Window Design Research Articles

Ultra-thin polymer foil cryogenic window for antiproton deceleration and storage.

We present the design and characterization of a cryogenic window based on an ultra-thin aluminized biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate foil at T < 10 K, which can withstand a pressure difference larger than 1 bar at a leak rate <1×10-9 mbar l/s. Its thickness of ∼1.7 μm makes it transparent to various types of particles over a broad energy range. To optimize the transfer of 100keV antiprotons through the window, we tested the degrading properties of different aluminum coated polymer foils of thicknesses between 900 and 2160nm, concluding that 1760nm foil decelerates antiprotons to an average energy of 5keV. We have also explicitly studied the permeation as a function of coating thickness and temperature and have performed extensive thermal and mechanical endurance and stress tests. Our final design integrated into the experiment has an effective open surface consisting of seven holes with a diameter of 1mm and will transmit up to 2.5% of the injected 100keV antiproton beam delivered by the Antiproton Decelerator and Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring facility of CERN.

Building integrated concentrating photovoltaic window coupling luminescent solar concentrator and thermotropic material

Building integrated concentrating photovoltaic window (BICPVW) has been proven to be used in sustainable building transparent envelopes. Unfortunately, the balance between optical and electrical properties is difficult. This paper proposes a building integrated concentrating photovoltaic window coupling luminescent solar concentrator and thermotropic material (LT-BICPVW). The luminescent solar concentrator and thermotropic layer were fabricated by bulk polymerization and glass sandwich structure, respectively. Optical models are built based on the optical properties of optical waveguide and thermotropic layer, and optical simulations are performed with Monte Carlo ray tracing technology. Window prototypes are characterized under controlled indoor experimental conditions. The experiment found that as the temperature of the thermotropic film increased from 30 °C to 42 °C, the solar transmittance of LT-BICPVW decreased by 43.3%, and the maximum output power increased by 25%. Compared with, building integrated concentrating photovoltaic window coupled with thermotropic material (T-BICPVW), the power conversion efficiency was improved by 59% at the termination temperature. The LT-BICPVW system can effectively reduce solar heat gain and avoid glare hazards, while using renewable energy to significantly increase power output. A series of predictions are made using validated optical model and tracking technique to better guide the design of PV windows in actual buildings.

SW-UNet: a U-Net fusing sliding window transformer block with CNN for segmentation of lung nodules.

Medical images are information carriers that visually reflect and record the anatomical structure of the human body, and play an important role in clinical diagnosis, teaching and research, etc. Modern medicine has become increasingly inseparable from the intelligent processing of medical images. In recent years, there have been more and more attempts to apply deep learning theory to medical image segmentation tasks, and it is imperative to explore a simple and efficient deep learning algorithm for medical image segmentation. In this paper, we investigate the segmentation of lung nodule images. We address the above-mentioned problems of medical image segmentation algorithms and conduct research on medical image fusion algorithms based on a hybrid channel-space attention mechanism and medical image segmentation algorithms with a hybrid architecture of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Visual Transformer. To the problem that medical image segmentation algorithms are difficult to capture long-range feature dependencies, this paper proposes a medical image segmentation model SW-UNet based on a hybrid CNN and Vision Transformer (ViT) framework. Self-attention mechanism and sliding window design of Visual Transformer are used to capture global feature associations and break the perceptual field limitation of convolutional operations due to inductive bias. At the same time, a widened self-attentive vector is used to streamline the number of modules and compress the model size so as to fit the characteristics of a small amount of medical data, which makes the model easy to be overfitted. Experiments on the LUNA16 lung nodule image dataset validate the algorithm and show that the proposed network can achieve efficient medical image segmentation on a lightweight scale. In addition, to validate the migratability of the model, we performed additional validation on other tumor datasets with desirable results. Our research addresses the crucial need for improved medical image segmentation algorithms. By introducing the SW-UNet model, which combines CNN and ViT, we successfully capture long-range feature dependencies and break the perceptual field limitations of traditional convolutional operations. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of medical image segmentation but also maintains model scalability and adaptability to small medical datasets. The positive outcomes on various tumor datasets emphasize the potential migratability and broad applicability of our proposed model in the field of medical image analysis.

High Area Efficiency Bidirectional Silicon-Controlled Rectifier for Low-Voltage Electrostatic Discharge Protection

Continuously scaling down and decreasing operation voltages of ICs, from the 5 V TTL-compatible voltage to 3.3 V, then 1.2 V, and now 0.8 V for low-power ICs, results in more stringent electrostatic discharge protection design requirements, such as a narrow ESD design window, low operation voltage, and high ESD robustness. Based on traditional diode string and diode-triggered silicon-controlled rectifiers, an enhanced diode-triggered silicon-controlled rectifier is proposed to meet the requirements of low-voltage integrated circuits as bidirectional electrostatic discharge protection. The new device employs an additional PMOS and NMOS in the N-well and P-well, respectively, to offer additional current paths along the surface to significantly enhance its robustness. TCAD simulation shows that the device is triggered by both the diode strings and embedded MOS, making the device turn on faster and the current distribution more uniform during the ON state owing to the additional surface current paths. The proposed new device has excellent dual-directional ESD protection performance with a figure of merit of 4.01 mA/um2, which is about a 71% improvement compared with the conventional diode-triggered silicon-controlled rectifier. It also has higher area efficiency, lower trigger voltage, lower current leakage, and a faster turn-on speed. The proposed enhanced diode-triggered silicon-controlled rectifier is an attractive ESD protection solution for ultra-low-voltage ICs.

Optimum fenestration characteristics in mediterranean Tunisian context: An energetic, economic and environmental (EEE) study

This paper aims to investigate the energy performance of several techniques integrated into the fenestration system of an office building. The first step was to compare the simulated and real energy consumption of a case study of an office building located in Tunis City. In a second step, the study explores the impact of a glazing retrofit solutions on annual energy saving. To determine the possible energy savings for the existing office building in various climatic zones, we performed several simulations, using the Design Builder software.For these zones, the optimum window-to-wall-ratio (WWR), ensuring a compromise between daylighting and energy consumption, is found to be 40%. Then, for the chosen WWR, we evaluated a retrofit process involving existing commercial technologies such as double-glazed insulated windows, as well as innovative technologies consisting of intelligent coating, in addition to passive techniques including several shading concepts.It is found that, the double-glazed window with outside reveal depth of 20 cm equipped with both low-emissivity (LoE) and electrochromic (EC) coatings ensures the lowest annual energy consumption. Besides, energy savings depends on the climate zone; it reaches 23% in hot climates (ZT3) and almost 20% in cold (ZT1) and temperate climates (ZT2). The possibility of using electrochromic coating was excluded following the economic study because of its exorbitant cost. In fact, this type of renovation can lead to payback periods of up to 74 years for the cases treated.The optimized window designs consist in using a double-glazing window with a LoE coating, an outside reveal depth of 20 cm, and as a shading system (Overhang). These designs save 8 to 20% of energy and reduce CO2 emissions by 6 to 10 kg CO2/m2 per year, with a payback period of less than 6 years depending on the climatic zone.

Stress-strain curve mapping by nanoindentation – a technique to qualify diffusion-bonded window assemblies for ITER

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering project with the aim to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a large-scale carbon-free source of energy. The reactor vessel contains several diagnostic windows that provide a line of sight to the plasma. Design and qualification of such windows is challenging due to severe in-service conditions and the necessity to combine glasses with metals. One specific window is composed of fused silica glass that is connected to an Inconel ferrule via an aluminium bonding layer, where the joint is consolidated through a diffusion bonding process. The optimization of design and production process parameters of the windows is object of continuous improvements via dedicated three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) simulations. Importantly, these FEM simulations necessarily require stress-strain curves as input parameters. Such curves are difficult to obtain, especially from complex systems with dissimilar joints. In the present paper a methodology based on dynamic spherical nanoindentation has been developed and applied to map the stress-strain characteristics across the diffusion bonded joints. The methodology takes inspiration from the well-known theory to extract stress-strain curves from spherical nanoindentation. Here, it is applied to automated large indentation mapping with more than 1000 indentations including fully automated post-processing. The results provide bulk equivalent mechanical properties including yield stress, yield strain, work hardening parameters and elastic modulus at a micrometre resolution. Results show outstanding correlation with microstructural changes across the bonded cross-section, including grain refinement and twinning at the Inconel/aluminium interface.

Parametric BIM-based life cycle assessment framework for optimal sustainable design

The construction sector is liable for a sizable amount of CO2 emissions and waste. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is considered one of the crucial tools that aids in evaluating the impacts of construction emissions. This research aims to quantify the life cycle impacts of the initial and recurrent embodied emissions, operating and reuse/disposal emissions, and utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) for a more holistic life cycle approach. The research proposes a parametric BIM-based LCA framework for quantifying the environmental impacts and evaluating the effects of material selection for both embodied and operating emissions. In addition, it considers the different reuse scenarios and percentages and their effect on both the embodied and operating impacts. The proposed framework consists of five main modules: data acquisition module, operating and embodied emissions module, life cycle assessment module, optimization module, and decision-making module. This parametric assessment can be applied for both the conventional and circular approach impacts. For the decision-making process, the resulting emissions are optimized utilizing the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and evaluated through an LCA and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology for the material selection. A case study of a residential villa in Cairo is worked out to illustrate the key features of the proposed framework. This assessment analyzes the building materials’ characteristics and efficiency investigating the external walls, internal walls, floors, roofs, and windows design possibilities, and uses visual programming to control the resulting emissions for a more flexible approach. By comparing the integrated LCA and DEA models three optimum design solutions, the conventional approach develops design solutions of higher embodied Global Warming Potential (GWP) than the circular approach. However, it develops lower operating GWP with better applied U-values. The circularity approach employment has reduced the efficiency of the operating GWP due to utilizing materials with high heat transmittance ability.

Influence of Opposing Exterior Window Geometry on the Carbon Emissions of Indoor Lighting under the Combined Effect of Natural Lighting and Artificial Lighting in the City of Shenyang, China

According to relevant statistics, the electricity consumption for lighting in university buildings accounts for 20 to 40% of the total energy consumption of the buildings. Lighting energy saving is a key influential factor in achieving a low-carbon campus construction. The electricity consumption for lighting is simultaneously affected by the utilization of natural daylight and artificial lighting schemes. Currently, there is a lack of research regarding the dynamic quantitative correlation between the geometric design of external windows affecting the utilization of natural daylight and carbon emissions. Also, research on the dynamic synergistic impact between natural light utilization and artificial lighting on carbon emissions has not been observed. Hence, there is a lack of quantitative carbon impact prediction and guidance in the early design and actual operation of such spaces. This study took the professional drawing space of a university in the severe cold regions of Shenyang as a prototype. Daylight factor (DF) and spatial daylight autonomy (sDA) were determined using Rhino + Grasshopper and Ladybug + Honeybee for window geometry. DIALux evo simulation was used to analyze the carbon emissions of space operation, followed by correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS to determine the degree of influence of each window design parameter on the carbon emissions. The window-to-floor ratio (WFR), window-to-wall ratio (WWR), windowsill height (Hws), window width (Ww), and window height (Hw) had inhibitory effects on carbon emissions from daylight-responsive artificial lighting (C), and the influence of different orientations was different. Under the condition of an opposing window, the overall C trend of the professional drawing space was west &lt; east&lt; south &lt; north, and the C of the morning period in each orientation was significantly lower than that in the afternoon period. Taking the frame structure system space with a floor-to-floor height of 4.2 m as an example, within the requirements of WFR and WWR, the C of the west-facing professional drawing classroom with 2.55 m for Hw, 0.75 m for Hws, and 9.6 m for Ww was the smallest. To a certain extent, opening large windows and opening high windows can reduce the C of the space.

Passive Window Energy Performance in Buildings: Modeling of Apartment Buildings in Indonesia

Along with urban growth in urban areas and energy consumption, which continues to increase every year, the selection of windows in the initial design is essential to obtain buildings that are not energy intensive. Selecting the correct window in the blueprint design reduces building energy consumption. Smart windows, especially thermochromic windows, are one of the most promising window technologies because they are the most economical and have passive control with zero energy input, which holds good promise for energy-saving applications. Apart from that, double-glazing windows are also frequently used in energy-saving applications. Therefore, a study compared the energy-saving potential of thermochromic and double-glazing windows to clear glass windows, using computer modeling through EnergyPlus, in high-rise apartment buildings in cities throughout Indonesia's diverse climates. From the modeling results, total energy consumption can be reduced by around 8.91% to 10.96% of total building energy consumption by replacing the conventional clear glass with double-glazing windows or more able to reduce about 20.22% to 24.19% by replacing the conventional clear glass with thermochromic windows. Furthermore, this potential varies depending on geometric shapes, materials, building facades, local climate, and building orientation. Nevertheless, considering the potential benefits, these windows are highly suitable for application in buildings seeking to reduce their energy consumption and improve energy efficiency.

Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm Supported Construction of Architectural Window Design Model Based on Visual Comfort - A Case Study of Office Buildings in Cold Regions

Abstract With the accelerated advancement of big data Internet development, people gradually realize the urgency and importance of energy saving, so the multi-objective optimization research for the performance of office buildings in cold regions is significant, and this paper focuses on the construction of a building window design model based on visual comfort supported by multi-objective evolutionary algorithm- taking office buildings in cold regions as an example, firstly, by reviewing the literature to understand the principle, algorithm, and concept of multi-objective evolution, construct the building window design model based on visual comfort according to the objective function and extract the standard model of inner corridor slab space building in office buildings in cold regions of Harbin and Shenyang. The optimized design of building window parameters was carried out using the established joint simulation and optimization work platform. The results show that for Harbin, as the window heat transfer coefficient increases, the heating energy consumption increases, the cooling energy consumption increases more slowly, and the total energy consumption increases linearly. An increase in window heat transfer coefficient by 0.1W/ (m 2 ∙K) Increases are cooling energy consumption by 0.18%, heating energy consumption by 0.78%, and total energy consumption by 0.46%. For Shenyang, as the window heat transfer coefficient increases, the heating energy consumption increases, the cooling energy consumption increases more slowly, and the total energy consumption increases linearly. If the heat transfer coefficient of the window increases by 0.1W/ (m 2 ∙K), cooling energy consumption increases by 0.18%, heating energy consumption increases by 0.78%, and total energy consumption increases by 0.46%. This study provides a theoretical basis for extracting standard models for other building types while making the results more generalizable and improving the efficiency of sustainable office building design.

A novel approach for optimized design of low-E windows and visual comfort for residential spaces

Double low-E glasses are effective and well-established choices for residential buildings in temperate climatic regions of Sydney, Australia, and Tehran, Iran. The current study's measurements and field experiments have shown that using a double low-E windowpane can improve window total transmitted radiation energy (TSRE) and daylight glare factor. Nevertheless, spatial daylight autonomy (sDA) and daylight illuminance are the shortcomings of using double-low-E glasses. These implications demonstrated that using double low-E glazing is a double-edged sword. Despite its efficiency in improving energy consumption, it cannot satisfy daylight comfort requirements. Therefore, this research intends to find the most suitable solution to exploit double-low-E glasses' benefits and avoid their drawbacks. Subsequently, the genetic algorithm has been used to find the optimum window size through a multi-objective simulation by Climate Studio. The findings suggest that the optimum WWR of 10.35%–10.99% in Tehran brings the daylight comfort metrics above the threshold while the energy consumption metrics are kept at a minimum. Similarly, for Sydney, these measures are 20%–24% room length for the horizontal dimension of a window and 33%–40% room height for the vertical penetration dimension. In this way, using a double low-E window pane is justifiable for both examined regions.

A Clinically Viable Medial Olivocochlear Reflex Assay Using Transient-Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions.

The contralateral medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) strength may indicate various auditory conditions in humans, but a clinically viable assay and equipment are needed for quick, accurate, and reliable measurements. The first experiment compared an earlier version of the assay, which used a nonlinear-mode chirp stimulus, with a new assay using a linear-mode click stimulus, designed to give reliable MOCR measurements in most normal-hearing ears. The second experiment extended the improved assay on a purpose-built binaural hardware platform that used forward-pressure level (FPL) calibration for both the stimulus and the contralateral MOCR elicitor. Transient-evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) tests were measured with and without a 60-dB SPL MOCR-evoking contralateral broadband noise. The normalized MOCR strength (MOCR%) was derived from the TEOAE responses for each trial pair using the complex pressure difference weighted by the TEOAE magnitude. Experiment 1 compared MOCR% within-subject and across-day using two TEOAE stimuli: nonlinear-mode chirps (50 dB SPL, bandpass 1-5 kHz, 14 ms window delayed by 2 ms) and linear-mode clicks (50 dB SPL, bandpass 0.5-2.5 kHz, 13 ms window delayed by 5 ms). TEOAE responses were analyzed in the 0.5 to 2.5 kHz band. Thirty adult participants with normal hearing (30 ears) completed the study. The TEOAE stimulus was calibrated in situ using spectral flattening, and the contralateral noise was calibrated in a coupler. Twelve TEOAE trial pairs were collected for each participant and condition. Experiment 2 used a purpose-built binaural system. The TEOAE stimuli were linear-mode clicks (50 dB SPL, bandpass 1-3 kHz, 13 ms window delayed by 5 ms), analyzed in the 1 to 3 kHz band over ~12 trial pairs. After a probe refit, an additional trial pair was collected for the two early-stopping signal-to-noise ratio criteria (15 and 20 dB). They were evaluated for single-trial reliability and test time. Nineteen adult participants with normal hearing (38 ears) completed the study. The TEOAE clicks and contralateral elicitor noise were calibrated in situ using FPL and delivered with automated timing. MOCR% for linear-mode clicks was distinguishable from measurement variability in 98% to 100% of participants' ears (both experiments), compared with only 73% for the nonlinear-mode chirp (experiment 1). MOCR detectability was assessed using the MOCR% across-subject/within-subject variance ratio. The ratio in experiment 1 for linear-mode clicks was higher (8.0) than for nonlinear-mode chirps (6.4). The ratio for linear-mode clicks (8.9) in experiment 2 was slightly higher than for the comparable linear-mode stimulus (8.0) in experiment 1. TEOAEs showed excellent reliability with high signal-to-noise ratios in both experiments, but reliability was higher for linear-mode clicks than nonlinear-mode chirps. MOCR reliability for the two stimuli was comparable. The FPL pressure response retest reliability derived from the SPL at the microphone was higher than the SPL retest reliability across 0.4 to 8 kHz. Stable results required 2 to 3 trial pairs for the linear-mode click (experiments 1 and 2) and three for the nonlinear-mode chirp (experiment 1), taking around 2 min on average. The linear-mode click assay produced measurable, reliable, and stable TEOAE and MOCR results on both hardware platforms in around 2 min per ear. The stimulus design and response window ensured that any stimulus artifact in linear mode was unlikely to confound the results. The refined assay is ready to produce high-quality data quickly for clinical and field studies to develop population norms, recognize diagnostic patterns, and determine risk profiles.

From Kraus to Orbis: The Two Window Designs of Armin Kraus between Vision and Practicality

From Kraus to Orbis: The Two Window Designs of Armin Kraus between Vision and Practicality

Plasmonic aerogel window with structural coloration for energy-efficient and sustainable building envelopes

Renowned for superior thermal insulation properties, silica aerogel holds substantial promise for eco-friendly building construction. This study presents a novel colored transparent aerogel (CTA) window design that simultaneously achieves good light transmission, thermal insulation, and color modulation, which has not been reported before. The radiative properties of the core–shell plasmonic particle-doped aerogel were theoretically predicted by the combination of Mie theory and Monte Carlo methods. The results showed that the CTA window has high visible light transmittance (∼ 45%) and low thermal conductivity (∼ 0.018 W/m K), all while displaying an array of vivid colors. An energy consumption simulation of CTA windows in various climates in China showed potential energy savings of up to 90% compared to the single tinted window in severe cold regions. Moreover, a cost assessment of CTA windows is conducted to evaluate their economic feasibility and environmental benefits. This study introduces an innovative avenue to meet the escalating demand for both visually pleasing and energy-efficient materials, contributing profound insights into the realm of sustainable architectural design.

Field Performance Monitoring of Energy-Generating High-Transparency Agrivoltaic Glass Windows

Currently, there are strong and sustained growth trends observed in multi-disciplinary industrial technologies such as building-integrated photovoltaics and agrivoltaics, where renewable energy production is featured in building envelopes of varying degrees of transparency. Novel glass products can provide a combination of thermal energy savings and solar energy harvesting, enabled by either patterned-semiconductor thin-film energy converters on glass substrates, or by using luminescent concentrator-type approaches to achieve high transparency. Significant progress has been demonstrated recently in building integrated solar windows featuring visible light transmission of up to 70%, with electric power outputs of up to Pmax ~ 30–33 Wp/m2. Several slightly different designs were tested during 2021–2023 in a greenhouse installation at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia; their long-term energy harvesting performance differences were found to be on the scale of ~10% in wall-mounted locations. Solar greenhouse generated electricity at rates of up to 19 kWh/day, offsetting nearly 40% of energy costs. The objective of this paper is to report on the field performance of these PV windows in the context of agrivoltaics and to provide some detail of the performance differences measured in several solar window designs related to their glazing structure materials. Methods for the identification and quantification of long-term field performance differences and energy generation trends in solar windows of marginally different design types are reported. The paper also aims to outline the practical application potential of these transparent construction materials in built environments, focusing on the measured renewable energy figures and seasonal trends observed during the long-term study.

Конструктивне рішення віконних рам та використання скла у середньо- та пізньовізантійській храмовій архітектурі

The purpose of the article is to investigate the constructive solutions of windows, window frames, production and use of glass (including stained glass) in temple buildings of the Middle and Late Byzantine periods on the basis of preserved, described in sources and found ar- tifacts. Th e research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, comparative analysis, induction and deduction. An interdisciplinary methodology is used – approaches of global history, which are based on data, fi rst of all, obtained from archaeological, geographical and chemical research, as well as a comparative method and a method of analysis. The scientifi c novelty is due to the need for a thorough study of all aspects of the temple architecture of Byzantium, since today there is a great need for the restoration/reconstruction of the monuments of Roman civilization, both from the point of view of the development of tourism in the region, and for the preservation of material cultural heritage for posterity. Conclusions. The development of window glass production technology actively infl uenced its shape, size and quality. Accordingly, the direction and degree of natural lighting in the Byzantine temple depended on this. Th e shape of the windows (as well as their size) diff ered by location in diff erent parts of a particular temple (gallery walls, dome drums, apses, stair towers, etc.). The traditional types of Byzantine windows, which were found in both temple and palace architecture, are arched, round and semi-round (as well as single, double and triple). Based on the preserved window openings, it can be understood that the glass was made of a small size. For the production of window glass, workshops-ergasterias were used, where glassware was made. Th e main raw material for glass making is silica, i.e. sand, and additional impurities are potash or sodium soda. They could also add lime, ground shells and oxides of various metals to colour the glass. In the Middle and Late Byzantine period, window glass is a very rare fi nd. Th e most common form of window glass was rounded oculi, or “crown glass.” Th e typical design of a Byzantine window consisted of a lattice frame “transene” (plaster, marble, wood or lead) and inserted into it 2 or 3 rows of paired small, round, fl at glasses of the oculi type. Both ordinary col- oured and stained glass were used in Byzantine architecture.

Comparison of shading design between the northern and southern hemispheres: using the NSGA-II algorithm to reduce building energy consumption and improve occupants' comfort

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the optimization of window and shading designs to reduce the building energy consumption of a standard office room while improving occupants' comfort in Tehran and Auckland.Design/methodology/approachThe NSGA-II algorithm, as a multi-objective optimization method, is applied in this study. First, a comparison of the effects of each variable on all objectives in both cities is conducted. Afterwards, the optimal solutions and the most undesirable scenarios for each city are presented for architects and decision-makers to select or avoid.FindingsThe results indicate that, in both cities, the number of slats and their distance from the wall are the most influential variables for shading configurations. Additionally, occupants' thermal comfort in Auckland is much better than in Tehran, while the latter city can receive more daylight. Furthermore, the annual energy use in Tehran can be significantly reduced by using a proper shading device and window-to-wall ratio (WWR), while building energy consumption, especially heating, is negligible in Auckland.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that compares the differences in window and shading design between two cities, Tehran and Auckland, with similar latitudes but located in different hemispheres. The outcomes of this study can benefit two groups: firstly, architects and decision-makers can choose an appropriate WWR and shading to enhance building energy efficiency and occupants' comfort. Secondly, researchers who want to study window and shading systems can implement this approach for different climates.

Beyond passive House: use of evolutionary algorithms in architectural design

As buildings are accountable for one-fifth of the total greenhouse gas emissions, improving their energy efficiency is foreseen as a pivotal opportunity towards climate neutrality, answering the UN call for climate action. Thus, this work intends to study to what extent the optimisation of the geometrical characteristics of building envelope can contribute to reducing their energy consumption under different climatic scenarios. The case studies have focused on three single-family houses located in different climatic zones in southern Brazil. Therefore, an evolutionary algorithm was employed in a two-step optimisation approach. First the window area and secondly the shading solutions dimensions, considering the Passive House (PH) concept requirements. The optimisation of the window areas and shading solutions dimensions together with the PH concept resulted in a reduction of energy demand between 76 and 91% and an increase in thermal comfort between 89 and 93%. Regarding window dimensions, all scenarios experienced a significant reduction of glazed areas, from 38.9 to 60.5%. As conclusion, an adequate design of shading elements and windows significantly contribute to improve indoor thermal comfort and to reduce the buildings’ energy demand, an utmost relevant factor to be considered in the early stages of project design pursuing high energy performance buildings.

Proton and Redox Couple Synergized Strategy for Aqueous Low Voltage-Driven WO3 Electrochromic Devices.

Aqueous electrolytes possess non-combustible and eco-friendly features compared to organic electrolytes, leading them to be more suitable for application in smart windows for daily use. However, limited by the narrow electrochemical window of water (1.23 V), its use in conventional electrochromic devices (ECDs) would result in irreversible performance loss, which arises from decomposition caused by high voltage. Here, we propose a synergistic scheme combining a redox couple-catalytic counter electrode (RC-CCE) strategy with protons as guest ions. With the help of the intelligent matching of the reaction potentials of the RC and amorphous WO3 electrochromic electrodes and the highly active and fast kinetic features of protons, it successfully reduces the working voltage range of the device to 1.1 V. The assembled HClO4-ECD can possess an overall modulation rate (350-1200 nm) of 0.43 and 0.94 at -0.1 and -0.7 V, respectively, and a modulation of 66.8% at 600 nm at -0.7 V. Moreover, compared with other guest ions, the proton-based ECD exhibits higher coloration efficiency, a broader color modulation capability, and better stability. In addition, the house model equipped with the proton-based ECD effectively blocks solar radiation, which provides a potential solution for the design of aqueous smart windows.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ЕКСПОЗИЦІЇ ВІТРИН ВІДОМИХ БРЕНДІВ ОДЯГУ ЗАСОБАМИ КОМПОЗИЦІЇ

The article outlines compositional tools used in the design of window displays of popular brand clothing stores. The author analyzes the current state of research of this topic and studies the materials of researchers dealing with the topic of window dressing and its development. The research methodology was developed and the regulatory requirements for window display design were analyzed. The analysis of window display design of well-known clothing brands in the national and foreign practice was carried out, and their comparative analysis was made. The study was supplemented by the analysis of artistic decoration of window displays with artificial lighting elements. Individual features of decoration of window displays of popular brand clothing stores were studied. The relevance of the present research topic is explained by the importance of the window display design as a means of advertising for trade establishments helping to influence the consumer. A high-quality window display design encourages a person to enter a store and definitely motivates to make a purchase. Opening of new trade spots and redesign of interiors of existing stores take place in conditions of active competition. It is important to analyze the world and national trends of design of window displays of famous brands in the sphere of fashion, and their development, to identify common and distinctive features, as well as individual characteristics, with account for the industry and regional context. Window displays are powerful and effective tools of trade advertising. They familiarize passers-by with store goods, novelties, promotions and seasonal changes, and also act as a business card of a shop. Window displays with interesting design help buyers to navigate through new fashion trends. The design primarily affects the visual perception of goods. Quite often, people switch from looking at a skillfully decorated shop window to the product itself as its integral part. That is why the object of advertising affects the psychology of a person more strongly than its image in a photo. Direct visual contact with the product gives a person the most accurate information about its shape, size, color, and texture. Having analyzed the experience of foreign designers in the sphere of window display design, we can note the notable differences in design and formation of the exposition. Window displays of national brands are distinguished by sophistication, minimalism of shapes and colors that are close in tone to the clothing brand itself, while foreign store windows, on the contrary, make “loud” appearance of new collections, have a contrast combination of shapes and colors, aimed at enhancing the impression on customers. They are characterized by an asymmetric structure of the composition, a bright color scheme, use of shiny materials, hyperbolization of dimensions, and accentuation of the central element of the composition. Non-standard plots and colors can be seen in window displays of famous clothing stores. Designers engage famous artists to create installations with the use of lighting and illusion effects to attract the attention of customers. This study supplemented the existing scientific researches in the sphere of window display design of stores of famous clothing brands and comprehensively analyzed the issue of window display design with account for compositional and technical methods and tools.