@phdthesis{Goergen2025, author = {G{\"o}rgen, Fabian}, title = {Improving thermal comfort in urban areas : experiment-based development, computational modelling, and performance evaluation of a water-retaining fa{\c{c}}ade module (WRFM)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7201}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72019}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Both ongoing urbanization and anthropogenic climate change contribute to the deterioration of thermal comfort in urban areas, reducing quality of life and posing health risks for urban dwellers. As a response, this thesis focuses on the development and investigation of a novel water-retaining fa{\c{c}}ade module (WRFM) that is expected to increase thermal comfort through evaporative cooling, based on natural convection. First, for the design of a water-absorbing layer, selected porous materials were investigated for their hygric and physical properties. The laboratory tests served as the basis for the experiment-based development of a prototype of the WRFM, which was subsequently introduced. Building upon the experimental investigations, a coupled simulation workflow was developed, integrating various software tools to simulate location-specific evaporation rates of the WRFM, considering local microclimatic parameters and evaluating its impact on thermal comfort in an urban context. The coupled simulation workflow was calibrated against in-situ measurements. Subsequently, the effects of the WRFM on the urban environment were investigated in various case studies using the validated coupled simulation workflow. The results of the laboratory investigations revealed favourable material properties of pumice granules, as well as their durability and resistance, underlining their suitability for use as a water-absorbing layer within the WRFM. The calibration process of the workflow's sub models showed a strong fit between measured and final simulated results, validating the coupled simulation workflow as a reliable tool for simulating heat and mass transfer within the WRFM. Evaluating the effects of the WRFM on thermal comfort showed that applying the WRFM to a building fa{\c{c}}ade notably decreased the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) during the day, with slight increases observed during night-time. This effect was mainly attributed to both the increased albedo and the increased specific heat capacity of the WRFM. The WRFM demonstrates potential for improving thermal comfort in urban areas. The developed coupled simulation workflow provides a climate-friendly and location-specific planning tool, which can be used to customize and tailor adaptation strategies, such as the WRFM, to a specific location. The findings of this thesis thus serve as a foundation for future investigations into the WRFM and its potential integration into sustainable urban planning strategies.}, subject = {Thermal comfort; Urban microclimate; Evaporative cooling; Water-retaining fa{\c{c}}ade module; Coupled simulation workflow; Thermische Behaglichkeit; Urbanes Mikroklima; Verdunstungsk{\"u}hlung; Wasserspeicherndes Fassadenmodul; Gekoppelter Simulationsworkflow; Fassade; Wasseraufnahme; Verdunstungsk{\"u}hlung; Behaglichkeit; Stadtklima; Stadtleben}, language = {en} }