Building Facades Research Articles

Study on the Fire Spread Characteristics of High-Rise Building Facades Under Strong Wind Conditions Based on the Combination of WRF and CFD

The spread of fires on the facades of high-rise buildings is highly influenced by atmospheric wind conditions, particularly in strong wind environments. A strong wind environment refers to the situation where the wind speed reaches level 6 or above, or the wind speed is between 10.8 m/s and 13.8 m/s. We conducted an in-depth study of the characteristics of flame spread on the facades of high-rise buildings under strong wind conditions. A nested coupling method based on WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software (Ansys Fluent 2021) was used. The mesoscale meteorological simulation software WRF was utilized to obtain regional airflow variation data within a radius of 2 km around the high-rise building. Subsequently, these data were coupled with the CFD software (Ansys Fluent 2021) to simulate and obtain realistic wind field data within a 400 m range around the building. Finally, these realistic wind field data were used for FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) fire simulations and model experiments to accurately replicate building fire scenarios under strong wind conditions. The results indicate that using grid nesting for boundary condition division would help to improve the accuracy of fire spread characteristics on the facades of high-rise buildings under strong wind conditions. For a high-rise building, both headwinds and tailwinds promote vertical and horizontal flame spread, with a more significant impact on vertical flame spread speed. Side winds enhance horizontal flame spread but inhibit vertical flame spread. These findings provide a reference for the effective design of fire protection systems for the facades of high-rise buildings.

Innovative Design Method for Lingnan Region Veranda Architectural Heritage (Qi-Lou) Facades Based on Computer Vision

The veranda buildings (Qi-lou) in Lingnan are important historical and cultural carriers of knowledge of the transformation of cities in Lingnan from traditional to modern forms. However, the restoration and protection of Qi-lou building facades faces challenges such as low efficiency, over-reliance on architects’ experience, and a lack of systematic technical tools. This study adopts computer vision techniques, specifically conditional generative adversarial networks (CGANs), to propose a new framework for generating realistic Qi-lou building facade designs. By collecting and processing 131 Qi-lou building facade samples, this study constructs a database covering various architectural styles, such as Gothic, Baroque, and Nanyang styles, and introduces a building exterior profile (BEP), a functional segmentation layout (FSL), and a three-stage hierarchical modeling approach for building elevation (BE) to achieve stylized facade generation. The main research findings are as follows: (1) The proposed CGAN model can accurately generate functional zoning layouts and effectively improve the design efficiency of Qi-lou building facades. (2) The generated facade images are consistent in style and structure, exhibiting high realism and significantly reducing the need for manual adjustments. (3) The generation quality of the model is significantly optimized as the input complexity (such as the number of windows and colonnades) increases. This shows that the framework proposed in this study can provide effective technical support for the restoration and innovative design of Qi-lou buildings in the Lingnan region.

The Effect of Ground Control Points Located on Roofs on Building Facade Accuracy

The popularity of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry is growing worldwide due to its low-cost advantage in collecting high-resolution 3D topographic models. This research aims to ascertain the impact of Ground Control Points (GCPs) located on building roofs on facade accuracy. A UAV survey covering 10.37 hectares was conducted to achieve this goal. The research utilised 91 GCPs for geo-referencing, with 38 on the ground and 53 on the roofs of the buildings in the area. Images were obtained with three different flight patterns: single (S), double (D), and circular (C), which represent flight routes. The images acquired from the flights have been subjected to two distinct GCP configurations, and two models were obtained for each flight pattern. The point cloud produced by a robotic total station was used to ensure the accuracy of the facades of the buildings in the models. The standard deviation (std. dev.) of the distances between the points on the facade and the reference planes (RPs) were used as a measure of accuracy. The std. dev. values of the model facades were compared by each other while considering the number of points of the surfaces. Average std. dev. values of the models fluctuate within a range of 7 to 11 cm

Optimizing building performance through the integration of electrochromic glass technology in building facades: a simulation-based study of an office building in Cairo, Egypt

PurposeThe built environment enhances quality of life, prompting architects and engineers to explore innovative technologies for improving building performance. Electrochromic (EC) glass technology is one such solution that offers real-time control of building facade glazing properties. Conventional building materials often struggle to adapt to changing external conditions, increasing reliance on mechanical systems. EC glass technology addresses this by adjusting its tint in response to these conditions, potentially reducing energy consumption and improving comfort.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates the advantages of integrating EC glass technology into building facades by evaluating its efficacy in enhancing thermal performance, energy efficiency, and operational expenses. The study uses building performance simulation software to model a proposed office building in Cairo, Egypt, comparing two scenarios: one with conventional glazing and the other with EC glass technology. The aim is to highlight the benefits of EC glass technology in building facades for improving thermal comfort, daylighting and energy efficiency. The analysis will compare cooling and heating designs and energy consumption, ultimately concluding the technology’s impact on enhancing energy efficiency.FindingsIntegrating EC glass technology significantly reduces solar heat gains and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) energy consumption. Solar heat gains dropped by 77.47%, resulting in a 50.95% decrease in HVAC energy use compared to conventional glazing. This technology also enhances thermal comfort and daylighting, improving the indoor environment.Originality/valueThen, integrating EC glass technology improves building performance, resulting in energy savings, enhanced comfort and efficient daylight use. This technology is essential for sustainable building design, contributing to resilient and enjoyable environments.

Urban Canvas in Motion: The Role of Kinetic and Media Facades in Urban Space Design

New technologies and urban expansion have made it increasingly important for architects to incorporate movement into building facades, using a variety of artistic methods. This study explores the use of movable and movable-like solutions on urban elevations, ranging from visual effects to advanced technologies enabling physical movement. Case studies demonstrate different approaches to incorporating movement in building exteriors and their goals. This study considered how these solutions impact urban aesthetics, functionality, and energy efficiency. The research methods used include visual analysis, a literature review, and technological analysis of the kinetic systems used. The results show that movement at elevations can be achieved using various tools and can affect energy efficiency and building layout, in addition to having visual impacts. This study concluded that it is important to integrate new technologies into urban design and called for further research into the long-term impacts of changeable elevations on the urban environment.

Effect of applying phase change materials (PCM) in building facades on reducing energy consumption

Since fossil fuels are limited and there is an increasing demand for energy consumption, energy conservation and reducing consumption have become significant challenges. Applying phase change materials (PCM) for latent thermal energy storage (TES) systems is an effective method for energy conservation that has been widely considered in recent years. The building facade has the highest capacity for conserving or wasting energy due to its vast exposure to the environment. As a result, a change in attitude toward designing and constructing facades is considered a necessity since it is one of the key elements of building design. One approach to prevent materials from leaching from a structure where PCMs are incorporated is encapsulating and blending them with a suitable polymer. Choosing a PCM with suitable melting temperature, a polymer compatible with this material as a preserver and the best percentage of PCM in the polymer are key components. In this paper, the goal has been investigated through a 2-step process, including experimental and simulation phases. First, the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the PCM in the mixture with poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) for heat protection has been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement techniques were employed to study and determine the melting points of the samples and the mixed substructures. The results show that the best percentage for PEG in this research is 60%. In the second phase, to study the effect of polymers carrying the PCMs on the building’s energy consumption, a 5-story building with PCMs applied to its facade was simulated in EnergyPlus software. The annual heating and cooling loads of the building in each situation were then calculated. The results of the simulation and modeling shows that applying the PCMs will ultimately lead to a 40% decrease in heating load and 15% decrease in cooling load of the building.

Advancing building facade solar potential assessment through AIoT, GIS, and meteorology synergy

Advancing building facade solar potential assessment through AIoT, GIS, and meteorology synergy

Perceptual evaluation of tall building forms and facades in urban environments

ABSTRACT The study investigates the effect of the environment on the perception of tall buildings with the fractal analysis method. According to the hypothesis, tall buildings are appreciated to the extent that their fractal dimension value (fdv) matches the fdv of the urban environment. If the fdv of the buildings is higher than the environment, complexity and impression increase, and liking decreases. Suppose the fdv of the buildings are lower than the environment; complexity, impression, and liking decrease. In the first stage, 24 tall building models with the same height (200 meters) were designed in the Sketchup program according to the variables of forms (8) and facades (3). These models were added in two different environments. Both environments are located on Atatürk Boulevard, the main artery of Ankara city, Turkey. The fractal similarity ratios of the models were measured with ImageJ and its plug-in Fraclac. In the second stage, the reliability of the data was questioned with a questionnaire. The survey was conducted with senior students of Gazi University, Department of Architecture. The students were shown 48 images of the models and asked to evaluate these images according to liking, impression, and complexity variables. The study found that images with a high fractal similarity ratio were the most liked. When fdv was higher than the environment, complexity and impression increased, and liking decreased. On the contrary, complexity, impression, and liking decreased. As a result, it was found that there was a significant relationship between fdv and the perception and appreciation of tall buildings.

Performance Analysis of Novel Lightweight Photovoltaic Curtain Wall Modules Under Different Climatic Conditions

Due to limited roof area, photovoltaic (PV) has gradually been installed on other facades of buildings. This research investigates the practical application of a lightweight PV curtain wall. We use EnergyPlus to build a base office building model of fit with a lightweight PV curtain wall. The performance of two typical lightweight PV curtain wall modules is evaluated in five sample Chinese cities of different climates. Simulations were carried out to determine the power generation of faux architectural material PV curtain wall modules (FAM PVCWMs) for the best cavity distance per facade in various cities. We discovered that, in Harbin, Beijing, and Shanghai, the capacity of PV curtain wall modules installed on the south facade is the best, while in Chengdu and Guangzhou, it is the west facade. We also analyzed the power generation and the impact on the indoor environment when installing semi-transparent PV curtain wall modules (ST PVCWMs). Compared with glass, the ST PVCWM’s power generation increased by at least 50%, while the glare index setpoint exceeded time reduced by at least 30.19%. Furthermore, when installed on the north facade of Chengdu and similar cities, it can ensure more than 50% of daylight indexed time and create a more favorable indoor environment.

Fire Inside the Cavity of a Non-flammable Facade: Step-by-Step Development of Multiphysics Computer Simulations

AbstractThe cavities in a building facade can significantly increase the fire hazard, acting as pathways and accelerators for the vertical spread of flames and smoke, even in non-combustible facades. Ensuring fire safety during facade design requires a thorough understanding of how cavity geometry influences fire dynamics. However, established theories for this phenomenon are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we use the computational fluid dynamics code FireFOAM to develop step-by-step multiphysics simulations incorporating fluid mechanics, heat transfer, buoyancy, and combustion phenomena to investigate the non-linear behaviour in narrow vertical cavities. Four scenarios of increasing complexity are modelled and validated against experimental data from the literature. The simulations predict flow velocities and convective heat fluxes within 20% error and buoyancy-driven flow, radiative heat flux, and flame height predictions within 30% error across a range of cavity widths. The study also highlights the limitations of the models, offering insights for future refinement. The results demonstrate that computer simulations can reliably be used to study critical phenomena of cavity fires and, with future improvements, predict fire behaviour across various facade designs and conditions.

A simulation-based study on the energy efficiency of green façade retrofitting for different types of facades in rural China

As China’s urbanisation continues, the building area is expanding, of which the occupancy of rural residential buildings is also very large. However, most rural buildings have poor thermal performance. This paper analyses the energy-saving potential of green facades for rural buildings in China by simulating typical buildings with different types of facades in rural China. The simulation results show that indirect green façades can achieve good energy savings. Buildings with four types of facades: red brick, rubble, hollow brick, and concrete achieve energy savings of 18.39%, 17.85%, 14.47%, and 11.52%, respectively, after retrofitting with green facades.

Fractal Dimensional Analysis of Building Facades: The Case of Office Buildings in Erbil City

Fractal dimension is a characteristic parameter used to measure the complexity and irregularity of geometric shapes and patterns. It is applied in architecture to explore complexity and irregularity and to assess the aesthetic preferences in architectural design. Office building facade design pattern, as an observation unit, has a positive connection with the aesthetic value. This study aims to evaluate facade design styles in terms of two aesthetic qualities, visual complexity and visual diversity, via applying fractal dimension to three design styles of office building facades in Erbil City. The study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative evaluations to achieve this goal. It employs box-counting analysis through the ImageJ plugin to FracLac and the mathematical perplexity equation to evaluate visual complexity and diversity. The results indicate that the neo-classical office facade style, with a visual complexity value of 1.7008 and visual diversity of 21.27, presents an elevated level of aesthetics similar to the saccadic pattern facade. This study concluded that a neo-classical architectural style for office building facades is the most aesthetically preferable. Modern facade design is considered a secondary architectural style aimed at achieving aesthetic value. Ultimately, the high-tech style is the least attractive facade style. This study contributes to avoiding designs of unattractive office building facades due to a lack of architectural design vocabulary while avoiding overly complex designs that prove visually upsetting for viewers.

A paradigm for building fire safety

The aim of study is to describe the fire safety paradigm using the concept of T. Kuhn, its components, and its role and significance for the further development of construction science, particularly the fire safety of buildings. The components of the fire safety paradigm form a complex structure (system) that is presented graphically to illustrate the interconnections and interactions between them. This structure is built by analogy with a three-dimensional coordinate system using linguistic quantities. Currently, it is not yet possible to assign a sequence of numbers representing the coordinates of a point in the space of this system. The three axes of this system determine the major groups of paradigm elements: - fire safety; - components; - activities and inputs. For each group, the components were distinguished, which were then briefly described and characterised, emphasising their mutual connections and importance for the fire safety of buildings. Some significant gaps in the systemic approach to fire safety in the EU were discussed and illustrated by the example of Grenfell Tower fire in London. The paradigm described is universal, and its universality is based on the possession of certain common attributes characteristic of the fire safety environment and their interpretation, as well as the manner in which fire safety entities implement them. A paradigm shift will result in the introduction of a fire toxicity criterion for the assessment of construction products, which, for unknown reasons, has so far only been implemented in relation to cables. The second necessary amendment is the addition of a requirement for the spread of fires on building facades.

Dual Interfacial Design Enables Efficient and Stable Semitransparent Wide‐Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells With Scalable‐Coated Silver Nanowire Contact for Tandem Applications

ABSTRACTSemitransparent perovskite solar cells (PSCs) hold great potential for applications in aesthetic building facades and top‐illuminated tandem devices. Indium tin oxide is currently the frequently used top transparent contact, which would degrade the underlying perovskites during sputter process. Here, we report low‐temperature, scalable solution‐processed silver nanowires (AgNWs) as top window electrodes for fabricating efficient and stable semitransparent PSCs. As a decisive step, an impermeable SnO2 thin film deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is applied to prevent chemical reactions between AgNWs and halides of perovskites. In parallel, the molecular absorption of propylenediamine iodine (PDADI) on perovskite surface, instead of forming two‐dimensional (2D) perovskite capping layer, is found to effectively passivate the perovskite surface, which simultaneously leads to remarkably enhanced thermal stability, thus affording the processing window for ALD‐SnO2 deposition. Eventually, the prepared semitransparent PSCs with a bandgap of 1.71 eV achieve a champion efficiency of 17.5%, being the highest efficiency for semitransparent PSCs with AgNWs top contacts. On these bases, we constructed a four‐terminal perovskite/copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) tandem cell, giving a state‐of‐the‐art efficiency of 26.85%.

Application of Biomimetic Strategies In Building Envelope Design for Water Harvesting

Nature is a database that offers potential solutions to humanity’s many problems with its countless living species and their developed adaptations. As in engineering, medicine, agriculture, etc., innovative approaches are sought in the discipline of architecture with the solution proposals offered by nature. Designers looking for creative solutions, especially in producing the most effective constructions with the most materials, providing energy efficiency in built environments, designing ecologically and harvesting water and developing methods that imitate and learn from nature. One of the main actors in the global agenda on climate change and the clean water problem is built environments. In this context, water harvesting methods to be developed through architectural design also emerge as one of the current research topics. In this paper, research has been conducted on how the water harvesting knowledge in nature can be integrated into architecture; A biomimetic shell proposal has been developed to provide atmospheric water gain. Firstly, the concept of biomimetics is clarified through a literature review and examples of water balance strategies of living things in nature are presented. Then, architectural examples inspired by these strategies are analyzed. The selected living organisms were analyzed in the field study section and a design concept that can harvest water on the building facade was developed based on the biological information obtained. Inspired by the water harvesting principles of cactus and Bromeliaceae plants, this design is presented as an alternative for water harvesting with different usage possibilities in built environments.

RESEARCH ON OPTIMIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDING FACADES INTEGRATING WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

Industrial buildings are important production carriers in urban space, but they also have problems such as high production energy consumption, serious environmental pollution, and poor built interface, which have attracted much attention. Building environment optimization and energy structure adjustment have become the focus of industrial building research. In the context of the national carbon neutral policy, this paper studies the impact of industrial buildings on the urban environment, combines photovoltaic power generation technology, explores the integrated design strategy of CdTe generation glass and industrial building facades, and uses the southwest cement plant project in Lijiang, Yunnan as an example, a practical study was carried out, aiming to use industrial building facade resources to improve the aesthetics and functionality of the building facade at the urban interface of the park. Research shows that the strong plasticity of CdTe photovoltaic glass can not only provide necessary power energy for industrial buildings and optimize the building's energy structure, but its color and material ductility can also improve the aesthetics of industrial building facades. This article provides certain reference and reference significance for subsequent related research.

Effectiveness of a dynamic living wall system of plants on indoor thermal environment in summer - an experimental study

Optimizing vertical greening systems to reduce their negative impact on buildings is important to reduce energy consumption. To reduce the long-term effects of fixed living plant walls on building facades, this study proposes an optimization scheme for dynamic living plant walls (DLWS). By combining dynamic building facades with living plant walls, this study analyzes the effectiveness of DLWS, fixed living plant walls (LWS), and dynamic shading sails (DSS) in regulating indoor temperature and humidity through controlled experiments. The results showed that DLWS and LWS had the same effect on cooling, reducing the average indoor temperature by 3.6°C during the daytime. Further, DLWS was able to increase the indoor air humidity within the appropriate range, which was lower than the LWS humidity by 6.9 RH. DLWS had a better cooling effect compared to DSS, and DLWS can reduce the indoor temperature by 2.7. The results authenticate the performance advantages and the possibility of applying dynamic plant living walls in practice.

Weather-responsive adaptive shading through biobased and bioinspired hygromorphic 4D-printing

In response to the global challenge of reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption from regulating indoor climates, we investigate the applicability of biobased cellulosic materials and bioinspired 4D-printing for weather-responsive adaptive shading in building facades. Cellulose is an abundantly available natural material resource that exhibits hygromorphic actuation potential when used in 4D-printing to emulate motile plant structures in bioinspired bilayers. Three key aspects are addressed: (i) examining the motion response of 4D-printed hygromorphic bilayers to both temperature and relative humidity, (ii) verifying the responsiveness of self-shaping shading elements in lab-generated conditions as well as under daily and seasonal weather conditions for over a year, and (iii) deploying the adaptive shading system for testing in a real building facade by upscaling the 4D-printing manufacturing process. This study demonstrates that hygromorphic bilayers can be utilized for weather-responsive facades and that the presented system is architecturally scalable in quantity. Bioinspired 4D-printing and biobased cellulosic materials offer a resource-efficient and energy-autonomous solution for adaptive shading, with potential contributions towards indoor climate regulation and climate change mitigation.

Comparative study of physical and mechanical properties of a light plaster mortar based on the "SPADAR" foam ceramic granules and similar light fillers

Introduction. Plasters are still one of the most popular materials for finishing of facades of buildings. Modern plasters are produced mainly in the form of ready-to-use dry mixes. Manufacturers set themselves the task of obtaining not only plaster mixtures meeting standards, but also having hydrophobicity, low density, thermal conductivity and other features that determine the functionality of the plaster coating. In this regard, there is a need to develop and implement plaster mixtures based on new types of light aggregates. Aim. To conduct comparative studies of the physical and mechanical properties of a light plaster mortar using the "SPADAR" foam ceramic granules and plaster mortars with similar fillers as a light filler. Materials and methods. The research was carried out on light plaster mortars using as light fillers: "SPADAR" and foam ceramic granules from another manufacturer ("KERWOOD"), foam glass granules, expanded perlite sand. The parameters of density, strength under axial compression, water absorption during capillary suction and thermal conductivity of a light plaster mortar in a dry state were studied. The tests were carried out according to standard methods. Results. The comparative technical characteristics of the studied plaster compositions are determined. During the analysis of the data obtained, the advantages of plaster compositions using foam ceramic granules as a light filler were revealed. Based on the data obtained, the composition of a light plaster mortar with a density of up to 700 kg/m3 using the "SPADAR" foam ceramic granules was developed. Conclusions. The composition of the plaster based on the "SPADAR" foam ceramic granules turned out to be the most effective by the obtained values of the studied characteristics in total. In many ways, the obtained values of the technical characteristics of this plaster studied in this work are provided precisely by the "SPADAR" foam ceramic granules. Based on the results obtained, it is necessary to investigate other properties of the developed compositions of light plaster mixtures (adhesion, vapor permeability, moisture-proof properties with respect to the mineral base, frost resistance, etc.).

The Development of an Advanced Facade Map: An Evolving Resource for Documenting Case Studies

This paper describes the creation and the potentials of an online tool to identify and document case studies that demonstrate perceived best practices in the design and implementation of advanced, sustainable, and climate-responsive integrated buildings facades. The project was created to catalog these projects in sufficient detail to allow users—expected to include design professionals, students, and faculty—to discover and study relevant examples, based on key project features, defined by the authors as technologically advanced and worthy of relevance: daylight and solar control, natural ventilation, noise control, embodied carbon, energy generation, and innovative insulation systems. The website documenting 44 case study buildings and this paper provides a preliminary overview about how it was made, what it is, and what some potential uses of the tool might be. This study emphasizes adaptability across climates, showcasing sustainable facades designed to balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort. This study also shows how data can be analyzed through the Map, based on four case studies. Presenting these statistics, the resource offers a foundation for exploring facade technologies that support sustainable building practices and respond effectively to climate-specific challenges. In doing so, the authors aim to inspire further exploration of innovative facade solutions within the context of sustainable building practices.