TY - JOUR
TI - Hygrothermal behavior at the junction of cement mortar and biobased materials: Finite element study of hempcrete, date palm concrete, and clay brick
AU - Bendekhis Mourad
AU - Fezzioui Naima
AU - Benyamine Mebirika
AU - Kaid Noureddine
AU - Larguech Samia
AU - Bayram Mustafa
AU - Menni Younes
AU - Özer Salih
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2025
VL - 29
IS - 4
SP - 3239
EP - 3251
PT - Article
AB - This study investigates the hygrothermal behavior at the junction between  cement mortar and three biobased materials, hempcrete, date palm concrete,  and clay brick, using the finite element method. Numerical simulations were  conducted under both summer and winter conditions to analyze temperature  and relative humidity distributions across a multilayer block at a depth of  145 mm. The results reveal that each material exhibits a distinct  hygrothermal signature. Hempcrete ensures stable moisture buffering and  smooth gradient transitions. Date palm concrete offers high moisture  transfer and insulation performance, but with sharper discontinuities. Clay  brick shows intermediate behavior with moderate buffering and more gradual  junction transitions. The finite element method results highlight the  junction as a critical zone where mismatches in material properties can lead  to moisture accumulation, mechanical stresses, and durability concerns.  These findings underscore the importance of selecting compatible materials  and designing junctions carefully to ensure long-term performance and  comfort in biobased building envelopes.