A5017290925- Wind and Air Flow Studies
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Hygrothermal properties of building materials
- Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics Research
- Building materials and conservation
- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Lattice Boltzmann Simulation Studies
- Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
- Textile materials and evaluations
- Material Properties and Processing
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Rock Mechanics and Modeling
- Concrete and Cement Materials Research
- Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
- Fluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows
- Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Numerical methods in engineering
- Aerosol Filtration and Electrostatic Precipitation
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
ETH Zurich
2016-2025
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
2014-2024
Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology
2015-2024
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
2012-2023
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2017
Northwestern University
2017
KU Leuven
2000-2010
Eindhoven University of Technology
2002-2008
Concordia University
2008
Catholic University of America
2001
This article provides an overview of the application computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in building performance simulation for outdoor environment, focused on four topics: (1) pedestrian wind environment around buildings, (2) wind-driven rain facades, (3) convective heat transfer coefficients at exterior surfaces and (4) air pollutant dispersion buildings. For each topic, its background, need CFD, some past CFD studies, a discussion about accuracy perspectives practical are provided....
The maximum spreading of drops impacting on smooth and rough surfaces is measured from low to high impact velocity for liquids with different surface tensions viscosities. We demonstrate that dynamic wetting plays an important role in the at velocity, characterized by contact angle spreading. In energy balance, we account wettability introducing capillary zero which relates ratio velocity. Correcting find a correct scaling behaviour and, interpolation between two, universal curve. influence...
Increasing urban tree cover is an often proposed mitigation strategy against heat as trees are expected to cool cities through evapotranspiration and shade provision. However, also modify wind flow aerodynamic roughness, which can potentially limit dissipation. Existing studies show a varying cooling potential of in different climates times the day. These differences so far not systematically explained partitioning individual effects challenging impossible observations alone. Here, we...
Abstract The presence of mesoscopic features and damage in quasi-brittle materials causes significant second-order nonlinear effects on the acoustic wave propagation characteristics. In order to quantify influence such micro-inhomogeneities, a new promising tool for nondestructive material testing has been developed applied field detection. technique focuses (i.e., amplitude-dependent) response one material's resonance modes when driven at relatively small amplitudes. method is termed...
The construction of a building inevitably changes the microclimate in its vicinity. In particular near high-rise buildings, high wind velocities are often introduced at pedestrian level that can be experienced as uncomfortable or even dangerous. Therefore, design should not only focus on envelope and providing good indoor environment, but also include effect outdoor environment. environment building, related to wind, has received relatively little attention Building Physics community....
The precision of methods used for the determination hygric properties porous building materials was investigated. study performed in framework EU-initiated HAMSTAD-project. Six laboratories measured selected three materials. While most show acceptable agreement, yet, it found that some existing standards or commonly accepted measurement need improvement. Most striking were large variations results vapour transmission tests accordance to European Standard.
Droplet impact has been imaged on different rigid, smooth, and rough substrates for three liquids with viscosity surface tension, special attention to the lower velocity range. Of all studied parameters, only tension viscosity, thus liquid properties, clearly play a role in terms of attained maximum spreading ratio impacting droplet. Surface roughness type (steel, aluminum, parafilm) slightly affect dynamic wettability at low velocity. The contact angle identified properly characterize this...
A two-phase model of a wood microfibril consisting crystalline cellulose and amorphous hemicellulose is investigated with molecular dynamics in full range sorption to understand the origin swelling weakening wood. Water adsorbed hemicellulose, an excess found at interface, while no occurs within cellulose. molecules on interface push away polymer chains, forcing two phases separate causing breaking h-bonds, particularly pronounced interface. Existence different regions moisture response...
We study the spontaneous nucleation and growth of sodium chloride crystals induced by controlled evaporation in confined geometries (microcapillaries) spanning several orders magnitude volume. In all experiments, happens reproducibly at a very high supersaturation S ∼ 1.6 is independent size, shape, surface properties microcapillary. show from classical theory that this expected: corresponds to point where first becomes observable on experimental time scales. A consequence supersaturations...