Characterization and modelling of bio-based insulation materials in the building envelopes for low carbon buildings

木质材料被公认为是低层建筑中最环保的选择，而世界各地对其在中高层建筑中的使用也越来越感兴趣。然而，在更具挑战性的应用中，需要更多的了解生物基建筑材料的优势，在这些应用中，建筑围护结构在保护结构，控制建筑的能源效率以及为居住者提供安全和舒适的环境方面发挥着关键作用。利用生物基材料的建筑概念的进步需要更好地理解材料在整个建筑系统中的行为。大约70%的建筑围护结构是绝缘材料，通常由有限资源制成，如玻璃纤维、岩棉或膨胀塑料。因此，利用可再生资源开发绝缘材料引起了人们极大的兴趣。该计划的总体目标是促进对生物基保温材料的物理特性及其对木质建筑系统行为的影响的理解，从而设计出更好的建筑围护结构，以推进可持续建筑实践的应用。该项目将追求四个具体目标：1)进一步开发新的生物基包膜材料；2)表征和建模这些新材料的组成部分在一个复杂的系统的建筑围护结构；3)制定策略以保持信封系统的完整性和长期绩效。前两个目标是关于改进以木材为基础的围护结构系统，其中适当的建模需要描述围护结构组成部分及其在系统中的关系。为了确保模型的准确性，必须通过测试和分析来验证所有特征。一旦得到验证，这些改进的模型将使新材料和外壳系统的迭代和改进成为可能。该计划的第三个目标将集中在与水分有关的问题上。控制建筑围护结构内的水分水平对于成功推进木质建筑系统至关重要，其中可以开发，测试和验证建筑系统围护结构的水分传递和通风。在建筑施工中使用生物基材料仍然有很多未开发的领域，扩大使用这些低碳建筑技术所带来的潜在经济和社会效益对加拿大和世界其他地区来说是一个巨大的机遇。加拿大正努力成为这些技术的全球领导者，这是理所当然的。为了配合加拿大对更可持续社会的倡议，这项为期五年的研究计划将促进对生物基材料物理学的理解和更好的建筑围护结构的设计。

Wood based materials are well recognized as the most environmentally friendly choice in low-rise building constructions, while interest has been increasing around the world in their use for mid-and high-rise buildings as well. However, more understanding is needed to take advantage of biobased building materials in more challenging applications, where the building envelope plays key role in terms of protecting the structure, controlling the energy efficiency of the building and providing a safe and pleasant environment for its occupants. The advancement of construction concepts utilizing biobased materials requires a better understanding of the material's behavior in the complete building system. About 70% of the buildings envelope is insulation materials and commonly made of finite resources like glass fiber, rock wool, or expanded plastics. Developments of insulation materials from renewable resources are therefore of great interest. The overall objective of this proposed program is to advance the understanding of biobased insulation materials' physics and their impacts on the behavior in wood-based building systems towards the design of better building envelopes to advance the application of sustainable construction practices. This program will pursue four specific objectives: 1) Further developing new biobased envelope materials; 2) Characterization and modelling of these new materials as components in a complex system of the building envelope; 3) Developing strategies to maintain the integrity and long-term performance of the envelope system. The first two objectives are about improvement of wood-based envelope systems, where proper modelling requires characterization of the envelope components and their relations in the system. To ensure the accuracy of a model, all characteristics must be validated through testing and analysis. Once validated, these improved models will enable the iteration and refinement of new materials and envelope systems. The third objective of this program will focus on the problems associated with moisture. The control of moisture levels inside a building's envelope is critical for successful advancement of wood-based construction systems, where moisture transfer and ventilation of building system envelopes may be developed, tested and validated. The use of biobased materials in buildings construction still has a great deal of unexplored territory, where potential economic and societal benefits from an expanded use of these low carbon construction technologies represent a great opportunity for Canada and the rest of the world. Rightfully so, Canada is striving to be a global leader in these technologies. In alignment to Canada's initiatives towards a more sustainable society, this five-year research program will advance the understanding of biobased materials' physics and the design of better building envelopes.