Investigating water penetration resistance performance of wall panels
1
CME Assistant Professor Aslihan Karatas received a new research grant from industry partner USG Inc., a manufacturer of ceiling and wall products, to test water penetration resistance on the company’s panels.
Karatas, director of the Built Environment and Infrastructure Laboratory at UIC, aims to address a critical need within the construction industry by evaluating building materials and systems under diverse indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. Her team will perform water-resistance tests on USG bathroom panels, focusing on how the panels perform in a walk-in environmental chamber with extensive water exposure. In the chamber, the team can create targeted temperature and humidity levels and observe how panels behave under those conditions.
For testing of this nature, researchers use ASTM E331, the industry standard test method for water penetration of exterior windows, skylights, doors, and curtain walls. It is used to evaluate how well exterior building components resist water infiltration. But the research team will also go beyond those standards to expose the panels to water for 48 hours while reaching 86°F for constant water temperature.
“We have the capability of going beyond that, and we can do it for 98 hours and longer time periods,” Karatas said. “Our research results will contribute to the knowledge base in the construction industry and also provide valuable insights for professionals in the construction industry looking to make informed decisions about building assemblies.”
In addition, the research will benefit undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, as they will see how lab work connects to real-life experiences.
“Testing at the ASCM standards and beyond will help students make the connection to how it relates to industry practitioners,” she said. “The students will learn how to adapt themselves, think critically and creatively, and build the skill set to take on projects after they graduate and start working.”