Numerical modelling of hygrothermal response in building envelopes

The present paper deals with numerical modelling of heat and mass transfer through multilayer walls. Based on physical principles of mass and energy conservation, nonlinear partial differential equations are developed, where driving potentials are considered. Measurable physical properties involved in the present modelling are dependent on the temperature and capillary pressure, which are considered as driving potentials. A mathematical model that solves the coupled heat and mass transfer through multilayered porous media is developed and validated via a benchmark exercise issued from the HAMSTAD program. The obtained results compare well with benchmark results.