Hygrothermal vulnerability of thin reinforced concrete walls in tropical social housing: A hybrid simulation–field validation study

This study evaluates the indoor thermal performance and qualitative humidity trends of social housing buildings constructed with thin reinforced concrete walls in a humid tropical climate. A hybrid methodology combining dynamic simulations using DesignBuilder and field measurements using Testo 605i and EasyLog WiFi devices was applied to a four-story residential building in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Operative temperature and relative humidity of the base model (BM) were compared against three passive intervention strategies (M1: EPS insulation + double glazing; M2: EPS insulation + double glazing + green roof; M3: mineral wool insulation + double glazing + green roof). Results reveal that the BM exhibited high operative temperatures (up to 34°C) and extreme relative humidity (80%–99%), exceeding ASHRAE 55 comfort limits. Passive strategies reduced daily thermal variability by up to 6.8%, but humidity control remained limited, with only marginal improvements (<10%). Simulated relative humidity results were interpreted as trend indicators within the modeling scope adopted. Stratification effects were identified, with lower floors experiencing higher humidity and upper floors higher temperature peaks. The findings highlight the vulnerability of thin concrete wall housing in tropical climates and the limited role of envelope-only passive measures for humidity regulation. This study provides empirical evidence for the need to integrate passive and hybrid solutions, offering valuable insights for building codes and housing policies in tropical regions.