics
Urban Climate
Urban district systems

Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 10 10-11-2011
EU ~ 1 Mm Present dynamic complex systems:
Global climate Physics
(Future) Climate
Mapping
Introduction
Complexity and Scale levels
PAGE 11 10-11-2011
Multi Buildings
HAMBase
MatLab
Multi Details
PDE
Comsol
Multi Systems & Control
ODE
SimuLink
Introduction
My computational laboratory
PAGE 12 10-11-2011
Tools Buildings modeling physics: HAMBase
scientific software: MatLab
Anne Frank House
Simulation and validation
PAGE 13 10-11-2011
Tools Detail modeling physics: PDEs
scientific software: Comsol
3D Moisture
Hunting Logde St. Hubertus
PAGE 14 10-11-2011
Tools Systems&Control modeling physics: ODEs
scientific software: SimuLink
Dutch Maritime Museum
Building systems failure modeling
PAGE 15 10-11-2011
http://archbps1.campus.tue.nl/bpswiki/index.php/Hamlab
Introduction
My computational laboratory
PAGE 16 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Research Matrix

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 17 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 18 10-11-2011
Application 1: Heat 3D
PAGE 19 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat+Moisture

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 20 10-11-2011
Application 2: Heat and moisture transport
PDEs
) (
) (
22 21
12 11
LPc K T K
t
LPc
C
LPc K T K
t
T
C
LPc
T
V + V V =
c
c
V + V V =
c
c
,
,
,
) log(
21
22
12
11
10
T
Psat
K
RT
M
Psat
LPc
Pc
LPc
Pc
K K
LPc
Pc
Pc
w
C
RT
M
Psat
LPc
Pc
l K
K
c C
Pc LPc
p
a
w
p
LPc
a
w
p lv
T
c
c
=

c
c

c
c
=
c
c

c
c
=

c
c
=
=
=
=
| o

| o

| o

Potential T, LPc

PDE coefficients formulation
Material properties
function of T, LPc
PAGE 21 10-11-2011
Calculating PDE coefficients
using material properties, method 1/2
) (
) (
22 21
12 11
LPc K T K
t
LPc
C
LPc K T K
t
T
C
LPc
T
V + V V =
c
c
V + V V =
c
c
PDE coefficients lookup
tables calculated in MatLab
using:
heat conduction
coefficients
specific heat
density
liquid permeability
moisture retention curve
vapour permeability
PAGE 22 10-11-2011
) (
) (
22 21
12 11
LPc K T K
t
LPc
C
LPc K T K
t
T
C
LPc
T
V + V V =
c
c
V + V V =
c
c
Calculating PDE coefficients
using material properties, result 2/2
PAGE 23 10-11-2011
Verification
HAMSTAD Benchmark no 1
) (
) ( ) (
p p g
p p l T T h q
i
i lv i i
=
+ =
|
|
0
) (
=
=
g
T T h q
e e

PAGE 24 10-11-2011
Verification
Heat & Moisture

PAGE 25 10-11-2011
Verification
Moisture

LPc based model
RH based model
Thanks to: Natalie Williams Portal (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)
PAGE 26 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat+Moisture+Air

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 27 10-11-2011
Application 3 HAM modeling
Influence of micro air movement
Inside
Outside
a
b
PAGE 28 10-11-2011
HAM modeling
Physics
0 ) ( :
; 0 ) ( :
0 ) ( :
= V + V V +
c
c
V = = V V +
c
c
= V + V V +
c
c
v v
v
p p
p p D
t
p
Moisture
P K P K
t
P
Air
T C T
t
T
C Heat
u
u
u
0 ) ( : ); ( ) ( : :
0 : ; : :
0 ) ( : ); ( ) ( : :
inf
0
inf
= V = V
= V =
= V = V
v v v v
p D Insulation p p p D Flux
P K Insulation P P Pressure
T Insulation T T h T Flux
n n Moisture
n Air
n n Heat
|

PDEs
Boundary values
PAGE 29 10-11-2011
HAM modeling
Simulation of Relative Humidity
Air velocity
= 0
Air velocity
+10 m /s
Air velocity
-10 m /s
PAGE 30 10-11-2011
HAM modeling
Influence of micro air movement
a b
Summary
A (so far immeasurable) low air movement of order 10
-5

m/s seems to have significant impact on the RH
PAGE 31 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat+Moisture+Air+Stress

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 32 10-11-2011 Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)
Application 4 HAMS modeling
Including stress and strain
PAGE 33 10-11-2011 Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)
Application 4 HAMS modeling
Including stress and strain
PAGE 34 10-11-2011
Application 4 HAMS modeling
Including stress and strain
Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)
PAGE 35 10-11-2011 Thanks to: Zara Huijbregts (visit today, 4:00-5:30, Silchersaal)
Application 4 HAMS modeling
Including stress and strain
PAGE 36 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat, including Building Scale

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 37 10-11-2011
Application 5
Heat, including Building Scale
PAGE 38 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat, including Urban Scale

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 39 10-11-2011
Application 6
Wind & driving rain at Urban Scale
PAGE 40 10-11-2011
..

Thanks to: David van Reenen
Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale
PAGE 41 10-11-2011
Thanks to: David van Reenen
Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale
PAGE 42 10-11-2011 Thanks to: David van Reenen
Application 7
Ground energy at Urban Scale
PAGE 43 10-11-2011
Computational Building Physics
Heat, including EU Scale

Topic
Scale

Heat

Moisture

Air

Stress
~ mm
~ m
~ km
~ Mm



PAGE 44 10-11-2011
Weather Stations
Used as boundary
values for the external
climate

Application 8
Incorporate EU Scale
PAGE 45 10-11-2011
Subject building
constructions to
external climates
Map performances

Application 8
Incorporate EU Scale
PAGE 46 10-11-2011
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/


PAGE 47 10-11-2011
Thank you

Questions?