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Switchable ETFE cushion: designing and building a model for experimental testing

Flor, Jan-Frederik; Sun, Yanyi; Beccarelli, Paolo; Wu, Yupeng; Chilton, John

Authors

Jan-Frederik Flor

Yanyi Sun

YUPENG WU yupeng.wu@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Building Physics

John Chilton



Contributors

C. L�zaro
Editor

K.-U. Bletzinger
Editor

E. O�ate
Editor

Abstract

Adaptive façade systems have the potential for saving energy and enhancing comfort conditions in buildings. Creating working models with materials, components and functions which embody the design idea of a responsive building envelope is an important part of the design process of these systems, because it allows the performance to be demonstrated and tested under realistic conditions and for difficulties to be detected in advance. This paper reports on the process of building and programming a functional model of a switchable ETFE cushion for preliminary performance tests. Different techniques of reverse engineering and prototyping were explored on a range of scales to build the membrane structure and its pneumatic control system. The study showcases the inter-link of advanced manufacturing techniques and parametric design software, the application of microcontrollers, actuators and sensors in combination with the building envelope. The paper further documents and theorizes the process from design to making and testing, outlining a practical workflow for the development and prototyping of adaptive building envelopes for energy efficient buildings.

Citation

Flor, J., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Wu, Y., & Chilton, J. (2019). Switchable ETFE cushion: designing and building a model for experimental testing. In C. Lázaro, K. Bletzinger, & E. Oñate (Eds.), Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019 – Structural Membranes 2019

Conference Name IASS Annual Symposium 2019 – Structural Membranes 2019, Form and Force
Conference Location Barcelona, Spain
Start Date Oct 7, 2019
End Date Oct 10, 2019
Acceptance Date Aug 1, 2019
Publication Date 2019
Deposit Date Aug 7, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019 -Structural Membranes
Series ISSN 2518-6582
Book Title Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019 – Structural Membranes 2019
Keywords ETFE; Adaptive Building Envelope; Prototyping; Testing
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2403009
Related Public URLs https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iass/piass/2019/00002019/00000025/art00002