Structural design and experimental tests on a model of tensegrity greenhouse prototype

The aim of this paper is the analysis, proposal and application of a structural tensegrity configuration for greenhouses supporting structures suitable for lightweight covering, based on principles of design coherence, material savings and building durability.By means of the FEM software, Sofistik (R), a tensegral greenhouse prototype was modelled and designed in accordance with EN 13031-1:2019.In order to calibrate the results of the FEM analysis, experimental load tests and displacement measurements made with a tensegrity reduced scale model on a tensegrity reduced scale model, created at the Department laboratory of the University of Bari, were compared with the results of the calculation analysis. The displacements of the prototype selected nodes were detected by Target tracking Technology in two load configurations and a control transducer was positioned on the central structural node. The comparison among the displacements of the detected nodes with those resulting from the FEM software calculations, for two different load configurations, show average percentage errors of 7.1% and 12.55%. The results of the T test for the different load configuration point out that the two series of values experimentally detected and calculated by the software are not significantly dif- ferent. Finally, results in terms of the structural steel weight and maximum stress of the tensegral structure were compared with those of commercial structures, both with vaulted roof and duopitched roof, of single span greenhouses having the same covered ground area of the greenhouse prototype. The proposed tensegrity greenhouse prototype showed a 9.6% and 35.2% reduction of the structural steel weight compared to the vaulted roof and to the duo-pitched roof greenhouse respectively

Thermo-mechanical response of rigid plastic laminates for greenhouse covering

Innovation in the field of protected crops represents an argument of great applied and theoretical research attention due to constantly evolving technologies and automation for higher quality flower and vegetable production and to the corresponding environmental and economic impact. The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of some thermomechanical properties of rigid polymeric laminates for greenhouses claddings, including innovative tests such as the thermographic ones. Four types of laminates have been analysed: two polycarbonates, a polymethylmethacrylate and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The tests gave interesting results on different important properties, such as radiometric properties, limit stresses, strains and ductility. Moreover, a direct comparison of infrared images and force elongation curves gave important information on the relation of the (localised or homogeneous) damage evolution, with both an applicative and theoretical implication. Finally, even if to the authors knowledge at present there are no examples of using PET for covering greenhouses, the results of this paper indicates the thermomechanical and radiometric characteristics of this material make it interesting for agricultural applications

Green walls for a sustainable control of building microclimate

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon induces harmful outdoor comfort conditions, an increase in pollutants concentration, an excessive energy consumption related to the greater use of air conditioning systems and a raise of the frequency and magnitude of electricity demand peaks. In the Mediterranean area the urban warming and the solar heat gain in buildings need to be controlled in a sustainable way for keeping the indoor temperature at comfortable values. Green roofs and green walls can mitigate the heat events related to UHI, lower the indoor temperatures, cut energy loads on buildings, enhance human thermal comfort conditions and increase the buildings thermal insulation in winter. Experimental tests were carried out at the University of Bari (Italy) starting from summer 2014, aiming to analyze the influences of different climbing plants, as main components of green systems, applied on building walls. Three vertical walls, made of perforated bricks, were built. They were equipped with a sealed structure, on their backside, in order to realize prototypes of buildings in scale. The first wall was covered with Pandorea jasminoides variegated, the second with Rhyncospermum jasminoides, the third wall was kept uncovered and used as control. Several climatic parameters concerning the walls and the ambient conditions were collected during the experimental test by means of a data logger and sensors. High definition infra-red images for each wall were recorded using a Thermal Imaging Camera for analyzing the surface temperature of the plants and of the walls. The daylight temperatures observed on the walls protected with plants during warm days were lower than the respective temperatures of the control wall up to 5 °C; the nighttime temperatures observed during cold days were higher than the respective temperatures of the control wall up to 3°C

Green walls for a sustainable control of building microclimate

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon induces harmful outdoor comfort conditions, an increase in pollutants concentration, an excessive energy consumption related to the greater use of air conditioning systems and a raise of the frequency and magnitude of electricity demand peaks. In the Mediterranean area the urban warming and the solar heat gain in buildings need to be controlled in a sustainable way for keeping the indoor temperature at comfortable values. Green roofs and green walls can mitigate the heat events related to UHI, lower the indoor temperatures, cut energy loads on buildings, enhance human thermal comfort conditions and increase the buildings thermal insulation in winter. Experimental tests were carried out at the University of Bari (Italy) starting from summer 2014, aiming to analyze the influences of different climbing plants, as main components of green systems, applied on building walls. Three vertical walls, made of perforated bricks, were built. They were equipped with a sealed structure, on their backside, in order to realize prototypes of buildings in scale. The first wall was covered with Pandorea jasminoides variegated, the second with Rhyncospermum jasminoides, the third wall was kept uncovered and used as control. Several climatic parameters concerning the walls and the ambient conditions were collected during the experimental test by means of a data logger and sensors. High defi nition infra-red images for each wall were recorded using a Thermal Imaging Camera for analyzing the surface temperature of the plants and of the walls. The daylight temperatures observed on the walls protected with plants during warm days were lower than the respective temperatures of the control wall up to 5 °C; the nighttime temperatures observed during cold days were higher than the respective temperatures of the control wall up to 3°C

Evaluation of wall surface temperatures in green facades

Green walls can be used to control the building microclimate as passive systems for energy saving. Three vertical walls were built at the University of Bari (Italy). The first wall was covered with Pandorea jasminoides variegated and the second with Rhyncospermum jasminoides; the third wall was kept uncovered as a control. High-definition infrared images were recorded, and several climatic parameters concerning the walls and the ambient conditions were collected during the experimental test. The daylight temperatures observed on the shielded walls during warm days were lower than the respective temperatures of the uncovered wall by up to 9·0°C; the nighttime temperatures observed during cold days were higher than the respective temperatures of the control wall by up to 6·0°C. The effective thermal resistance of the plants was calculated, using experimental data for a whole year; it ranged from 0·07 to 3·61m2 K/W

EO4Migration: The Design of an EO-Based Solution in Support of Migrants’ Inclusion and Social-Cohesion Policies

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the strong potential of Earth-observation (EO) data and techniques in support of migration policies, and to propose actions to fill the existing structural gaps. The work was carried out within the “Smart URBan Solutions for air quality, disasters and city growth” (SMURBS, ERA-PLANET/H2020) project. The novelties introduced by the implemented solutions are based on the exploitation and synergy of data from different EO platforms (satellite, aerial, and in situ). The migration theme is approached from different perspectives. Among these, this study focuses on the design process of an EO-based solution for tailoring and monitoring the SDG 11 indicators in support of those stakeholders involved in migration issues, evaluating the consistency of the obtained results by their compliance with the pursued objective and the current policy framework. Considering the city of Bari (southern Italy) as a case study, significant conclusions were derived with respect to good practices and obstacles during the implementation and application phases. These were considered to deliver an EO-based proposal to address migrants’ inclusion in urban areas, and to unfold the steps needed for replicating the solution in other cities within and outside Europe in a standardized manner