Civ E 708: Building Physics and Modeling

Winter 2005. Friday 1- 4 pm. CPH 2373H for first meetingCourse ID 000535
This course covers methodologies for the quantitative prediction of building enclosure and building system performance. Issues considered include heat conduction, radiation, and convection; air flow through cracks, openings, vents, and porous media; and moisture transport by diffusion, convection, capillary action, adsorbed flow and osmosis. Students are introduced to research-quality formulations, commercial models, and simplified methods.

The course has two projects, one small one dealing with energy flow and a larger one dealing with mass and/or energy flow. The approach and results will be presented as bound reports and presentations. The intent is to create discussion by the class as a means of hands on learning of the "art" of modeling.

Download Course Outline
Example Projects and Assignments
Please read these for next class -- a brief overview with some of your questions and comments is needed
Example of Modeling
Review of HAM Models
Modelling Presentation Part 1Download pdf 5 MB
Modelling Presentation Part 2Download pdf 5 MB


Examples of Model Use:
CONTAM Model Paper
Radiant Slab Heat Loss Report

Heat and Energy Modeling:
Excel DownloadThe correct spreadsheet for simple box house heat loss
This is the spreadsheet needed to predict surface temperatures -- see the equations for conduction, convection, etc
Example Spreadsheet for Surface Heating
This is the report I meant to post on energy modeling. This should be skimmed -- look at the number of models compared, go to the Appendix to see the different results for the same simple building in the Denver climate.
EnergyPlus Compared to others
Whole Building Modeling Paper


Dynamic Moisture Modeling:
Moisture Physics PowerPoint Presentation
WUFI Journal Paper
Haupl HAM model Paper
Hartwig Kuenzel's PhD thesis - 70 pages of excellent work well explained

Moisture Material Property Measurement
Simple Material Property Measurement
Detailed Moisture Measurement Techniques
Moisture Transport in Wood
Moisture Retention measurement
Sorption Measurement
Variable Diffusivity w/ Temp

Performance Thresholds
Corrosion Rates vs Temp
Mold model


Technical Resources -- for Architecture and Engineering Students

Check out my growing list of
technical resources (currently down until we get password protection) and
building details for durable, functional, and green building design.
My links and
photos may also be interesting to some.