Building Physics – Heat, Air and Moisture: Fundamentals and Engineering Methods with Examples and Exercises

Bad experiences with construction quality, the energy crises of 1973 and 1979, complaints about 'sick buildings', thermal, acoustical, visual and olfactory discomfort, the need for good air quality, the move towards more sustainability, all have accelerated the development of a field, which until some 40 years ago was hardly more than an academic exercise: building physics. Building physics combines several knowledge domains such as heat and mass transfer, building acoustics, lighting, indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency. In some countries, also fire safety is included. Through the application of existing physical knowledge and the combination with information coming from other disciplines, the field helps to understand the physical phenomena governing assembly, building envelope, whole building and built environment performance, although for the last the wording "urban physics" is used. Building physics has a true impact on performance based building design. This volume focuses on heat, air, moisture transfer and its usage in building engineering applications.

Table of Contents:
Preface 0 Introduction Subject of the book Building Physics Importance of Building Physics History of Building Physics Units and Symbols 1 Heat Transfer Overview Conduction Convection Radiation Applications Problems 2 Mass Transfer Generalities Air Transfer Vapour Transfer Moisture Transfer Problems 3 Combined heat-air-moisture transfer Overview Material and Assembly Level Building Level Problems 4 Postscript 5 Problems, Solutions

About the Author :
Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. Hugo S. L. C. Hens, Katholische Universitat Lowen/Belgien, lehrte Bauphysik von 1975 bis 2003, Gebaudeplanung von 1970 bis 2005 und Technische Gebaudeausrustung von 1975 bis 1977 sowie von 1990 bis 2008. Bis 1972 war er als Tragwerksplaner fur Wohnhauser, Buro- und Geschossbauten in einem Architekturburo tatig. Er hat als Autor bzw. Koautor uber 150 Veroffentlichungen verfasst und hunderte Schadensgutachten erstellt. Wahrend zehn Jahren koordinierte er die internationale Arbeitsgruppe CIB W40 "Heat and Mass Transfer in Buildings". Von 1986 bis 2008 war er im Rahmen des Forschungsprogramms "Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems" der Internationalen Energieagentur IEA fur die Erarbeitung von Annex 14, Annex 24, Annex 32 und Annex 41 verantwortlich. Er ist Mitglied der American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).