From adaptive to high-performance structures

Multiple design aspects influence the building performance such as architectural criteria, various environmental impacts and user behaviour. Specific examples are sun, wind, temperatures, function, occupancy, socio-cultural aspects and other contextual aspects and needs. Even though these aspects are acknowledged to be variable, conventional buildings are conceived to provide one design solution, represented in a static configuration. Ongoing research includes several of the above mentioned environmental design drivers, amongst others wind, earthquakes, daylight, interior and exterior climate as well as user requirements. In this paper two of these aspects shall be considered and discussed in more detail; namely wind and earthquakes, which are manipulated with shape morphing elements within the building envelope and / or active structural elements. Finally an outlook will be presented how the introduction of the idea of adaptive systems will have impact on the future of structural engineering.Building TechnologyArchitectur

Shape morphing wind-responsive facade systems realized with smart materials

This paper presents the opportunity to exploit the kinetic adaptation of the façade skin-roughness for enhancing the air-flow related characteristic of high-rise buildings. A conceptual design solution, in which the roughness adaptation is achieved by means of innovative shape changing materials, will be presented. Roughness elements located on the building envelope are able to modify the velocity field close to the façade; this modification has an effect on the natural ventilation and, primarily, on the heat exchange due to the wind convection. The study will deal with some simplified case studies of 3D geometries of round and square towers. Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) will be used to show how integrated roughness elements are able to affect the flow field along the building envelope. This paper contains some new ideas about wind optimisation of buildings and the opportunity to use shape changing materials for adaptive façade elements.Delft University of Technolog

Adaptive Fluid Lens and Sunlight Redirection System

The paper describes a novel system to alter and redirect sunlight under large span roofs with the help of a fluid lens system. Focus lies on the computational design, testing, measurement and evaluation of the performance of a physical prototype

Double face: Adjustable translucent system to improve thermal comfort

The DoubleFace project aims at developing a new product that passively improves thermal comfort of indoor and semi-indoor spaces by means of lightweight materials for latent heat storage, while simultaneously allowing daylight to pass through as much as possible. Specifically, the project aims at designing and prototyping an adjustable translucent modular system featuring thermal insulation and thermal absorption in a calibrated manner, which is adjustable according to different heat loads during summer- and wintertime. The output consists of a proof of concept, a series of performance simulations and measurement and a prototype of an adjustable thermal mass system based on lightweight and translucent materials: phasechanging materials (PCM) for latent heat storage and translucent aerogel particles for thermal insulation.Architecture and The Built Environmen