3596 -- Numerical Prediction of Moisture Condensation on Curtain Walls Using the Finite-Element Method and Its Experimental Validation PDF

Numerical and experimental studies have been conducted to analyse the thermal performance of a mock-up curtain wall section. In the experimental study, temperature distributions in the mullion sections were measured for various weather conditions. Visual observation was made regarding moisture condensation on glass and mullion surfaces. The overall heat transmission factor was measured using the guarded hot box method, and the condensation resistance factors were measured from the interior surface temperatures of glazing and mullions. In the numerical study, the finite-element algorithm has been adopted to calculate the temperature distributions in complicated mullion sections. The numerical results are compared with the corresponding experimental results. The numerical scheme developed is fully validated and can be applied to predict possible moisture condensation on any complicated mullion sections under various weather conditions.

KEYWORDS: calculating, moisture, condensation, curtain walls, experiment, glazing, performance, heat flow, temperature distribution, weather, measuring, algorithms, comparing, thermal conductivity, walls