The irregular reflection and transmission properties of innovative fenestration allow the redirection, selectively admittance, or blocking of solar irradiation based on its incident direction.... Show More

The irregular reflection and transmission properties of innovative fenestration allow the redirection, selectively admittance, or blocking of solar irradiation based on its incident direction. Compared to systems that implement adaptivity by mechanical transformations, such tailored light scattering reduces the complexity of installation, operation, and maintenance as well as the impact on outward view and the aesthetical appearance of buildings. Examples of such fenestration techniques (e.g., light redirecting films and Venetian blinds featuring irregular reflection properties) are presented with their gonio-photometrically measured scattering properties. Techniques to model optically complex fenestration to support product development and planning are presented. Effects on daylight availability, glare, and solar gains are demonstrated. Preliminary results indicate the potential to control and modulate rather than to block irradiation through the design of buildings aiming at high comfort and energy efficiency.

One of the most important issues in the design processes of retractable plate structure is to determine the most suitable shape of the plates that form an enclosure without any gaps or overlaps in... Show More

One of the most important issues in the design processes of retractable plate structure is to determine the most suitable shape of the plates that form an enclosure without any gaps or overlaps in both closed and open configurations of the structure. One of the approaches to find the most suitable shape of the plates is based on mathematical tessellation technique without using any kinematical or numerical analyses. Due to the usage of RPS on many different areas in architecture, it is just as important to be able to iterate them regularly. This study both focuses on the iteration of planar RPSs that are formed based on 1-uniform tessellation and develops a relation between iteration capacity of RPS and plane symmetry groups. By the help of developed relationship, it tries to realize whether this structure can be derived from 1-uniform tessellation and which tessellation should be selected before obtaining it.

Earth plasters have been used as a protective coating for buildings but, due to their low strength and low resistance to weather conditions, they have been abandoned for more resistant materials... Show More

Earth plasters have been used as a protective coating for buildings but, due to their low strength and low resistance to weather conditions, they have been abandoned for more resistant materials which in return lack vapour permeability. Earth plasters have usually a high moisture sorption rate, and their water vapour permeability is high, allowing the transfer of humidity through the material. These properties make them an interesting material for controlling vapour movement in humid rooms. Improving their strength can be done by adding aggregates and/or fibres, but the real impact of using one type or another of fibres or aggregate is unknown. This research aims to understand the consequence of the choice of fibre or sand in the improvement of strength of plasters and the conservation of the plaster hygro-thermal properties. Properties of plasters using alternative fibres or aggregates such as wool, cow hair, pine needles, sand aimed for concrete mixes, or not properly graded sand have been compared to plasters made more traditionally with chaff fibres and mason sand.

One of the most recognisable aspects of the digitalization of the design process is the increasing use of 3D printers and robots in the construction phases. When combining with analogue techniques... Show More

One of the most recognisable aspects of the digitalization of the design process is the increasing use of 3D printers and robots in the construction phases. When combining with analogue techniques, hybrid materiality in construction and architecture opens up significant application opportunities, but also challenges to the design process and production. In this study, the design and hybrid fabrication of a freeform gridshell structure, placed as a temporary installation in a public park, is presented. The structure was materialized in a hybrid combination of 129 wooden battens and 68 PLA 3D printed nodes, spanning 5 meters and reaching 2.5 m height. The examination of the challenges posed by the hybrid fabrication of the structure suggests that pre-conceived perceptions on production and installation stages should be reconsidered, and it highlights the importance of integrating material constraints and time limitations in the earliest phases of the design process.

Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns are an extensively studied area due to the favorable structural characteristics of these members. In order obtain the best possible performance from... Show More

Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns are an extensively studied area due to the favorable structural characteristics of these members. In order obtain the best possible performance from these structures while reducing the cost the use of optimization algorithms is indispensable. For this reason, meta-heuristic algorithms are finding increasing application in engineering due to their high efficiency. Various equations that predict the axial ultimate load-carrying capacity (Nu) of CFST columns are available in design codes as well as the research literature. However, most of these equations are only applicable within certain parameter ranges. A recently developed set of equations that have better parameter ranges of applicability was applied in this study. Furthermore, a newly developed meta-heuristic algorithm called social spider algorithm is applied to the cross-section optimization of circular CFST columns. The improvement of the structural dimensioning under Nu constraint was demonstrated.

The aim of this research paper is to identify and minimize the gap in energy performance of buildings, taking into consideration not only the qualitative assessment theoretically calculated... Show More

The aim of this research paper is to identify and minimize the gap in energy performance of buildings, taking into consideration not only the qualitative assessment theoretically calculated according to design-phase assumptions about the operation of the building, but also its actual operation that involves occupancy effects. A smart energy management system is developed, focusing on the human factor and the individual operational procedures that are carried out and affect the energy efficiency of buildings. A dynamic approach based on the continuous monitoring of energy performance indicators for buildings is under development, considering all significant loads and creating a dynamic correlation between energy efficiency and the different ecosystem's elements (sites/offices, groups, and processes). The proposed system applies to facilities in the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Patras, and the results are positive towards reducing energy consumption.