Facade Component Research Articles

Projected energy savings of a 3D printed selective heat transfer facade

Dynamic building facades offer untapped potential for reducing building energy consumption and emissions. However, there is currently a lack of suitable technologies for bespoke components for new and retrofit applications. In previous work, we developed a 3D printed polymer facade component that selectively acts as a thermal conductor or insulator depending on outdoor and indoor conditions. Our experiments demonstrate that the element can achieve effective thermal conductivities as low as 0.03 W/mK and as high as 28 W/mK in insulating and conducting modes. In this work, we assess the potential impact of this technology on reducing heating and cooling energy demand. We conducted a parametric analysis of ten physical characteristics of the facade component. Then, we simulated the façade component employed in 270 building typologies and climate combinations. Our results indicate annual energy reduction of up to 80 kWh/m2 (heating) and 15 kWh/m2 (cooling) for building typology-climate combinations that can benefit the most from this technology.

Social Interaction With Software Connectors and the Function of Facade Component in Secure Application Logic

The paper represents a conceptual study of the social interaction model of ATMs by using integration in a UML model-based design for software architecture that deals with the secure component-based software protection and communication patterns through facade based connector. The facade-based connector is developed separately from software components by using the correct contact pattern between components and the required security patterns that encapsulate the connection with other secure connectors. Each secure connector consists of both security architecture and contact patterns. It is constructed as a composite component even though connectors are usually used by component-based software development to encapsulate the mechanisms of communication with components. This paper addresses the security and privacy issues related to social interaction with the ATM model that may also be encapsulated in the software application logic through a secure facade based connector that is known as a security in a connector based social e-commerce B2c application

Integrated Thermal-Energy Analysis of Innovative Translucent White Marble for Building Envelope Application

Marble is a natural material, used in the construction field since antiquity. It has always been used to communicate monumentality and solidity. Nowadays new technologies permit marble to express new languages: particularly, translucent marble technology overturns the concept of solidity. The main issue to address is the lack of thermal-energy performance of such a thin stone layer as the only facade component. Conversely, Bianco Carrara and Statuario marbles, for instance, have intrinsic benefits as natural cool materials, due to their high solar reflectance and thermal emissivity. Thus, this paper analyzes the thermal-energy and environmental behavior of marble facade for a new designed building in New York City. An integrated analysis of the energy performance of the marble skin is performed through a preliminary experimental characterization, carried out for two different types of naturally white marble, for comparative purposes. Then, a dynamic simulation model of the building is developed to evaluate year-round benefits and drawbacks of the translucent marble envelope in terms of indoor thermal comfort and air-conditioning requirement. The analysis showed how the proposed marble facade is able to decrease the energy requirement for cooling up to 6%, demonstrating possible relevant perspectives for marble-based facades, even in energy-efficient buildings.

Limitations in Simplified Approach in Assessing Performance of Façade under Blast Pressures

The main function of building facades, which often consists of glazing windows, is to provide protection to the occupants and contents of the building from external hazards. In a blast event, the facade component of a building may become the weakest link of the structure, whereby its breach may lead to blast pressure ingress and hazardous projectiles into a structure. This paper reports part of a study to establish the performance of glass windows under blast pressures. Two modelling techniques were used to simulate the response of a facade panel. They are the Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) modelling technique and the Finite Element (FE) modelling technique. Although the SDOF approach can be used with a reasonable degree of accuracy, the limitations of its basic assumption lead to loss of details in the idealisation process. This paper presents an attempt to establish performance indices of a facade panel, and to identify the discrepancies between simplified approach and the detailed numerical modelling approach analysis.

An experimental assessment of shading and shadowing strategy, case of facade's cantilevered volumes. Reference to dwellings in arid lands

SYNOPSIS This paper describes the methods and the findings of experimental research assessing the quantitative and the qualitative efficiency of shading and shadowing as a direct solar control strategy. The case study is the contemporary individual urban dwelling facade in arid regions. The investigated facade component is the canti-levered volume. A heliodon is used for this simulation. Computation and graphic methods assess the studied facade variants. This work describes a classification of optimal variants of facade and allows recommendations for a shading strategy optimisation according to solar orientation.