Building Physics and Services Laboratory
The Department of the Built Environment has a well-equipped Building Physics and Services laboratory of 2100 m2 with a highly qualified technical staff. Research is carried out in the laboratory as well as 鈥榦n site鈥�. The basic facilities allow for a wide range of experiments in all aspects of building physics: acoustics; light; air quality; heat, air and moisture transfer; wind flow; material science.
The Department of the Built Environment has a well-equipped Building Physics and Services laboratory of 2100 m2 with a highly qualified technical staff. Research is carried out in the laboratory as well as 鈥榦n site鈥�. The basic facilities allow for a wide range of experiments in all aspects of building physics: acoustics; light; air quality; heat, air and moisture transfer; wind flow; material science.
The laboratory provides computing power for advanced simulation software like Fluent, ESP-r, ODEON, Insul and Radiance.
One of the great assets of this laboratory facility is the ample experience in both fundamental as well as applied research in which concrete problems in the built environment are addressed. A strong interaction between fundamental research (in the department鈥檚 or related domains) and applied research has been a success factor for innovative research findings and solutions. The laboratory is equipped for both large and small projects. Small projects are for example the former innovation vouchers with which the industry gains access to research laboratories and staff for valorization of their work. Examples of such smaller projects are: CFD analysis of the Venturi roof for natural ventilation of multi-storey buildings (2009); wind environmental conditions for LNG carriers in sea canal Ferrol, Galicia, Spain (2009); wind nuisance at residential building complex Kattendijkdok, Antwerp, Belgium (2009); rain penetration in the residential tower building Uiterdijk, Pernis, The Netherlands, Hurks Oosthoek Kemper, (2008); sound insulation design of Espero movable wall systems, Waalwijk, the Netherlands, (2007).
The Laboratory also carries out externally financed research projects in the field of lighting, acoustics and monitoring museums.
The laboratory is well equipped for fundamental research in the calibration of models for simulation of the physical behavior of building elements or more fundamental physical phenomena. Experiments are carried out to provide specialist product-testing data for industry.
Flow box
Forced mixing ventilation is a commonly used ventilation principle in which air is forced into the upper part of the room. Optimal understanding the process of mixing ventilation is crucial to design rooms with effective and efficient ventilation ensuring the comfort and health of the room occupants. Current models of mixing ventilation are however not capable of making accurate predictions. To increase understanding of mixing ventilation a test setup has been designed at the Department.
The flowbox is a glass 鈥榖ox鈥� as large as 2 x 2 x 2 meters with a separate section for conditioning. A unique lay out in the world for ventilation efficiency research. Included in this lay out is a special 3D (LDA) system for fluid dynamic investigations in gasses and liquids, to be able to measure experiments on this large scale. The LDA will also be used in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel.
Test fa莽ade
The test fa莽ade on the outer wall of the Vertigo Building is unique for its full-scale test set-up of 5 by 12 meters. Light as well as humidity and temperature experiments can be performed.
Daylight research facilities
Building Physics and Services Laboratory disposes of a lighting lab where new light concepts can be tested in a built environment. The Daylight Laboratory is also related to the i-Lighting project, a 果冻传媒 High Potential Research Program that started in 2009. i-Lighting is a joint initiative of six 果冻传媒 departments.
Mobile equipment
The mobile sets for on site measurements of indoor and outdoor climate have web-based access and therefore analyses can be made on the spot. ()
Humidity Behavior Measuring Robot
Unique of this robot is that it can measure the humidity behavior of a large number of material samples at the same time.
Acoustics Laboratory
Today the acoustic lab has an excellent opportunity to extend its research nationally and internationally because both TNO and LBP Sight (a commercial lab) discontinued their research facilities in this discipline and indicated that they are interested in using the Departments facilities for their research.
Consequently, the TU Eindhoven has the opportunity to become the single top institute for acoustic research and education in the Netherlands.
The coupled resonance chamber is an internationally distinguishing facility.
Reverberation Room and Anechoic Room
The current acoustic Lab consists of 3 sounds transmission measurement rooms. An important facility that is planned is an anechoic room. An anechoic room with a volume of 200 m3 will enable sound absorption measurements compliant with the EN/ISO norm.
Climate Chamber
The climate chamber - part of the Building Physics and Systems laboratory - enables validation of research like the calibration of research models, thermal comfort studies, local heating/cooling/ventilation systems, etc. The climate chamber of the Department attracts industrial attention.
Living Campus Lab
The Department of the Built Environment seeks to test and improve technologies in the built environment from a user's perspective and to embed these technologies in building products. Research in the Living Campus Lab is established in close cooperation with other departments (Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial; Engineering).
Building materials characterization, production & testing
The building material chair is generally focused on the research of the building materials and sustainable building, with the following aspects as the specific interest:
Sustainable building (materials, energy, water).
Mix design and concrete/mortar rheology (Self-Compacting Concrete, soil grouts, earth moist concrete, fiber reinforced concrete, oil well cement etc.).
Microstructure and pore water of hydrating cement/lime/gypsum and cementitious by-products (slag, fly ash , bottom ash etc.), and their dehydration.Treatment of contaminated soils and dredging sludge with the help of air/steam (cleaning) and by mixing with cement/lime/gypsum (immobilization/stabilization).
Transport properties and durability of cement/lime/gypsum based materials (e.g. Cl- and CO2 diffusion/binding).
Air quality enhancement by building materials with photocatalytic properties.
Department
ing. J.F.L. (Jan) Diepens, T: +31 40 - 247 3514
ir.ing. M.A.P. (Marcel) van Aarle
W.J.M. (Wout) van Bommel
ing. A.C.A. (Anneke) Delsing
G.A.H. (Geert-Jan) Maas
H.L.W. (Harrie) Smulders
SEAC
dr. M.M. (Minne) de Jong
dr.ir. R.M.E. (Roland) Valckenborg