313 research outputs found
The Internet of Things for the circular transition in the façade sector
Get PDFNel settore delle facciate, la transizione ecologica e circolare impone l’adozione di nuovi modelli di business che sfruttino al massimo il valore della materia. In questo contesto, l’Internet of Things (IoT) è identificato quale poten-ziale driver tecnologico per la diffusione di approcci circolari. Scopo dell’articolo è chiarire il ruolo dell’IoT nell’abilitare cinque modelli di business circolari nel settore delle facciate. Attraverso una matrice che evidenzia la relazione tra po-tenziali informazioni prodotte dall’IoT e azioni chiave per il raggiungimento dei modelli di business, si evidenziano i benefici di un sistema di facciata IoT-based. La discussione dei risultati apre il dibattito sulle prospettive di componenti edilizi digitalmente integrati
1 + 1 dimensional cobordism categories and invertible TQFT for Klein surfaces
Get PDFWe discuss a method of classifying 2-dimensional invertible topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) whose domain surface categories allow non-orientable cobordisms. These are known as Klein TQFTs. To this end we study the 1+1 dimensional open-closed unoriented cobordism category K, whose objects are compact 1-manifolds and whose morphisms are compact (not necessarily orientable) cobordisms up to homeomorphism. We are able to compute the fundamental group of its classifying space BK and, by way of this result, derive an infinite loop splitting of BK, a classification of functors K → ℤ, and a classification of 2-dimensional open-closed invertible Klein TQFTs. Analogous results are obtained for the two subcategories of K whose objects are closed or have boundary respectively, including classifications of both closed and open invertible Klein TQFTs. The results obtained throughout the paper are generalisations of previous results by Tillmann [Til96] and Douglas [Dou00] regarding the 1+1 dimensional closed and open-closed oriented cobordism categories. Finally we consider how our results should be interpreted in terms of the known classification of 2-dimensional TQFTs in terms of Frobenius algebras
Internet of things for building façade traceability: A theoretical framework to enable circular economy through life-cycle information flows
Get PDFTraceability is considered a crucial requirement to enable Circular Economy (CE). Product and process life-cycledata can facilitate circular asset management preserving the asset’s value over time and reducing resource consumption. Many scholars point out how the loss of traceability data, lacking information reliability, and
unstructured data are still barriers to the widespread application of CE. In the building façade sector, an increased interest on traceability is dictated by a growing demand for environmental product certifications.
However, these aspects are often limited to collect data at supply chain stage, thus neglecting a huge amount of information produced during the asset service life. To foster an accessible and life-cycle oriented asset traceability, this research investigates the Internet of Things (IoT) as a potentially disruptive technology for sup-
porting information management. The objective of this work is twofold: (i) to identify what façade life-cycle information is needed to promote CE and (ii) to clarify the enabling role of IoT in tracking, storing, and sharing such information. Through a scoping review combined with interviews to professionals, a theoretical framework
structured on four key elements (stakeholders, information list, information management tools, and IoT) is proposed to fill the literature gap and support façade industry in the circular transition. Further research will have to be conducted to face the digital-physical integration issues and develop business models able to fully
exploit traceability information value
Integral Facade Construction: Towards a new product architecture for curtain walls
No full textCurtain wall constructions are one of the most applied facade constructions today. Independently attached to the primary load bearing structure of the building they protect the building’s interior from external climate conditions and allow great design freedom. With continuously rising requirements in terms of energy savings the constructional principle has reached its limits and strategies for improvement are needed. Incrementally evolved over time it is closely related to the architectural design and building processes. Based on literature research and stakeholder interviews the dissertation maps out the traditional and craftsmanship related facade design and construction process currently employed. In a next step, future challenges for facade constructions to cope with a changing market environment are identified. A facade function tree is developed and the theory of product architecture is applied to create a comparative basis for analysing different historical and contemporary facade products and systems. The function tree as well as the analysis clearly show how the fragmented market structures has influenced contemporary facade construction and leads to extremely modular product architectures. Numerous case studies for a new approach are conducted and summarised in several matrices. The case studies show how different modular and integral constructional strategies can respond to the future challenges. The pros and cons of different facade solutions, their potential for innovation and robustness in terms of market conditions are investigated. The dissertation concludes that a greater diversity of fa.ade types with a more integral construction is needed to meet the sometimes conflicting future challenges. If this can be realised, a greater diversity of more integral design and construction processes will evolve simultaneously. The role of the different stakeholders will change and a new way of educating architects or facade specialists will be required in order to meet the needs of the future building market: Away from a purely application oriented towards a product architecture driven approach, which clearly includes the implications of facade product architecture on the structure of the design and construction process.Building TechnologyArchitectur
1 + 1 dimensional cobordism categories and invertible TQFT for Klein surfaces
No full textWe discuss a method of classifying 2-dimensional invertible topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) whose domain surface categories allow non-orientable cobordisms. These are known as Klein TQFTs. To this end we study the 1+1 dimensional open-closed unoriented cobordism category K, whose objects are compact 1-manifolds and whose morphisms are compact (not necessarily orientable) cobordisms up to homeomorphism. We are able to compute the fundamental group of its classifying space BK and, by way of this result, derive an infinite loop splitting of BK, a classification of functors K → ℤ, and a classification of 2-dimensional open-closed invertible Klein TQFTs. Analogous results are obtained for the two subcategories of K whose objects are closed or have boundary respectively, including classifications of both closed and open invertible Klein TQFTs. The results obtained throughout the paper are generalisations of previous results by Tillmann [Til96] and Douglas [Dou00] regarding the 1+1 dimensional closed and open-closed oriented cobordism categories. Finally we consider how our results should be interpreted in terms of the known classification of 2-dimensional TQFTs in terms of Frobenius algebras.This thesis is not currently available in ORA
Origin and Development of Environmental Design
No full textBuildings are characterised as some of the greatest consumers and pollutants of the planet. However, the genesis of environmental design, in the context of its modern meaning, as shown in this paper, is not so much based on initial requests to reduce the negative pressure on the environment, but more on the tendency to ensure the continuity of the supply of resources. Only when awareness of the state of environment and the negative anthropogenic contribution matured enough in the second half of the 20th century, the idea of environmental design started to grow and become more complex. Eventually, environmental design became a framework comprising various strategies and measures that aim to reduce the negative ecological impact of buildings by aligning conventional design requirements with their environmental significance. By connecting resource efficiency with the reduction of environmental impact of buildings, this paper reviews current trends and challenges in the utilisation of energy, materials, water, and land, and reflects the scenarios of possible resource-efficient futures in which wider social and economic schemes could become increasingly relevant for the successful outcomes of environmental design.Building Product InnovationDesign of Construtio
Editorial
Get PDFDear JFDE Readers and Authors,
This issue is the result of the facade conference Powerskin, held on 19 January 2016 at the building tradefair ‘Bau’ in Munich. The conference was organised in a cooperation of TU Munich, TU Darmstadt and TU Delft. All three universities maintain a facade research and education unit on building envelopes. The conference featured a mix of practice and education related and scientific contributions. Again, JFDE was chosen as the platform to publish a selection of scientific papers. A total of 22 abstracts were reviewed of which 17 were pre-selected. From those, we received 13 papers that had been subjected to our strict double blind peer review process. A final selection of 9 papers forms this issue. We thank our guest editors Thomas Auer and Jens Schneider who have been key partners in creating this special issue. As discussed in the last editorial, we have successfully completed the NWO funding period (Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research) to start up JFDE. Open Access publishing strongly depends on author publishing fees and the introduction in our scientific ((field?)) needs some more time. In search of a new business model, we proudly announce that we have found two partners wo believe in the relevance of JFDE. The Society of Facade Engineering SFE is a joint initiative of CIBSE, IStructE and the RIBA with the aim to create a forum to advance knowledge and practice in facade engineering. CWCT It is an industry funded centre and a leading information provider and trainer in the field of building envelopes and glazing. Both organisations acknowledge the need for an independent scientific publishing organ which will contribute to the development of the field of facade design, engineering and construction. This support enables us to continue JFDE. We want to thank the publisher IOS Press and especially Mark Eligh to have guided JFDE to the level where it is now. This issue is the first published by TU Delft Open, a publishing house established by the TU Delft Library. We will continue to deliver high quality contributions with the aim of 3 issues per year. Thank you for supporting JFDE.
The editors in chief,
Tillmann Klein
Ulrich Knaac
Journal of Facade Design and Engineering 4 (2016)
Get PDFDear JFDE Readers and Authors,
After four volumes of JFDE we can conclude that JFDE is still being seen as a ‘young’ journal just as the scientific area it is aiming to serve. In the past, building envelope related papers have been published in structure or building physics related journals. But with the development of the professional field the scientific community grows as well, and with it JFDE is enjoying more and more acknowledgement.
One result is that we have been able to become the scientific partner of two conferences: ‘Powerskin’ in January 2017 at the BAU building trade fair in Munich and the ICBEST International Conference on Building Envelopes Systems and Technologies, May 2017 in Istanbul. Both events will be covered in two special issues.
This development stimulates us to continuously evaluate the future scope of JFDE. In this sense, we are proud to present a new issue of JFDE with innovative contributions that target both the design and engineering of building envelopes.
Two papers focus on a better understanding of facades in a technical sense. The first one predicts light transmission trough complex fenestration systems including high incident directions, the other aims at understanding the increased thermal load, the effect on structural safety of insulated glass units and the implications for norms and regulations.
Two other contributions focus on novel applications: The first one looks at photocatalytic self-cleaning coatings for building façade maintenance. The application of Nano technologies is rather new and it is important to explore the potential it might provide to the discipline. The second one researches biomimetic inspired natural ventilation facades with integrated green.
Such combination is prototypic of the scope we envision for JFDE. A good mixture of technical and innovative contributions, always trying to relate science and practice, design and engineering.
The editors in chief,
Tillmann Klein
Ulrich Knaac
The wrong trousers? Common folk in striped clothes as readers of early modern recipes.
No full textBy Tillmann Taape When trying to make historical sense of printed medical recipe collections, one tricky but important question always recurs: who did the author and/or publisher think would be likely to read and benefit from their books? In my own research, which focuses on the works of the surgeon-apothecary Hieronymus Brunschwig (introduced here and here), this question is particularly intriguing because these books were among the first medical books to be printed in German. Of course, li..
Exploitation of shape memory materials in sun adaptive user-controllable building façades
No full textSmart morphing materials are increasingly studied and are also expected to soon become
economically available for architects and engineers, being potentially suitable for a great number
of applications. In particular, shape memory materials possess the unique feature of memorizing
shapes that can be continuously recovered through the application of external stimuli. This
research proves the potentialities of an adaptive shading module actuated by smart materials,
which enable the facade shape to change in response to the incoming solar radiation. The final
goal is to design a building skin that is attuned to climatic changes and which creates occupants’
awareness of environmental variation. In particular, the exploitation of the physical properties of
shape memory materials would guarantee the internal daylight comfort with (almost) zero-energy
actuation and reduced system complexity; this would be in contrast with kinetic envelopes which, in
order to preserve interior conditions in response to external variations, rely on sensors, motors, and
computational feedback loops.
Inspired by nature and mimicking petals’ movement dynamics, the proposed facade module
has been designed starting from a geometrical schematization of flower’s shape: four triangular
petals on a square basis dynamically adapt their degree of openness based on the incoming solar
radiation. The petal-like wings, actuated by strips of a two-way shape memory polymer, allow a
completely autonomous passive control of building interiors’ conditions and zero-energy actuation.
The actuator is located on each petal side directly exposed to solar irradiation, triggering the shape
transition: activation is started by solar absorption, which increases the polymer film temperature
until the transition condition in attained. Moreover, the integration and addition of a matched internal
opaque layer, actuated by a set of (electrically controlled) antagonistic shape memory alloy torsion
springs, grants the possible implementation of the resulting structure in real buildings, conciliating
comfort, well-being and user controllability of living and working environments.
Dynamic daylight simulations have been carried out to assess the effects of the resulting shading
system on a medium size office room oriented towards South-East, during the most illustrative days
of the year. The movement of the external autonomous shading layer has been discretized into four
different positions, from a completely open to a fully closed one. The daylight quality was assessed
by computing two different performance indices: the work plane illuminance and the degree of glare
probability (Dubois, 2016)
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