TECHNICAL PHYSICS M - Z

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: GIANPIERO EVOLA

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Course, the students will acquire the basic notions of:

APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS (with special emphasis on sustainable energy systems in buildings)
HEAT TRANSFER, focused on Building Physics
APPLIED ACOUSTICS, especially focused on room acoustics, noise control and technical norms

In relation to these topics, the students will also be able to solve simple practical design problems.

Course Structure

Lectures and class exercises.

Required Prerequisites

In order to follow and understand the lessons of Building Physics, the basics of the following disciplines are needed:

ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR ENGINEERING
PHYSICS

Attendance of Lessons

The attendance is COMPULSORY, with a minimum rate coherent with the threshold set by the University regulations (70% of the hours).

Detailed Course Content

APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS: Units of Measurement. First and Second principle of Thermodynamics. Energy balances. Ideal Gas. State diagrams. Combustion processes and heat generators. Inverse cycles: chillers and heat pumps. Environmental impact of the energy systems. Moist air: definition and basic processes. Summer and winter air-conditioning. Fluid-dynamics and pressure drops in the distribution networks.

HEAT TRANSFER: Heat conduction. Convective heat transfer. Radiative heat transfer. Thermal transmittance and thermal bridges. Heat exchangers. Energy performance of glazing and windows. Hygrothermal performance of the building components.

APPLIED ACOUSTICS: Definition of the main acoustic parameters. Human hearing and weighing curves. Noise disturbance: NC and NR curves. Sound transmission in open spaces. Sound barriers. Room Acoustics. Sound performance of building materials. Reverberation Time. Improvement of room acoustics. Sound Reduction Index and sound insulation strategies. Noise Assessment Indexes and regulations.

"Contribution of the Course to the objectives of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”

The course contributes to raising awareness and training students on the issues and technologies that underpin Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy), Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and Goal 13 (Fight against climate change).

Textbook Information

1. Ausili didattici di Fisica Tecnica Ambientale - Dispense del Docente

2. Evola, Marletta, Piccione. Esercizi di Fisica Tecnica risolti con PTC Mathcad. Termodinamica e Trasmissione del Calore, Città Studi Edizioni, 2023.

3. Evola, Marletta, Piccione. Esercizi di Fisica Tecnica risolti con PTC Mathcad. Acustica e Illuminotecnica, Città Studi Edizioni, 2023.

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Units of Measurement
2	First and Second principle of Thermodynamics
3	Energy balances
4	Ideal Gas
5	State diagrams
6	Combustion processes and heat generators
7	Inverse cycles: the heat pumps
8	Environmental impact of the energy systems
9	Psychrometrics
10	Summer and winter air-conditioning processes
11	Fluid-dynamics and pressure drops in the distribution networks
12	Heat conduction
13	Convective heat transfer
14	Radiative heat transfer
15	Heat transfer in buildings: thermal transmittance and thermal bridges.
16	Heat exchangers
17	Thermal features of glazed components.
18	Hygro-thermal performance of the building components
19	Definition of the main acoustic parameters
20	Human hearing and weighting curves
21	Noise disturbance: NC and NR curves
22	Sound transmission in open spaces. Sound barriers.
23	Room Acoustics. Reverberation Time
24	Sound performance of building materials
25	Improvement of room acoustics
26	Sound Reduction Index and sound insulation strategies.
27	Noise Assessment Indexes

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam consists in a written test followed by an oral test. The written test will include three exercises, dealing with the topics discussed in the course. In case of sufficient mark, the student can choose to confirm the mark (maximum allowed: 26/30), or to take also the oral test, which is optional and can allow to improve the mark.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Application of the First Principle and the continuity equation.
Calculation of fuel consumption in a boiler.
Calculation of the electricity consumption of a heat pump.
Calculation of the heating and cooling coils in an air conditioning cycle (summer and winter).
Quantification of heat transfer by convection and radiation.
Thermal transmittance calculation for walls and windows.
Thermo-hygrometric verifications on building components: surface condensation and internal condensation.
Calculation of temperatures and efficiency in a heat exchanger.
Calculation of pressure drops in distribution pipes.
Calculation of global sound pressure levels from a spectrum in octave bands (weighted and unweighted).
Calculation of sound pressure levels in open spaces, with and without acoustic barrier.
Calculation of the Reverberation Time in a room.
Application of NC and NR criteria.
Calculation of the surface of sound-absorbing materials needed to improve the acoustics of a room.
Calculation of the soundproofing power of a partition.

Degree Course in

Building Construction and Architectural Engineering