Wondering if the team still masquerades as scientists? Don’t worry, the science lives on. Throughout the construction process, the team has been running horizontal sock tests day and night; four tests a day, every day but Sundays! They have completed a series of small scale horizontal sock tests and are currently working on their first peer reviewed paper. This paper will present their findings on the suitability of wood for Breathing Walls, as well as their initial findings on their vertical sock tests.
Vertical sock testing is the next step in the testing series. As the team scales up the tests, a new variable is added. This series of tests will introduce buoyancy ventilation to the system rather than use forced air with the blower door fan. The sock, currently set up in the team’s living room, is an 8’ tall insulated cone with sensors at the top and bottom logging pressure, temperature, air flow, and humidity. They are currently calibrating this test and hope to finish up the series before Christmas! After that, they’ll move on to laminated panels and eventually to testing the full-size building currently in construction.
The team is off to the big city (Birmingham) again soon to trade off with the Horseshoe Hub Courtyard team in the metal shop. They’ll be taking a rare break from wood and fabricating trusses and other steel components, so stay tuned for updates.
Full of hot air,
The Testing Team
Soundtrack: The Scientist | Coldplay