Vahanen Uses Multiphysics Simulation to Help Prevent Building Damage

P. Sekki
Vahanen Group, Finland

In addition to surviving normal winters, a strong building must be able to survive the worst winters expected in a 50-year period. When moisture and contaminants enter concrete foundations, they create the risk of cracking or other structural damage once the soil or foundation freezes. Vahanen Group specializes in building services and performs quality and risk assessments to make sure that planned renovations will not leave a building in danger of frost damage. Pauli Sekki, a building specialist at Vahanen, has used a COMSOL Multiphysics model to determine whether certain renovations to a building, such as removing a damaged heating pipe and replacing existing insulation with expanded polystyrene, would be enough to protect the foundation. His simulation accounts for the heat transfer in the foundation and surrounding features, material properties of each region, and temperature data from previous winters. Using his simulation results, he is able to offer construction teams accurate recommendations about their renovation plans.