A logistic model for prediction of mould growth in building components containing solid wood and wood-based materials

Mathematical mould growth models attempt to quantify either the amount of moulds on the surface or the probability of presence of moulds for environmental conditions and materiál parameters. There is a lack of reliable good-quality mould growth experiments. Consequently, there is a lack of systematic comparison between models and experiments. This project will develop logistic mould growth models. The models will be compared with new experiments performed with solid wood and synthetic growing media prepared based on nutrients extracted from pine sapwood. Mould growth on specimens exposed to steady and changing boundary conditions will be investigated. Laboratory experiments will be complemented by an in-situ experiment to obtain mould growth data from real-scale internally insulated masonry. The project will result in the improvement of mathematical formulation, optimization of inputparameters and quantification of the uncertainty of logistic mould growth models.