Course syllabus for Building physics

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameByggnadsfysik
  • CodeVBF019
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKATK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture and Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 46115
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0117 Examination 5 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c5 c0 c0 c0 c
0217 Design exercise, part B 2.5 c
Grading: UG		0 c0 c0 c2.5 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Introductory course in calculus, Linear algebra, Computational mathematics, Series and derivatives in several variables and Building materials, or corresponding courses.

Aim

This course deals with basic building physical processes and shows how models are constructed from heat and mass balance equations and flow models. This knowledge is used in various applications such as building physics design and to understand the principles of the building envelope. Calculation skills and problem solving are practiced during calculation exercises, and by constructing high performing heat and moisture protection in design exercises.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- Identify the climatic loads on a building and define building physical functional requirements. 
- Use building physical dimensioning to design the thermal envelope, consisting of roof, walls and foundation, as well as reviewing and evaluating various construction solutions from a building physical point of view, such as the risk of condensation. 
- Calculate one-dimensional heat, moisture, air transport, and two-dimensional heat transport for pipes, thermal bridges and slab on ground. 
- Explain the physics behind heat transport through conduction, radiation and convection, moisture transport through diffusion, convection and capillary suction, and air transport. 
- Calculate the wetting and drying of structures and materials using sorption isotherms. 
- Use network analysis to solve building physical problems. - Set up and solve an energy balance and a moisture balance for a building, room, structure or surface. 
- Give examples of factors that affect a building's energy demand (eg thermal bridges) and power demand and make simplified calculations of these.
 - Be able to give a rough description of the thermal difference between heavy and light constructions and estimate the magnitude of thermal storage.
- Describe and be able to communicate the terminology regarding fire protection and fire safety design, and explain the principles of fire safety design based on functional requirements.

Content

This course treats and provides: - Basic theory regarding -heat transfer by conduction, radiation and convection - moisture transfer in gas and liquid phase by diffusion, convection and capillary suction - empirical relations in building materials and air concerning heat and moisture -pressure driven air flow through leaks and materials - Calculation methods - one-dimensional steady-state and transient heat transfer - one-dimensional steady-state moisture diffusion and capillary suction - long-wave radiation between surfaces (simple cases) - heat transfer across air gaps - air flow through porous materials and air gaps - surface condensation and interstitial condensation in layered structures - elementary heat and moisture convection - equivalent temperature - proficiency in and knowledge of - building physics design - building physics performance criteria - design principles for thermal envelopes - principles and methods for measuring temperature, heat flow, moisture conditions and air tightness - applications - simple building technology applications

Organisation

Basic building physical processes and information on how to construct models, from heat and mass balance equations and flow models, are presented during lectures. The aim of calculation exercises is to obtain calculation skills and to practice problem solving. Design exercises increase the understanding of building physics by combining theory with calculations to construct high performing buildings.

Literature

Lecture notes, calculation exercises and tutorials in Canvas

Hagentoft C-E., Sandin K., 2017, Byggnadsfysik- så fungerar hus, Studentlitteratur, Lund, ISBN 9789144114484


Examination including compulsory elements

Written exam (grade TH) with a descriptive part and a problem solving part. Design exercise (grade UG). Final grade, scale TH.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.