Publications
Showing 42 results for Author: Mikael M. Salonvaara
Jul, 2026
Conference Paper
Advancing Mass Timber Buildings: Novel Methods Improve Thermal Assessment and Material Use
For nearly a century, thermal demand calculations for buildings have relied on simplified models developed to match the technical constraints of their era. The first standards, introduced in Germany and Austria in 1929, established climate zones and material conductivity coefficients that, with only incremental updates, still underpin many current assessments. Yet, methods…
Jul, 2026
Conference Paper
Updating the Building Science Advisor (BSA): A Tool to Assist in the Design of Durable Building Envelopes
Predicting the moisture durability of building envelope components remains challenging due to multiple influencing factors, including material selection, assembly positioning, local climate conditions, air tightness, interior environment, and construction quality. Building codes increasingly emphasize energy efficiency through enhanced insulation and tighter envelopes but…
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Machine Learning-Driven Optimization of Building Enclosures for Moisture Durability and Thermal Performance
The design of moisture-durable building enclosures with low embodied carbon often involves an iterative process of selecting the materials for the specific exposure conditions to meet the performance requirements. While hygrothermal simulations are commonly used to evaluate moisture durability, they often require advanced expertise for proper implementation. Machine learni…
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Enhancing Commercial Building Energy Efficiency through Automated Air Sealing
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Evaluating the Thermal and Hygrothermal Efficacy of Wood Fiber Insulation in Diverse Climate
Jun, 2025
Journal
Validation and moisture content sensitivity analysis of cross-laminated timber wall assemblies in EnergyPlus
Cross-laminated timber buildings are becoming more common in North America, with many numerical studies showing potential energy savings. However, no studies have validated any EnergyPlus heat transfer algorithms or quantified their accuracy in simulating CLT in building envelopes. This study empirically validates the heat flux predictions for each of EnergyPlus's heat tra…
Apr, 2025
ORNL Report
Evaluation of the Energy, Hygrothermal, and Thermal Capacity Performance of Cross-Laminated Timber
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction is gaining momentum in the US because it offers multiple advantages over traditional construction methods. Benefits that have received the most attention focus on constructability, the environment, and protection (e.g., blast resistance), although CLT construction is likely to offer other benefits, as well. Still, these have not be…