Analysis of the energy performance of a new ventilated brick wall: behaviour of real scale prototype under different ventilation configuration and weather conditions

The thermal behaviour of a high thermal inertia ventilated wall made of local bricks in Central Italy is investigated. According to laboratory results, a real scale ventilated façade 8.5 m high was built as a perimeter wall of a gym. The behaviour of the southern façade was monitored continuously for 26 months in different seasons, alternating different openings configurations. Non-ventilated, partially ventilated, and ventilated configuration were compared; the wall height influence on the temperatures within the ventilation gap, their phase displacement, and air velocity fields were investigated. Experimental results were used to implement and validate a 2D CFD transient model.