Since 2014
This research explores the potential of deployable structures as adaptive shading devices for buildings. Their shape change can reduce the energy consumption by regulating the heat gains through glazed facades. The Department of Energy estimates that around 40% of the total European energy consumption takes place in buildings. For instance in Spain the peak of demand in electricity is during the warmest days of the year (for cooling systems) and not anymore in the winter.
Description of the research
The aim of deployable structures for shading applications is to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by adapting their form and orientation to regulate the heat gains. The developing of elastic deformation patterns with large displacements and the use of responsive materials for actuation can outperform classical manual and motorised systems (venetian blinds, planar slats, screen blinds, louvers and fins). Indeed, a limited number of pivots reduces the maintenance costs, and complex elastic deformations can meet the shading requirements for various sun positions and facade orientations.
(Charpentier 2014) tried to used bi metallic systems to modify the shading actively. (Charpentier 2015) build and analysed a structure in CFRP bio inspired. (Adriaenssens 2014) proposed multi-dimensional optimisation according to the structural efficiency and the shading potential. The active part can be for instance a shape memory alloy element (Hannequart 2017). Kinematic strategies in plants and engineering have been compared (Charpentier 2017).
People
- O. Baverel
- S. Adriaenssens
- J.-F. Caron
- V. Charpentier
- P. Hannequart
Institutions
Laboratoire Navier,
Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
Form Finding Lab,
Princeton University
Prototype of a shading device actuated by shape memory alloy wires, realized for the Design Modelling Symposium (Versailles, September 2017). See (Hannequart 2017). Photo credit : Ioan Levi
Coming soon
