Glass Facades Research Articles

Color/Transparent Bi‐Customizable Solar Antifogging Nanofilms

AbstractAlmost all reported solar anti‐/defogging surfaces are black and opaque. However, aesthetics and transparency are preferred to enhance security, privacy, and visual experience without sacrificing antifogging in some practical scenarios, such as automotive windshields, architectural glass facades, and sports goggles. Herein, a color and transparency bi‐customizable solar antifogging heterostructure nanofilms is reported, which only consists of a Ti–TiOx layer for partial visible light transmission and a narrow bandgap Ti2O3 layer for broadband sunlight absorption. By precisely controlling each monolayer thickness, various vibrant structural colors (covering yellow/green/purple/blue) through interference effects, along with tunable visible light transparency (from 0% to 30%), and broadband solar absorption (up to 90%) are obtained, providing personalized options for various applications. Simultaneously, the nanofilms exhibit remarkable photothermal performance (110.3 °C under 1 kW m−2 irradiation) compared to blank samples, demonstrating sustained and superior defogging (3.5‐fold improvement) and antifogging capabilities, even in extremely cold (–20 °C) or high temperature and high humidity (50 °C, 100%) conditions. Importantly, the nanofilms are just 174 nm thick, and can be easily upgraded and scalable fabricated by sputtering on various rigid, flexible and portable substrates, such as glass, metals, textiles, plastics, enabling a wide range of direct applications.

Daylighting Evaluation of Perforated Screen Façade with Light Shelf in the Tropics

The use of large glass facades in buildings without external shading devices leads to a high daylight level, uneven daylight distribution, and glare. A perforated screen facade (PSF) is one of the shading systems that can provide daylight and view and prevent direct solar radiation into a building. More research is needed about the daylight performance of PSF in integration with daylighting systems in the tropics. A combination of PSF and light shelf (LS), a daylighting system that can redirect daylight to the ceiling and enhance daylight distribution, is proposed to improve daylight levels and reduce glare. The research aims to evaluate the daylight performance of PSF and LS in the tropics. The research method is experimental with simulation utilizing IES-VE Radiance IES. Average Daylight Factor (DFavg), Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), and Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) of a room with a side window were compared with a room with PSF and LS. The results showed that implementing PSF and LS improved daylight performance by lowering the DFavg by 55%, increasing the UDI, and reducing the DGP.

A high explosive blast simulator

Window facades are heavily used in modern design. To ensure that the facade can withstand sufficiently large blast loads, experimental evaluation of the entire facade is crucial. In this study, we present the High Explosive Blast Simulator (HEBSim), an outdoors modular explosive-driven blast simulator with a large cross-section designed for real-size blast testing of glass facades. To evaluate the performance of HEBSim, we performed two test series, one with a rigid steel plate component and one with deformable laminated glass window components. Pressure sensors were used to measure the overpressure histories for both test series and deformation data was gathered using three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) for the window component tests. The test series demonstrated that HEBSim generates planar and repeatable blast load profiles in line with explosive pressure resistance (EPR) classifications for various charge masses. In addition, the window component test series illustrated the stochastic fracture behavior of glass. Based on the presented data, HEBSim is found suitable for blast testing of large glass facades.

Thermal performance of glass facade under fire loading: a numerical approach

Thermal performance of glass facade under fire loading: a numerical approach

THE IMPACT OF DESIGN VARIABLES ON THE HEAT DEMAND OF A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN THE COLD REGION

This study is about the impact of early design decisions on the heat demand of a small residential building. Heat demand is a significant part of the energy use of residential buildings in the Cold regions. Reducing this demand will reduce the strain on national energy resources and even allow buildings to become energy neutral or independent with the addition of energy supply and storage systems. Based on a case study building of apartments, the simulation study explores the impact of several individual design aspects: insulation, orientation of glass facades and building shape. Furthermore, the balcony facade of the case study building is compared to a plain facade and a sunspace (balconies with a glass facade) in terms of heat demand and comfortable use (operative temperature). Based on these studies a final set of design guidelines is developed for designers interested in designing small residential buildings with low heat demand.

Transparent Superhydrophobic and Self-Cleaning Coating.

Surface roughness and low surface energy are key elements for the artificial preparation of biomimetic superhydrophobic materials. However, the presence of micro-/nanostructures and the corresponding increase in roughness can increase light scattering, thereby reducing the surface transparency. Therefore, designing and constructing superhydrophobic surfaces that combine superhydrophobicity with high transparency has been a continuous research focus for researchers and engineers. In this study, a transparent superhydrophobic coating was constructed on glass substrates using hydrophobic fumed silica (HF-SiO2) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) as raw materials, combined with a simple spray-coating technique, resulting in a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.7 ± 1.5° and a sliding angle (SA) of 6.2 ± 1.8°. Characterization tests including SEM, EDS, LSCM, FTIR, and XPS revealed the presence of micron-scale protrusions and a nano-scale porous network composite structure on the surface. The presence of HF-SiO2 not only provided a certain roughness but also effectively reduced surface energy. More importantly, the coating exhibited excellent water-repellent properties, extremely low interfacial adhesion, self-cleaning ability, and high transparency, with the light transmittance of the coated glass substrate reaching 96.1% of that of the bare glass substrate. The series of functional characteristics demonstrated by the transparent superhydrophobic HF-SiO2@WPU coating designed and constructed in this study will play an important role in various applications such as underwater observation windows, building glass facades, automotive glass, and goggles.

Performance of Shading Against West Glass Facades to Optimise Daylight, Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency of Office Buildings

In tropical urban areas, the vertical facades of buildings often play a crucial role in capturing solar radiation and heat, especially for office buildings facing west during the afternoon. In Dhaka, a tropical city, the construction of major arterial roads connecting the northern and southern regions of the city has led to the emergence of numerous commercial buildings along these roads, predominantly facing in east or west directions. This research investigated the efficiency of different existing fenestration types (glass curtain walls, glass windows with horizontal and vertical louvres, overhangs, vertical fins, and egg crate shading) of west-facing office buildings in Dhaka in terms of daylight, thermal comfort and energy efficiency, and explore strategies to enhance existing performance. From the field survey, a 'case office building' was selected, and simulations were carried out with the six different fenestrations, as mentioned above, while keeping other aspects constant as found during the survey, e.g., floor plan, equipment and number of occupants. In this research, the simulation process encompasses daylighting simulation, energy simulation, and multi-objective optimisation. The study utilised a case model created with Rhinoceros and ClimateStudio, while performance metric optimisation was achieved using Grasshopper and Octopus. Multi-objective optimisation techniques were employed to improve the shading configurations. The TT toolbox facilitated data exportation and Design Explorer assisted in data visualisation. The window with egg crate shading was found to be the most effective fenestration type among the studied shading configurations. Further parametric simulation was conducted to develop an optimised egg crate shading design configuration. It was found that egg crate shading with a 1.0 m depth provided optimum daylight and solar heat gain inside the office building among the studied configurations in the context of Dhaka. A comparison was also made between the optimised egg crate option and a customised egg crate with some detailing (popularly known as brise soleil). Brise soleil showed better performance with 12.2% higher sDA and 98 lux additional average illuminance compared to the previous optimum one. The findings underscore the significance of employing optimisation methodology to devise shading configurations while also revealing substantial opportunities to enhance performance further by tailoring details on the optimised design recommended from simulation analysis.

Basics of energy-efficiency of renovation of existing office buildings and restoration of listed buildings

The article highlights the basics of energy-efficiency of renovation of existing office buildings, adaptive reuse of buildings for the office function and energy restoration of listed buildings. The advantages of renovation over the new construction in terms of sustainability and reduction of energy consumption were considered. Three different approaches to energy renovation were studied, depending on the location of the buildings and their listing status: existing buildings located outside the historical areas of the cities; existing buildings located in the historical areas of cities; and listed buildings. Principles and methods of energy-efficient renovation of existing office buildings and energy restoration of listed buildings were reviewed. As for the listed buildings, during the modernization or restoration aiming the increase of energy efficiency - the material component of the buildings, which determines its authenticity, should be preserved as much as possible. Regarding the renovation of existing not listed buildings but located in the historical areas - the height, scale, plastic solution, character, finishing materials, etc. must be preserved. It has to be done in order to preserve the identity and the character of the historically inherited environment of a certain area of the city. A list of passive and active design strategies for energy consumption reduction of office buildings during renovation and energy-efficient restoration was provided. Including following passive strategies: facades and roof insulation; low infiltration values; optimization of the glazing ratio; optimal selection of glazing types; use of solar shading devices; use of daylight; passive heating due to solar radiation in winter; use of natural ventilation; integration of greenery into the building; use of internal structures of the building with high heat capacity; use of "double" glass facades, etc. The limitations that reduce the possibilities of energy modernization of listed buildings were considered. Ukrainian and foreign case-studies of renovation, adaptive reuse and restoration were researched and critically analyzed.

Mechanical Properties of Glass Plate During Anticlastic Cold Bending

Anticlastic glass surfaces play a significant role in free-form glass facades. For realizing anticlastic surface, cold bending by loading at the corner of the plate is more adaptive and more economic than traditional hot bending method. Previous research on anticlastic cold bending mainly focuses on the description of instability phenomenon and qualitative analysis of parameters. However, the failure mechanisms of glass plates during cold bending and the influence of lamination remains unclear. In this paper, the anticlastic cold bending test was conducted to explore the influence of various factors, including aspect ratio, scale and composition of the plates. Subsequently, an effective finite element model was established and validated by test results, which is used for further explore the cold bending controlling condition for better engineering practice. The failure modes are considered as instability and strength failure. For laminated glass, maximum stresses can be derived from monolithic glass based on equivalent thickness method. The instability is induced by the compression area in the middle surface of glass plate which is significantly influenced by the composition of the laminates. Consequently, thin glass laminates exhibit enhanced stability because a reduced glass to PVB thickness ratio changes the compression area from bi-directional to uni-directional.

The influence of the application of glass curtain walls on architectural style and architectural facade design techniques

In recent years, with the increasingly rapid development of the glass curtain wall and its gradually mature use in architecture, many designers choose to use glass curtain walls when designing buildings in order to get the desired building facade effect. As a result, there are many new architectural styles and building facade effects. Against this background, this paper discusses how glass curtain wall is applied in architecture and how it helps and influences architectural design styles and techniques. To conclude, the glass curtain wall has been widely used in the design of high-rise buildings and public buildings at this stage, and it also helps designers to more conveniently adjust the virtual-real relationship of building facades and the overall architectural style. The use of large-area glass curtain walls in the design of facades can achieve special effects that cannot be replaced by other materials. At the same time, the application of glass facades also promotes the process of architectural design modernization.

Retrofits of multi-storey office building facade

The city of Jakarta is the 7th big city in the world that has the most high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings in Jakarta were built from 1971 until now and in the 90s it was the peak of the construction of high-rise buildings such as offices and apartment. Tall Buildings with glass facade, concentrating plans are the most typology of office high-rise buildings in Jakarta. Buildings with the dominance of glass facade that reflect heat cause an increase in temperature in the microclimate and a decrease in building performance resulting in the amount of energy used by buildings, especially air conditioners. Building facade play an important role in reducing the improvement of the microclimate and energy use in buildings. Therefore, an analysis was carried out on the BRI II building on Jalan Sudirman Jakarta as a case study that represents the typology of the most office buildings in Jakarta. It turns out that this building has a high OTTV (Overall Thermal Transfer Value) value, so the largest AC cooling load comes from the building casing. Therefore, facade retrofit is one of the alternatives that can be done to reduce energy use, especially air conditioning. After that, a simulation of the casing retrofit to obtain a significant retrofit action can reduce the AC energy used through ottv value reduction analysis.

Research and numerical assessment of design and construction errors in the swimming pool facility structures

Swimming pools are characterized by high humidity, high temperature, an aggressive environment caused by disinfection processes, high energy consumption, and extensive technical infrastructure. As a result, these facilities are at high risk of damage, including structural damage, which can have catastrophic consequences in extreme cases. Adequate ventilation plays a critical role in natatoria. The technical condition of swimming pool facilities should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe for the public. Various techniques can be used for this purpose. In the present study, a numerical analysis of ventilation performance and an assessment of the risks associated with design and construction errors in the ventilation system were conducted in a swimming pool building with a volume of 116,280.7 m3 and a surface area of 20,188.6 m2 in north-eastern Poland. Two scenarios were analyzed: the performance of the originally designed ventilation system and the performance of the ventilation system installed in the examined facility. The analyses were conducted with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools in the FloVent program. Air distribution was determined by measuring ventilation parameters and conducting smoke tests in analyzed natatorium, and the obtained data were consistent with the results of the numerical analysis. The analyzed scenarios were compared to identify the risks associated with inadequate ventilation in swimming pools. A significant decrease in air supply led to local increases in air velocity and worsened thermal comfort parameters in the real-world facility. In addition, the decrease in air supply induced changes in air distribution and prevented air streams from reaching all parts of the natatorium. Some areas were inadequately ventilated, and condensed water vapor settled on the building’s glass facade and the roof, posing a direct threat to structural elements. The results of the numerical analysis were congruent with on-site measurements, which indicates that CFD tools are highly useful for assessing ventilation systems in swimming pools. These tools can be used to analyze ventilation performance and optimize the proposed solutions already at the design stage. The applied tools enable designers to eliminate construction errors and optimize a building’s structural safety, performance, and energy efficiency.

Innovative Materials and Techniques for Sustainable Building Structures

The construction industry faces a growing challenge to meet the demands for sustainable buildings. This research paper explores innovative materials and techniques that are revolutionizing the way we design and construct structures. The focus is on minimizing environmental impact, reducing energy consumption, and promoting resource efficiency throughout a building's life cycle the paper examines promising materials like bio-based insulation, carbon-storing concrete, and recycled content composites. It explores advanced technologies such as 3D-printed buildings and smart glass facades that contribute to energy savings and improved building performance. Additionally, sustainable construction techniques like passive design, prefabrication, and rainwater harvesting are discussed. This research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in sustainable building practices. By analyzing the benefits and potential drawbacks of these innovative materials and techniques, the paper paves the way for a more sustainable future for the construction industry. Keywords: Sustainable Building, Innovative Materials, Bio-based Materials, Energy Efficiency, Resource Efficiency, 3D Printing, Smart Glass, Passive Design, Prefabrication, Rainwater Harvesting.

Assessing light performance of vertical greenery shading in tropical climate

Natural light is abundant in tropical climates and advantageous for incorporating daylighting into building designs. However, this daylight intensity often leads to excessive brightness indoors, specifically in high-rise buildings with glass façades. In addressing sustainability concerns, incorporating greenery outside glass façades can effectively shade and alleviate eyestrain for building occupants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of plant leaves in reducing the high light intensity on glass facades. An experiment was conducted using the Vernonia elliptica plant, which thrives in medium to high sunlight in tropical climates. Three different leaf area indexes (LAI) were examined in this study as the independent variables, while light illuminance and luminance served as the dependent variables. Two identical box models measuring 1 m × 1 m × 1 m were utilized for the experiment. The two models were oriented towards the west and north, representing intense and longer light exposure. The first, the base case, featured a glass façade without any other additional element, whereas the other incorporated greenery on its glass façade. The obtained results indicated that the impact of leaf density on illuminance and luminance is significant, specifically when the LAI is doubled. It was also found that denser foliage with longer leaf strands produced better results, specifically at low altitudes. These results can be used to implement vertical greenery shading in high-rise office buildings.

Transparent sound absorption—More than 25 years of applications

Optically transparent micro-perforated sound absorbers were introduced more than 25 years ago. One of the first projects carried out was the German Parliament (Bundestag). another project carried out recently is the Canadian Parliament. At first, in the German Parliament, acrylic glas boxes with a sub-millimeter micro-perforations have been developed an applied. Later, on other micro-perforated sheets, such as thin polycarbonate or PVC sheets, have been applied in various projects around the world such as in Ottawa. This contribution concentrates on optically transparent sound absorbers. Fully transparent absorbers can be installed in front of glass facades, under glas roofs and whenever no optical distrubances are wanted. From pandemic times, also transparent screens and other applications are well known. A short review of the applications of various different materials with transparent microperforated sound absorbers is presented. Finally, sound absorption data for different setups are presented.

Shading Performance of Plant and Perforated Metal in The Thermal, Light, and Building-occupant Perception

Visual and thermal comfort are essential aspects influencing the activity of building occupant. For buildings with glass facades, the integration of shading devices becomes essential to enhance user comfort. This study aims to compare the effects of artificial (perforated metal) and biotic shading (Vernonia elliptica plant) on the thermal and visual parameters as well as perception of respondents regarding both devices. The study was carried out using a 1m x 1m x 1m box model. Perforated metal had a diameter of 3 cm and a spacing of 2 cm with a 29% openness factor, while the Vernonia elliptica had 2 levels of density, namely LAI 1 and LAI 2. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the average air temperature and RH produced by shading of vegetation LAI 1, LAI 2, and perforated metal. However, the use of vegetation reduced the illuminance significantly compared to the other device. The average DF of perforated metal ranged from 15.4 to 25%, while a range of 1.9-4.1% was obtained for LAI 1 and LAI 2. These results were inconsistent with building occupant’s perception that the vegetation had a better effect on the thermal aspect than the visual aspect.

Effects of Cavity Depth of Glass Facades on Energy Performance of the Office Building Facade Scenarios of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

The concern of warming brought on by extreme solar radiation entering the glazed façade may become serious in Bangladesh, where high-rise buildings now commonly use these systems. This scenario will lead to higher energy usage since there will be a greater requirement for electricity to cool the indoor environment. Determining the effects of the Cavity Depth of Glass facades on the energy consumption of office buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is the primary goal of this study. To establish techniques for optimization, different cavity depths, and other glazed façade system parameters have been proposed. Results were obtained by modelling the variables of the investigation using the computer simulation software EnergyPlus. As per the findings of the study, glazed façade systems in Dhaka may benefit greatly from a cavity depth of 1000 mm combined with bronze laminated glass. The glass façade's thermal performance is enhanced under the ideal cavity system since there is a discernible drop in the building's annual end-use energy of about 12.28 % and a drop in indoor temperature of roughly 2°C.

Reducing Glare on Building Facade by Implementing Vertical Greenery Shading – user-sensation vs luminance-measurement

The user of high-rise office building usually feel discomfort glare because of high luminance from glass facade. This experimental research has an objective to find out how vertical greenery can reduce the sensation of glare. Using here a cubicle that represent one person workstation in 2m x 4m x 3.45m dimension with opening from clear glass, WWR 50%. The base case was the condition without vegetation compared to condition with Vernonia elliptica plant LAI 0.75 and LAI 1.5 which implemented as shading. The result found that vegetation LAI 1.5 can reduce luminance 54.3-56.1% compared to without vegetation. The sensation of glare from Uncomfortable becomes Perceptible (for direct light); from Perceptible-Acceptable becomes Imperceptible-Perceptible (for diffuse light). Vegetation LAI 0.75, for direct light, can reduce luminance 35.3-53.6% compared to condition without vegetation. The glare sensation vote becomes Acceptable. Whilst for diffuse light, although the luminance measurement was increase because of the reflected glare from surroundings, the natural aesthetic and green colour of leaves was relaxing, so that the sensation of glare still at the same vote, between Perceptible-Acceptable compared to without vegetation. This result proof that for biotic shading, besides the quantitative, the qualitative variables play the role.

태양광 패널결합형 유리 전면이 적용된 소규모 사무소 공간의 분할구역에 대한 조광제어 시스템의 성능분석

태양광 패널결합형 유리 전면이 적용된 소규모 사무소 공간의 분할구역에 대한 조광제어 시스템의 성능분석

ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE AS A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOOL: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

History plays an important role in defining our present and future. Architectural heritage is the symbol of our cultural identities, acting as remnants from the past. Respect and values of the architecture heritage affect the identity and vision of the culture. The existence of architecture is defined in both time and space, therefore the need for historical monuments to be adapted and reused suited for current time while satisfying the historical context and cultural values, is the present-day demand to bring people together who are otherwise separated by certain boundaries. With the current technological advancement, the 21st century skyline places focus on glass and metal facades that lack personality, hence there is a need for more effort to conserve and readapt heritage sites that stem from our cultures and our values. The purpose of the study is to create awareness towards a more sustainable approach for heritage conservation by adaptive reuse and understand the influence it has on the various sectors of a society and its residents. Based on a qualitative methodology, with a case study approach, this paper uses observation, in-depth interviews, and textual analysis to explore possibilities of sustainable transformation of architectural heritage in present and transferring the culture and values to future. This research paper will open further opportunities in this field to understand the factors behind the influence of these intangible and tangible variables and can be utilized to raise a country to an international standard of competition in terms of economy and societal norms.