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S. Lupica Spagnolo and B. Daniotti
2.1 Description of the “Winter” Sub-cycle
1. Rain phase (60 min): the test samples were sprayed with water to simulate a rainy
event. The air inside the climatic chamber was kept at a constant temperature of
5 °C.
2. Freeze phase (duration 90 min): the air temperature inside the compartment
containing the wet test samples was cooled to −20 °C and subsequently kept
constant at that value.
3. “Hot winter” phase (duration 60 min): the temperature and the air humidity are
kept constant, respectively, at 30 °C and 50% for a duration of 60 min.
2.2 Description of the “Summer” Sub-cycle
1. Dry heat (duration 60 min): the temperature and humidity were kept constant,
respectively, at 80 °C and at 15% for a duration of 60 min.
2. Rain phase (60 min): the test samples were evenly sprayed with water to simulate a
rainy event. The air inside the climatic chamber was kept at a constant temperature
of 20 °C.
The accelerated ageing cycle consisted of ten repetitions of the winter sub-cycle,
followed by 25 repetitions of the summer sub-cycle. This ageing cycle was repeated
twice.
The expected time steps were therefore as follows:
t 0 = after drying of the sample, before the accelerated ageing;
t 1 = after one accelerated ageing cycle;
t 2 = after two accelerated ageing cycles.
3 Characterisation Tests and Analysis of the Degradation
Over Time
For the “door configuration” sample, 3-time monitoring steps were carried out with
the following characterisation tests and degradation analysis:
– photographic survey;
– measuring thermal resistance according to ISO 9869-1:2014;
– continuous measurement of heat flow in the flowing section;
– continuous measurements of temperature for analysis of the temperature profiles
in the cross section (by placing four surface probes and four interstitial probes on
the sample combined with environmental temperature probes).
S. Lupica Spagnolo and B. Daniotti
2.1 Description of the “Winter” Sub-cycle
1. Rain phase (60 min): the test samples were sprayed with water to simulate a rainy
event. The air inside the climatic chamber was kept at a constant temperature of
5 °C.
2. Freeze phase (duration 90 min): the air temperature inside the compartment
containing the wet test samples was cooled to −20 °C and subsequently kept
constant at that value.
3. “Hot winter” phase (duration 60 min): the temperature and the air humidity are
kept constant, respectively, at 30 °C and 50% for a duration of 60 min.
2.2 Description of the “Summer” Sub-cycle
1. Dry heat (duration 60 min): the temperature and humidity were kept constant,
respectively, at 80 °C and at 15% for a duration of 60 min.
2. Rain phase (60 min): the test samples were evenly sprayed with water to simulate a
rainy event. The air inside the climatic chamber was kept at a constant temperature
of 20 °C.
The accelerated ageing cycle consisted of ten repetitions of the winter sub-cycle,
followed by 25 repetitions of the summer sub-cycle. This ageing cycle was repeated
twice.
The expected time steps were therefore as follows:
t 0 = after drying of the sample, before the accelerated ageing;
t 1 = after one accelerated ageing cycle;
t 2 = after two accelerated ageing cycles.
3 Characterisation Tests and Analysis of the Degradation
Over Time
For the “door configuration” sample, 3-time monitoring steps were carried out with
the following characterisation tests and degradation analysis:
– photographic survey;
– measuring thermal resistance according to ISO 9869-1:2014;
– continuous measurement of heat flow in the flowing section;
– continuous measurements of temperature for analysis of the temperature profiles
in the cross section (by placing four surface probes and four interstitial probes on
the sample combined with environmental temperature probes).