Numerical and experimental investigation of heat and mass transfer within bio-based material

The aim of this work is to study the hygrothermal behaviour of bio-based buildings materials. In this paper, we study the coupled heat and mass transfer within porous media. First, we experimentally characterize the studied materials and evaluate their thermal properties, namely thermal conductivity and specific heat in different state (dry-wet). The hygroscopic properties, namely water vapour permeability, water vapour sorption. At second time, we present and validate the mathematical model describing heat and mass transfer within bio-based materials, by the confrontation with the experimental results. The materials properties obtained from the characterisation part are used as model's input parameters. Moreover, a test facility is mounted in the laboratory in order to compare the numerical and experimental data. The founded results show a good concordance between the simulated and measured data. According to this results the mathematical model of Philip and De Vries gives a good prediction of hygrothermal behaviour of bio-based material. This model will allow us to save money and time of the experimental part in the future.