Xinyuan Dang is a doctoral researcher in Building Physics and Sustainable Design at KU Leuven (Belgium). He holds an MSc in Architecture from Southeast University (China), during which he spent an exchange semester at Kyoto University (Japan). His academic journey began with a BSc in Civil Engineering at Hohai University (China), from which his multidisciplinary interests emerged, combining building science with built heritage conservation. His master’s research focuses on numerical simulations exploring the impact of wall cracks on mould growth risks. Building on this, his PhD broadens the research scope, emphasizing the validation and quality assessment of heat, air, and moisture (HAM) models for predicting the hygrothermal behavior of building components. He also has a keen interest in the degradation and resilience of built heritage under climate change, alongside the theories, technologies, and practices of heritage conservation and environmental optimization.
PhD research topic:
Quality assessment of HAM-models to predict the hygrothermal response of building components
PhD research description:
This research involves a stepwise and comprehensive validation of numerical heat, air, and moisture (HAM), with a focus on accurately predicting the hygrothermal response of building components. This research compares existing numerical HAM models (e.g., WUFI and DELPHIN), assessing uncertainties in the implementation of material properties and boundary conditions. The study progresses from controlled laboratory experiments to in-situ measurements, encompassing datasets of varying scales, complexities, and conditions. Sensitivity analyses evaluate the influence of key parameters on model performance. By systematically confronting numerical simulations with measured datasets, the research aims to develop robust guidelines for modeling heat, air, and moisture transfer in building components.
This PhD project is closely aligned with the global initiative, “Empirical Validation of HAM-Models Based on a Dedicated HB-CB Experiment” (2023–2024), led by the Building Physics and Sustainable Design Section at KU Leuven. This unprecedented collaboration builds on prior efforts, including the EU HAMSTAD project and IEA Annex 24. Involving 38 research groups from 19 countries, the initiative provides a comprehensive benchmark dataset to rigorously evaluate HAM models, ensuring their robustness and reliability.
Read the Uncertainties in hygrothermal simulation factsheet
Supervisors:
Staf Roels & Hans Janssen