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Open research questions in Hygrothermal properties of building materials

150 gap statements mined from Hygrothermal properties of building materials papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 693 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The combined use of sawdust and cassava starch for simultaneously improving the mechanical properties and water resistance of sandy soil remains insufficiently investigated. The lack of understanding of the stabilization mechanisms of bio-based stabilizers in earthen construction materials.

    Mechanical performance and water resistance of sandy soil stabilized with sawdust and cassava starch for sustainable housing construction · 2026 · DOI

  • No similar studies on indoor air quality have been reported previously. There is a lack of understanding of the impact of microbial communities on air quality in reed- and straw-bale houses.

    Humidity Impact on Air Quality in Straw- and Reed-Bale Houses · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials that combine thermal insulation, minimal environmental impact, and adequate mechanical performance. The need for new and improved construction materials that can reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts.

    Experimental Study of the Thermomechanical Properties of a New Eco-Friendly Composite Material Based on Clay and Reed · 2025 · DOI

  • There is a need for sustainable and environmentally friendly construction materials for remote housing. The use of locally available natural fibres in mudbrick can improve its mechanical and erosion resistance performance, but there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of spinifex fibre in mudbricks.

    Performance Analysis of Spinifex Fibre-Reinforced Mudbrick as a Sustainable Construction Material for Remote Housing in Australia · 2025 · DOI

  • The research highlights the need for conservative strategies for the preservation and restoration of earthen structures.

    Evaluating Earth Construction Techniques on Ancient Architecture: An Exploratory Use of Empirical Field Tests in West Asia (Tell Zurghul/Nigin) · 2025 · DOI

  • The study faces the challenge of determining the water vapour resistance of historical building papers, which can be difficult to measure due to uneven thickness and other factors. The research must also account for the potential effects of temperature and relative humidity on the moisture performance of internally insulated walls.

    Mould Growth Risk for Internal Retrofit Insulation of Heritage-Protected Timber Plank Frame Walls · 2025 · DOI

  • The need to enhance the water resistance of earthen materials.

    Properties of Sustainable Earth Construction Materials: A State-of-the-Art Review · 2024 · DOI

  • The paper identifies technical challenges related to the development of earth-based construction, including the need for more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. The study also highlights the challenge of combining massive earthen walls with biobased thermal insulation to reach homogeneous thermal performances.

    Compared Environmental Lifecycle Performances of Earth-Based Walls to Drive Building Envelope Design · 2024 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of moisture on straw- and reed-bale buildings. Studies on the impact of microbial communities on air quality in different types of buildings are needed. Research on the optimal maintenance and repair strategies for straw- and reed-bale buildings is required.

    Humidity Impact on Air Quality in Straw- and Reed-Bale Houses · 2025 · DOI

  • The anisotropy of the capillary absorption coefficient is critical to moisture transport modeling and durability prediction, whereas reliable on-site assessment methods remain scarce.

    Anisotropy assessment and capillary absorption coefficient estimation of brick and mortar materials based on drilling resistance · 2026 · DOI

  • Current moisture-risk compliance pathways rely on hygrothermal simulations under prescribed boundary conditions, yet wall performance under elevated moisture loads remains underexplored.

    Assessing Moisture Resilience in Residential External Wall Assemblies under Standard and Elevated Moisture Loads · 2026 · DOI

  • Nevertheless, whether silica fume CSRE can satisfy the durability requirements specified in relevant codes across different regions remains to be verified through systematic experimental investigations.

    Effect of Silica Fume on the Mechanical Properties and Seismic Performance of Cement-Stabilized Rammed Earth · 2026 · DOI

  • To strengthen the practical applicability and industrial adoption of waste-incorporated and eco-friendly brick systems, future research should move beyond laboratory-scale material characterisation and focus on performance-driven, durability-oriented, and sustainability-integrated investigations.

    A Comprehensive Review on the Performance Evaluation of Sustainable Bricks Produced from Bio-Waste and Industrial Waste · 2026 · DOI

  • Strategies including envelope insulation and airtightness optimization, precise ventilation and humidity control, and passive design integration are put forward; future research should focus on developing timber-specific thermal comfort models, building experimental databases and applying machine learning.

    Thermal Environment and Thermal Comfort of Modern Timber Buildings: A Systematic Review · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of information and technical knowledge about the properties and applications of raw earth materials. The water retention behavior of CEBs is not fully understood.

    Advanced investigation of water sorption isotherms measured on raw earth construction blocks · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to reduce energy consumption related to air conditioning and heating systems.

    Optimizing the mechanical performance of adobe bricks reinforced with Vicia faba plant waste and derived biochar using ANN and RSM · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can investigate the scalability and real-world applicability of the proposed system. The system can be integrated with other building systems, such as HVAC and electrical systems. The potential of the proposed system for improving indoor air quality and reducing energy consumption can be explored.

    Vertical pond: design, analysis, and scaled model fabrication of a multi-material façade · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had to balance the need for detailed scientific analysis with the need to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of traditional arches.

    The Mechanical Properties and Sustainable Conservation of Traditional Brick Arches: A Study of Residential and Official Buildings in Jinzhong, China · 2026 · DOI

  • Previous research has largely focused on the archeological value or esthetic characteristics of traditional arches, rather than their mechanical properties. There is a lack of detailed scientific analysis of the mechanical properties of traditional arches. The study aims to fill this gap by investigating the mechanical properties of traditional arches and their applications in different regions.

    The Mechanical Properties and Sustainable Conservation of Traditional Brick Arches: A Study of Residential and Official Buildings in Jinzhong, China · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of prior cadastral documentation for the settlement. The need for a calibrated energy simulation. The potential subjectivity of the multi-criteria bioclimatic assessment.

    Vernacular Bahareque Architecture and Bioclimatic Performance: Multi-Criteria Assessment of Kichwa-Saraguro Dwellings in the Ecuadorian Andes · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of scientific literature on the bioclimatic performance of vernacular bahareque dwellings. The absence of a systematic field documentation of these dwellings. The need for a multi-criteria framework to assess the bioclimatic performance of these dwellings.

    Vernacular Bahareque Architecture and Bioclimatic Performance: Multi-Criteria Assessment of Kichwa-Saraguro Dwellings in the Ecuadorian Andes · 2026 · DOI

  • The high cost of obtaining and shipping resources such as cement and steel remains a barrier to constructing small to medium houses. Remote populations confront defective and poorly maintained structures, poor nutrition and hygiene, and unemployment. The use of locally available natural fibres in mudbrick can be challenging due to variability in fibre properties and availability.

    Performance Analysis of Spinifex Fibre-Reinforced Mudbrick as a Sustainable Construction Material for Remote Housing in Australia · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the long-term durability of the modified soil, - Comparing the results with other stabilization methods, - Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using sawdust and cassava…

    Mechanical performance and water resistance of sandy soil stabilized with sawdust and cassava starch for sustainable housing construction · 2026 · DOI

  • Rethinking production within a circular approach, - Considering the issues related to the 18 Nature's Contributions to People and the 17 SDGs of the UN Agenda…

    Compared Environmental Lifecycle Performances of Earth-Based Walls to Drive Building Envelope Design · 2024 · DOI

  • Limited literature on the treatment of hemp hurds, - The treatment of hemp hurds may structurally affect the hurds, - Inadequate cultivation conditions can affect the properties of hemp hurds, - Strong disintegration of the primary cell wall of the hurds can occur due…

    Natural Fibers in Composite Materials for Sustainable Building: A State-of-the-Art Review on Treated Hemp Fibers and Hurds in Mortars · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Hygrothermal properties of building materials

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of understanding of the stabilization mechanisms of bio-based stabilizers in earthen construction materials (“Mechanical performance and water resistance of sandy soil stabilized with…”, 2026); (2) The anisotropy of the capillary absorption coefficient is critical to moisture transport modeling and durability prediction, whereas reliable on-site assessment methods remain scarce (“Anisotropy assessment and capillary absorption coefficient estimation of brick…”, 2026); (3) Current moisture-risk compliance pathways rely on hygrothermal simulations under prescribed boundary conditions, yet wall performance under elevated moisture loads remains underexplored (“Assessing Moisture Resilience in Residential External Wall Assemblies under…”, 2026); (4) Whether silica fume CSRE can satisfy the durability requirements specified in relevant codes across different regions remains to be verified through systematic experimental investigations (“Effect of Silica Fume on the Mechanical Properties and Seismic Performance of…”, 2026); (5) There is a lack of information and technical knowledge about the properties and applications of raw earth materials (“Advanced investigation of water sorption isotherms measured on raw earth…”, 2026). 150 gap statements have been mined from Hygrothermal properties of building materials papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 693 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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