Browsing by Subject "Waterproofing"
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Item Durability and waterproofing investigations of the building envelope(2015-05) Feero, Beth Anne; Fowler, David W.; Novoselac, AtilaDurability of the building envelope is an important characteristic to monitor and test on a structure to ensure it does not fail prematurely from water penetration. Due to the building envelop failures existing today, the described testing herein aims to evaluate different building components in an effort to express deficiencies in testing or products so as to better influence the building envelope product market and lessen the possibility of future failures. This thesis describes the background and protocol for testing water resistive barrier full-scale mockups for long-term durability. An auxiliary study of the product nail sealability testing was also conducted, providing supporting visibility into inconsistencies between manufacturer and test results. Elastomeric sealants were also tested according to a new standard, ASTM C1589, which evaluates products for the long term based on both movement and weathering--a much needed standardized testing scenario. Initial results show the need for primed, silicone, and SWR Institute validated products. The water penetration characteristics of concrete masonry units were also analyzed using both ASTM C90 and RILEM tube testing. The results emphasized the need for redundancy in water repellents for porous units and the significant leniency of ASTM C90. Lastly, masonry veneer anchor guidelines were discussed, and it was found that the prescriptive nature of the MSJC code does not provide adequate guidance on installation of anchors for unique architectural or structural details. Suggestions for placement in these instances are given. Much of the testing described in this thesis represents best practice suggestions and initial product evaluation. Since this testing has been developed as long-term experiments, the next few years will provide the needed information on failure mechanisms and methods to prevent these failures.Item Performance of cladding and waterproofing materials(2016-12) Gagnon, Kyle Richard; Novoselac, Atila; Fowler, David W.The long-term performance of the materials that create the building envelope is essential to the long-term durability of buildings and structures. This thesis summarizes published literature on various cladding and waterproofing materials. In addition, the research involved in the creation of this thesis evaluated several performance aspects of these components. Code requirements for anchored masonry veneer were tabulated and compared against requirements in the specification. It was determined that not all code requirements are also found in the specification. It is recommended that the specifier, whether and Engineer or an Architect, specify those code requirements which are not in the specification. Materials testing of exterior plaster mixtures specified in ASTM C926 was completed. Prisms and cubes were cast to determine the drying shrinkage potential and compressive strength of various plaster mixtures. This information can be useful when determining suitable control joints and their required spacing for a given mix. The crack-bridging ability of fluid-applied weather resistive barriers was evaluated using a new test method. This test method has not been published and is very similar to ASTM C1305, a test method for other fluid-applied waterproofing membranes. It was determined that ASTM C1305 may not be suitable for all fluid-applied products since thicknesses vary between manufacturers. Different asphalt impregnated membranes including roofing felt and building paper were installed on a mock-up for long term exposure. Research was performed as to the long-term performance of each of the products. It was determined that both paper and felt comply with code requirements and should be chosen when they have the greatest advantages for the given building envelope system. A large-scale test was performed on clear penetrating water repellents. These were applied to a suitable substrate and evaluated for their ability to resist water infiltration. Many of these products are highly effective at reducing the amount of water absorption. Prolonged UV exposure will shed light as to the long-term durability of these products. This research is part of an ongoing project at The University of Texas at Austin’s Durability Lab. Ongoing testing that began previously, including water resistive barriers mock-ups, nail sealability, and elastomeric sealants, have not been included in this thesis.