Page 39 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Moisture damage in plastered heritage building

Figure 9. Humidity measurement points at the former site of the Bank of China Building in Wangjiaqiao (B and C are at different horizontal interfaces at
the same altitude). Source: Drawing by Ruxin Tang
Table 3. Wall humidity data (%)

Landscape/Portrait 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
A 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.6 1.2 0.9 1.0 2.1 0.9 0.6 1.3 1.7 0.9 1.8 1.3 0.6 0.7 0.8
B 0.8 1.3 1.5 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.0 1.6 1.1 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.3 0.9 1.1 0.4
C 0.8 0.8 1.2 0.9 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 0.4
D 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4
E 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.4 0.4
F 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4
G 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
H 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 1.1 0.8 1.3 08 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.5
I 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.5
J 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.8 1.1 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.5
K 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.7
L 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9

3. Results and discussion masonry structures dissolve and migrate upward through
capillary action. The cyclic process of salt dissolution
3.1. Influence of temperature and humidity on
building deterioration and crystallization within walls causes expansion and
contraction of the building material, resulting in internal
3.1.1. Deterioration mechanisms of salt crystallization loosening and eventual disintegration of the material’s
Salt crystallization is a common issue in masonry structure (Kim et al., 2020; Li et al., 2020; Yu, 2023). This
buildings, characterized by phenomena such as powdering process often manifests as a powdery layer on the wall
and surface efflorescence, which are particularly surface and the formation of efflorescence. Over time,
prominent in humid environments. The underlying causes weathering exacerbates the phenomenon, causing layer-
of salt crystallization are multifaceted, involving several by-layer peeling and crumbling of the wall surface. Salt
interacting factors. In moist conditions, soluble salts within crystallization is further influenced by capillary water and

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4606