{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T02:34:22Z","timestamp":1760150062527,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,3]],"date-time":"2023-10-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1696291200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UIDB\/04625\/2020","POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039955"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04625\/2020","POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039955"]}]},{"name":"European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)","award":["UIDB\/04625\/2020","POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039955"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04625\/2020","POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039955"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Buildings"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Currently, the construction sector is witnessing a growing demand for lightweight solutions, which can be justified by the need to adopt high-performance solutions and the fact that the industry is struggling with a shortage of skilled labour. In this sense, this study focuses on a novel and flexible building wall system, constructed using an innovative extensible LSF profile. To enhance its functionality, a monitoring system comprising printed sensors was integrated into the wall. These sensors underwent a thorough verification process. To evaluate the hygrothermal performance of the complete LSF wall solution and validate the novel monitoring system, an extensive ageing test focused on heat\/rain, freeze\/thaw cycles was conducted on a large-scale wall prototype. Additionally, this research introduces a novel approach by simulating exceptional solar radiation conditions, surpassing the standard cycles outlined in EAD 040083-00-0404, for the first time in this kind of solution. The results cover the measurements taken inside the building system using the incorporated monitoring system. Additionally, supplementary external temperature and heat flow sensors were used to determine the thermal transmittance. Visual and thermography inspections were also carried out. The findings reveal no instances of failures or defects that could potentially impact the hygrothermal behaviour of the system. The hybrid LSF constructive solution leads to more stable temperatures on the inner surface. The presence of direct solar radiation can raise surface temperatures by up to 5 \u00b0C compared to surfaces not exposed to such radiation, even when a light-coloured surface is used. The monitoring system worked correctly. In conclusion, the innovative profile proved to be resistant to hygrothermal cycles and the monitoring system developed is efficient.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings13102509","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,3]],"date-time":"2023-10-03T09:43:01Z","timestamp":1696326181000},"page":"2509","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Experimental Assessment and Validation of the Hygrothermal Behaviour of an Innovative Light Steel Frame (LSF) Wall Incorporating a Monitoring System"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0868-0795","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rui","family":"Jer\u00f3nimo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Coimbra, CERIS, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Itecons, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"M\u00e1rcio","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Coimbra, CERIS, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Itecons, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9222-8712","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Furtado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CeNTI\u2014Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalic\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Kevin","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CeNTI\u2014Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalic\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1779-7848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"C\u00e9sar","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CeNTI\u2014Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalic\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3418-0030","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Sim\u00f5es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Itecons, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"University of Coimbra, CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enbuild.2018.03.069","article-title":"Two new methods for the in-situ measurement of the overall thermal transmittance of cold frame lightweight steel-framed walls","volume":"170","author":"Atsonios","year":"2018","journal-title":"Energy Build."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matpr.2022.01.248","article-title":"Innovative construction material technologies for sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure","volume":"60","author":"Soliman","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mater. 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