Development and optimization of a new ventilated brick wall: CFD analysis and experimental validation

The ventilation into the air gap was also investigated by means of CFD simulations; different turbulent models and one radiation heat transfer model were tested and validated with the collected data during the laboratory experimental campaign, in order to check the best solution able to correctly simulate the velocity profile in the masonry wall. The validated CFD model was therefore used for the optimization of the ventilation openings, by studying the velocity profile into the air gap. The best solution was then chosen and a new prototype of the ventilated wall was built in a new school gym; in order to investigate the thermal behavior of the developed wall, an intensive experimental campaign is still in progress.