Underfloor Air Cavity Created from Special Shaped Units and Different Intensity of Outdoor Wind Flow

Abstract

Underfloor air cavities are commonly used in connection with remedial treatments of damp masonry, especially in historic buildings, but in new buildings respectively, and further also by the realization of foundation boards, and as a protection against radon. The materials used can be original, but it is also possible to use modern special shaped units. To assessment the airflow in the air cavity the recently often used CFD simulations can be employed. The application of simple geometric models can accurately confirm or refute the appropriateness of a proposed solution. Of the two completed simulations, the first overall geometry of a modeled house, ascertains the actual pressure on the walls due to wind effects. Results from the first simulation are applied as boundary conditions, where the geometric model represents the underfloor air cavity created from special shaped units. The overall geometric models are simulated by a different intensity of outdoor wind flow.