Selected topics in homogenization of transport processes in historical masonry structures

TL;DR

This paper reviews homogenization techniques for modeling transport processes in irregular historical masonry, focusing on computational models like SEPUC and their application to thermal and moisture transport analysis.

Contribution

It introduces the use of SEPUC as a reliable homogenization model and applies FFT-based methods to evaluate effective thermal conductivities in masonry structures.

Findings

SEPUC effectively represents irregular masonry for homogenization.

FFT accelerates computation of thermal properties.

Homogenization approach addresses coupled heat and moisture transport.

Abstract

The paper reviews several topics associated with the homogenization of transport processed in historical masonry structures. Since these often experience an irregular or random pattern, we open the subject by summarizing essential steps in the formulation of a suitable computational model in the form of Statistically Equivalent Periodic Unit Cell (SEPUC). Accepting SEPUC as a reliable representative volume element is supported by application of the Fast Fourier Transform to both the SEPUC and large binary sample of real masonry in search for effective thermal conductivities limited here to a steady state heat conduction problem. Fully coupled non-stationary heat and moisture transport is addressed next in the framework of two-scale first-order homogenization approach with emphases on the application of boundary and initial conditions on the meso-scale.