Application of genetic algorithm for determination of water vapor diffusion parameters of building materials

Abstract

A combined experimental/computational technique for determination of water vapor transport properties of porous building materials based on the application of genetic algorithm is developed and tested on cellular concrete. The method allows obtaining water vapor transport properties in dependence on relative humidity which is a crucial factor for advanced computational modeling of hygrothermal performance of multi-layered systems of building materials. Moreover, in a comparison with the standard steady-state cup method, the presented technique requires less than half of the time necessary for measurement which, makes good prerequisites for its wider application in materials research.