95771 - Materials Testing and Diagnostics P

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Materials Testing and Diagnostics course, the student knows the techniques for conducting tests on materials and building components, including how to take samples and characterize materials for existing buildings. He is also familiar with the basic elements of European certification of component for buildings and construction, ad well as the quality control.

Course contents

MODULE 1 - Theory of Measurement; Thermal Insulation, Acoustics, Illumination Engineering

Definitions: measurement, measuring, measurand. Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurements (GUM): an overview. Gaussian distributions, mean and standard deviation. Coverage factor, expanded uncertainty, covariance. Calibration, Adjustment, and Instrument Class.

Thermal properties of materials. Measurement of thermal conductivity, measurement of thermal diffusivity. Calibration using reference samples. Thermocouples. Overall heat transfer coefficient, transmittance. Thermography.

Acoustic properties of materials. Definition of acoustic impedance, Acoustic absorption. Measurement for normal incidence (Kundt tube) and diffuse incidence (reverberation chamber) Application to porous materials. Measurement of sound power. Overview of sound energy propagation.

Illumination engineering definitions. Illuminance quantities: lumen, candela, lux, nit. Photometric solid and illuminating bodies. Regulatory requirements for visual tasks in domestic and work environments. Sizing lighting systems using DialuxEVO simulation.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, mainly in laboratory.

Teaching tools

Lecturer's slides. Standard. Technical manuals.

Office hours

See the website of Dario D'Orazio

See the website of Roberto Carli