Comsol Case Studies Using Multiphysics Simulation to Prevent Building Damage

	Using Multiphysics Simulation to Prevent Building Damage Comsol

Using Multiphysics Simulation to Prevent Building Damage

Comsol

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Buildings Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Maintenance
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Building Energy Management Predictive Maintenance Structural Health Monitoring
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	In extreme climates, moisture and temperature changes can damage building foundations. Vahanen Group, a company specializing in building services, analyzes the potential for frost damage in buildings being considered for renovation. Their work is especially vital in cases where renovations are necessary due to existing damage, such as when heating systems and pipes need to be replaced. The challenge is to determine whether certain renovations to foundations or heating systems would require adding external frost insulation, which, if added unnecessarily, would waste valuable money, time, and work. Read More
About Customer	Vahanen Group, based in Espoo, Finland, is a company specializing in building services such as quality assessments and construction recommendations. They focus on analyzing the potential for frost damage in buildings being considered for renovation. Their work is crucial in ensuring the safety and longevity of building structures, especially in extreme climates where moisture and temperature changes can cause significant damage. Vahanen Group uses advanced simulation tools to provide construction teams with accurate assessments and recommendations, helping to prevent structural damage and maintain safe building environments. Read More
Solution	Pauli Sekki, a building specialist at Vahanen, uses the simulation capabilities of COMSOL Multiphysics to perform risk assessments. His goal is to discern whether certain renovations to foundations or heating systems would require adding external frost insulation. For one project, Sekki's COMSOL model includes the foundation, levels of loose soil and packed earth, several types of insulation, lightweight concrete walls, and a pipe from a heating system passing underneath a building near the wall and foundation. Sekki simulated temperature changes based on local climate data for Helsinki, Finland, and generated a 'critical freezing' quantity to account for abnormally cold winters. This simulation helps determine whether renovations, such as the complete removal of a damaged heating pipe, would endanger the building. The tools in COMSOL Multiphysics are very easy to use for this kind of complex model, providing almost unlimited possibilities for setting boundary conditions. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Construction & Infrastructure

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Maintenance

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Building Energy Management

Predictive Maintenance

Structural Health Monitoring

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

In extreme climates, moisture and temperature changes can damage building foundations. Vahanen Group, a company specializing in building services, analyzes the potential for frost damage in buildings being considered for renovation. Their work is especially vital in cases where renovations are necessary due to existing damage, such as when heating systems and pipes need to be replaced. The challenge is to determine whether certain renovations to foundations or heating systems would require adding external frost insulation, which, if added unnecessarily, would waste valuable money, time, and work.

About Customer

Vahanen Group, based in Espoo, Finland, is a company specializing in building services such as quality assessments and construction recommendations. They focus on analyzing the potential for frost damage in buildings being considered for renovation. Their work is crucial in ensuring the safety and longevity of building structures, especially in extreme climates where moisture and temperature changes can cause significant damage. Vahanen Group uses advanced simulation tools to provide construction teams with accurate assessments and recommendations, helping to prevent structural damage and maintain safe building environments.

Solution

Pauli Sekki, a building specialist at Vahanen, uses the simulation capabilities of COMSOL Multiphysics to perform risk assessments. His goal is to discern whether certain renovations to foundations or heating systems would require adding external frost insulation. For one project, Sekki's COMSOL model includes the foundation, levels of loose soil and packed earth, several types of insulation, lightweight concrete walls, and a pipe from a heating system passing underneath a building near the wall and foundation. Sekki simulated temperature changes based on local climate data for Helsinki, Finland, and generated a 'critical freezing' quantity to account for abnormally cold winters. This simulation helps determine whether renovations, such as the complete removal of a damaged heating pipe, would endanger the building. The tools in COMSOL Multiphysics are very easy to use for this kind of complex model, providing almost unlimited possibilities for setting boundary conditions.

Impact #1	Sekki used his simulation to predict temperatures at the two lowest corners of the concrete foundation. He investigated three cases: the original structure, the structure after heating system renovations, and the structure after renovations that replaced damaged wood wool cement board (WWCB) with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation.
Impact #2	For a typical year in Helsinki, the ground stayed warm enough to prevent damages to the building in its original state as well as after heating system renovations. However, after the WWCB insulation was replaced with EPS, the ground near the foundation dipped to 0.5°C, low enough to be a concern.
Impact #3	After simulating the building during a longer winter, Sekki found that only the foundation of the original structure stayed safely above freezing temperatures. The ground around the foundation of the renovated structure with WWCB dipped to -2°C, and the foundation of the renovated structure with the replacement-EPS insulation dipped even farther, to -4°C. This meant removing the heating pipe would risk serious damage to the building foundation.

Impact #1

Sekki used his simulation to predict temperatures at the two lowest corners of the concrete foundation. He investigated three cases: the original structure, the structure after heating system renovations, and the structure after renovations that replaced damaged wood wool cement board (WWCB) with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation.

Impact #2

For a typical year in Helsinki, the ground stayed warm enough to prevent damages to the building in its original state as well as after heating system renovations. However, after the WWCB insulation was replaced with EPS, the ground near the foundation dipped to 0.5°C, low enough to be a concern.

Impact #3

After simulating the building during a longer winter, Sekki found that only the foundation of the original structure stayed safely above freezing temperatures. The ground around the foundation of the renovated structure with WWCB dipped to -2°C, and the foundation of the renovated structure with the replacement-EPS insulation dipped even farther, to -4°C. This meant removing the heating pipe would risk serious damage to the building foundation.

Benefit #1	Annual freezing degree hours (FDH) for Helsinki is typically about 14,000 FDH.
Benefit #2	Critical freezing quantity accounts for abnormally cold winters with about 40,000 FDH.
Benefit #3	Ground near the foundation dipped to 0.5°C after replacing WWCB insulation with EPS.

Benefit #1

Annual freezing degree hours (FDH) for Helsinki is typically about 14,000 FDH.

Benefit #2

Critical freezing quantity accounts for abnormally cold winters with about 40,000 FDH.

Benefit #3

Ground near the foundation dipped to 0.5°C after replacing WWCB insulation with EPS.

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Overview

Using Multiphysics Simulation to Prevent Building Damage

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit