Geavanceerde klimaatsimulaties in labo-omgeving (ClimaLab): de impact van zon en regen op de duurzaamheid van materialen

ClimaLab unites different groups at UGent that are studying the effect of climate on building materials and structures. Climate, and its variability, causes unwanted disintegration of materials such as natural stone, wood, ceramics, brick, cement-based materials and composites. To prevent their damage,  the response of a material to certain climatic parameters should tested in controlled climatic chambers. In ClimaLab, a climatic cabinet is requested that is able to simulate and control sunlight, rain, temperature and relative humidity simultaneously. Such a unique cabinet opens possibilities to investigate the impact of sun and rain, two increasingly important climatological actors with regard to climate change, on the weathering of materials beyond the state-of-art. Furthermore, biological growth can be promoted in this cabinet, which encourages the investigation of new applications concerning the biological and ecological protection and -remediation of building materials.