USING SMART MATERIALS TO MIMIC NATURE IN ARCHITECTURE

JONATHAN GILDER

DEREK CLEMENTS-CROOME

CIBSE INTELLIGENT BUILDING GROUP DATE: 19/11/2014

INTRODUCTION

The application of smart materials to building facades primarily ETFE

(Ethylene Tetrafluoro Ethylene) is a new field. This presentation shall

demonstrate the creative application and advantages of using these

materials.

Very few areas of research where there is an amalgamation of two or

more smart material systems being used to produce an assembly /

module / product.

Most of these technologies are working on an isolated agenda to produce

a desired efficiency or result.

ANALOGY BETWEEN BUILDING NEEDS AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

ANALOGY BETWEEN BUILDING NEEDS AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

MOTHS EYE: An inspiration derived from the eye of a moth.

Nature at work has devised a surface which is capable of

absorbing 100% of the incident light rays towards it. Incoming

rays once entered into the cells are reflected within the cell

INSPIRATION FROM THE MOTHS EYE

INTEGRATING STRUCTURE AND HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING):

The branching of the columns into the floor beams and

eventually the floor plate is an inspiration from the branching

systems in nature (cross section of a human brain, the

intestines of a dog, branching of tress, etc).

The analogy applies to the building whereby the chill water

system for cooling or the hot water supply is carried through

the fluid-form structure, just like the branches of a tree from

the service areas to all parts of the building.

This is another analogy, confirming on the metamorphosis of

a built form to that of a living organism.

BIO-INSPIRED SYSTEMS

BAS (Building Automation System): The use of Web-enabled

devices, for the building automation system, which allows

remote building control and monitoring by interaction of the

central BAS workstation with the remote dial-up system

Embedded Sensors and Actuators: Within the structure of

the membrane skin, embedded sensors and actuators work

giving out wireless informations to the BAS system about

user occupancy, heating and ventilation, security, etc.

Attached figure shows one such cross section of a membrane

structure with an embedded sensor.

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

INTEGRATING STRUCTURE AND HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION AIR CONDITIONING)

The base material chosen for this project is

a high strength membrane concrete. Fluid in

its form; within which is an entire network of

heating and ventilation system, channelized

to every part of the building.

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

Using a combination of ETFE (Ethyle Tetrafluoro Ethylene),

photovoltaics, moths-eye film, electro-chromics and air, a

designed case study was simulated through a Building Energy

Analysis software called IES (Integrated Environmental

Solution).

Dome shapes well suited for all year absorption of sunlight

Variable shading option through electrochromics via tracking

of the sun through the sky

DESIGN RESEARCH

DESIGN RESEARCH

THE BREATHING SKIN

Sensors and actuator control small openings of individual modules. This allows for a

breathing skin and reduces point draft from fixed windows

HOTTEST DAY GRAPH

COLDEST DAY GRAPH

The results of the simulation showed that:

Energy consumption was reduced by 75.65% and met the Architecture

2030 Challenge

Carbon emission were reduced by 90.77%

Overall LCC (Life Cycle Cost) had a savings of 196,391 through the life of the building.

OUTCOME AND RESULTS

The results of the simulation showed that:

The low cost and low embodied material could be effectively used to design monoque structures with large spans and column free envelopes

The creative amalgamation of smart materials on ETFE are not only dynamic in their operation by also cost effective in the long run.

Integrated Photovoltaics is regarded by many as the next phase of technological development in building faade systems.

IMPLICATIONS IN PRACTISE

Askeland, Donald R.; Pradeep P. Phul (2005). The Science & Engineering of Materials, 5th edition, Thomson-Engineering.

Braddock, S. and Mahoney, M. (1998) Technotextiles. London: Thames and Hudson.

Addington, M. and Schodek, D. (2006), Smart Materials and Technologies. Architectural Press.

"Intelligent Design". Intelligent Design network (2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-13.

M.Schwartz, The Encyclopedia of Smart Materials, vol.II. New York: John Wiley and Sons, pp.1138-1139

THANKYOU

REFERENCES