Page 43 - JCAU-7-2

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

Figure 12. Grasshopper components for sunlight duration analysis in Rhino software. Source: Drawing by Jie Wei

preservation efforts. This repair introduced variations in
wall materials, complicating the establishment of a clear
correlation between sunlight duration and deterioration
severity. However, in Rows B and C, deterioration peaked at
Column 14, which experienced the shortest sunlight hours
and the lowest temperatures, further supporting a potential
link between reduced sunlight hours and increased
deterioration. Conversely, Rows D and E, shaded by signage
and other structures, exhibited minimal deterioration,
rendering it impractical to establish correlations between
sunlight hours and degradation in these areas.
Figure 13. Variation of temperature and humidity at the measuring point. 3.3. Impact of alveolization on building
Source: Drawing by Jingwen Wang
deterioration
same building façade, even under similar atmospheric Alveolization primarily manifests as erosion on the wall
humidity, precipitation, and groundwater and surface surface, where moisture reduces the hardness of wall
water conditions. These differences correlated with materials, causing masonry mortar to loosen. Under
variations in deterioration severity. For instance, areas with weathering conditions, the wall surface exhibits powdering
shorter sunlight exposure and higher humidity, such as or flaking, exposing the structural layer and compromising
the depression below the doorway, exhibited more severe the building’s esthetics. Weathering accelerates building
deterioration than areas with longer sunlight exposure, deterioration in several ways:
such as the doorway surface. These findings suggest that • Humidity and temperature: Wind induces rapid
sunlight duration and humidity significantly influence the changes in humidity, particularly during dry summer
severity of building deterioration. conditions. Strong winds can remove surface moisture,
In addition to the humidity data collected at the BCW causing desiccation and cracks in building materials,
building, it was observed that Row A had undergone thereby accelerating the deterioration process.
recent repair work due to cultural relic and building • Abrasion: Wind-borne particles, sand, and dust

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4606