Laboratory tests and modelling of mineral wool insulated steel sandwich panels

Abstract

This study presents results from laboratory measurements of mineral wool insulated steel sandwich panels. The purpose of the work was to have a better understanding on the heat and moisture conditions inside sandwich panels and to study how the structure behaves in water leakage situation. The tests were done by sealing the structure from all sides and regulating the temperature on one side of the test structure while measuring the temperature and relative humidity conditions inside the structure. Water leakages were created by injecting liquid water onto the insulation layer. According to the results, water vapour pressure differences stayed relatively small both in stationary and dynamic conditions. This implies that the limiting factor for moisture source was the evaporation rate from the water leakage and that the vapour pressure throughout the insulation layer is determined strongly by the vapour pressure at the possible condensation layer. The paper discusses also the determination of sensor accuracy and impacts of a thermal bridge from the probe itself. Also, measurement results from a new radio wave monitoring method are presented.

Moisture dry-out from steel faced insulated sandwich panels

“…Measured data from the tests was also used for calibrating hygrothermal models. Three test walls (TW) were cut from sandwich panels used in a previous study conducted in HAMK Tech in Finland [14]. See Fig.…”

Influence of airtightness of steel sandwich panel joints on heat losses

“…Moisture problems can also occur if warm, wet air can infiltrate into facades [6]. Laboratory tests regarding this problem are presented in another paper at NSB2020 [7].…”

Moisture Dry-Out Capability of Steel-Faced Mineral Wool Insulated Sandwich Panels

“…Their paper focused mostly on measurement techniques and methods to detect moisture leakages, but it was evident from the measurements that the outer layer of the mineral wool core experienced condensing conditions repeatedly. The authors reported that the spread of moisture is more influenced by the evaporation speed than the speed of vapour diffusion [18]. Nonetheless, there was no analysis of the moisture dry-out capability of the tested structures.…”

“…Laukkarinen et al made a series of laboratory measurements with steel-faced mineral wool sandwich panels in a water leakage situation [18]. Their paper focused mostly on measurement techniques and methods to detect moisture leakages, but it was evident from the measurements that the outer layer of the mineral wool core experienced condensing conditions repeatedly.…”