- 10.00 – 10.45: Trial lecture. Title: "Integrating Resilient Building Energy Technologies in Zero Emission Neighborhoods: Strategies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Enhancing Climate Change Adaptability"
- 12.00 – 16.00: Public defence
The trial lecture and public defence will also be streamed live:
- Webinar ID: 684 8101 6807
- Passcode: 111024
Ordinary opponents:
- First opponent: Professor Chiara Bertolin, NTNU
- Second opponent: Professor Vahid Nik, Lund University
- The chair of the committee: Associate Professor Mehrdad Rabani, OsloMet
- Leader of the public defence: Associate Professor Yonas Ayele, OsloMet
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Arnab Chaudhuri, OsloMet.
Abstract
The Ph.D. thesis quantitatively examines the impact of climate change on specific cultural heritage assets, focusing on two historic timber buildings, two pieces of furniture, and brick masonry walls located in Tønsberg, southern Norway. The research employs experimental methods to analyse the deterioration of these assets and implements numerical simulations to assess future deterioration risks and propose adaptation measures.
Survey results indicate a significant risk of fungal deterioration for the timber buildings, with the biological infestation predominantly observed on horizontal and north-oriented timber surfaces. Moreover, the two pieces of furniture show notable mechanical deterioration, paint fading, and embrittlement. Finally, the brick masonry walls exhibit granular disintegration and cracking, with the damaged bricks primarily found on facades facing south-east, south, and southwest.
Simulation results reveal an increasing mould risk for untreated timber surfaces due to climate change, particularly on horizontal and north-oriented surfaces. On the contrary, treated surfaces show no mould risk. Recommendations include replacing rot-infested building elements, cleaning and treating degraded exterior areas, interior cleaning, removal of organic materials, and improving natural ventilation by opening doors during working hours.
For the furniture, increased mechanical and chemical deterioration risks are calculated under present and future conditions, with a potential for favourable conditions for temperature-dependent insect growth in one of the furniture-housing rooms. Relocation to a climate-controlled room is recommended.
For the brick masonry walls, there is a decreasing trend in frost damage risk due to climate change. Unconditioned rooms with southeast-facing walls are experiencing the highest risk, while conditioned rooms with northwest and west orientations are facing the lowest risk.
Finally, a comparison between climate-based and material response-based approaches for assessing material deterioration indicates that the latter provides a better-informed assessment of deterioration risk by accounting for microclimate conditions and material properties of the building components.
