Moistening of Walls Caused by Damage to Terraces - Research Studies and Numerical Simulations

Abstract

The aim of the article is to determine the impact of terrace damage on the moisture of adjacent external walls. Changes in moisture of wall structures can be diagnosed based on different measurement methods. In the building being the subject of the research, the damage to the terrace was caused by the moisture of adjacent external walls, made of solid ceramic bricks. On the basis of macroscopic studies, the causes of irregularities were determined. Conducted measurements of water content of individual parts of the external wall made of solid ceramic bricks were made by non-invasive method and destructive method. Measurements of water content by non-destructive method were carried out using a measuring instrument with a probe to measure material moisture. The research showed differentiation of the water content of walls depending on the location in relation to the source of moisture. During the non-destructive tests carried out inside the building, the surface moisture of the solid ceramic brick, constituting the construction of external walls and lime plaster, was measured. Measurements of water content of plaster and brickwork, qualifying them as wet walls. In places outside the area of moisture, the water content of plaster and solid bricks were several times lower. The destructive tests were carried out using the drying-weight method. In order to obtain the results of water content in the area of moisture and outside the moisture area, 3 samples of solid bricks were collected. The average water content of the ceramic brick wall in the places of occurring moisture, they were three times higher than the water content of the brick outside the moisture area. The obtained test results indicate significant differences between the moisture of the brick examined in the near-surface area and water content inside the wall. On the basis of obtained results of laboratory tests, numerical calculations were carried out using WUFI 2D software. Numerical simulations made it possible to present changes in water content of a solid brick over a period of three years. Based on the carried out tests and numerical calculations, it can be concluded that despite relatively large differences in the initial water content of wall parts in moist and non-moist areas, after a period of 3 years, the moisture status for both analysed cases is similar and occurring water content differences are practically negligible.