Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Architectural shading'

The dilemma of keeping the daylight quality and view to the outside or protecting our eyes from disturbing glare by covering the window is a moment that probably everyone has experienced in their life. Having access to daylight and enjoying the view to the outside when there is not visual comfort has been a problematic issue related to the window in space. Shading devices are designed in different shapes and forms to control glare and also energy consumption inside the space. Using shading covers part of the window and it affects the light quality and view to the outside and can change our perception from architectural space.In this thesis, the main question is how can we protect the indoor space from discomfort glare without covering the whole part of the window by curtain, blinds or shading devices in order to keep daylight quality and view to the outside.Glare is a phenomenon that is related to the viewpoint of observers and in order to study the glare metrics, the data from 140 viewpoints of the observer in 20 different locations in one simulated room were analyzed based on three main factors:1- Glare Metrics2- Light Quality3- ViewThe 20 selected patterns were simulated in [Rhino /Grasshopper/ Diva] software to analyze the glare and daylight metrics in Solstices and Equinoxes. Also, in order to define a parameter for view, one questionnaire was used and the responses from 40 participants were collected and all of the data were evaluated by mathematics and statistics methods.The final aim of the study is to introduce some simple principles for patterns of shadings to provide better-daylit environment and view to the outside with most visual comfort conditions for the user inside the space.

Designing architecture is related to producing vast amounts of information based on constraints, experience or common sense, and at the same time, those designs are assisted by specialized software, but, are the results of those processes giving you advantage or are they leading you in the wrong way? For example, should you include shading elements or less glazing? Should you change the shape of the building or improve envelope specifications? This research is a start to understand how to approach to design problems related to solar geometry, recognize which variables are worth modifying, reduce potential of error when iterating, and take truly advantage of the output delivered by modeling tools.<br>Master of Architecture

Glass facades building, especially offices, always need shading devices to guarantee occupant's well-being and comfort. However, shading devices are often composed of shutters or fabric tents which creates dark interiors and do not allow access to view out. Moreover, they ruin the aesthetical appearance of glass facades. The study aims to research and propose an alternative shading system for glass facades building which can prevent from glare in the interior spaces as well as respecting the continuity of a glass facade from an exterior point of view. Research upon materials that can be integrated into glass has been carried and Ceramic ink digital printing has been found as the right technique to ensure both a functional and aesthetical value. The material today has been used mainly for decorative functions. The patterns and the colors of the shading device proposed with ceramic and digital ink printing have been tested in Deloitte Building in Copenhagen with both 3D digital models and an online survey investigating comfort preferences.

The use of vegetation to block shortwave radiation can reduce cooling loads in hot climates. From July 22nd, 1989 to October 7, 1989, this study, using shade cloth to simulate vegetative canopies, compared the electricity used for air conditioning between quarter-scale models. The treatments were: (1) canopies of the same density on east, west, and/or south walls, (2) wall canopies versus roof canopies of the same density, (3) wall canopies of different densities, and (4) roof canopies of different densities. Although the savings in electricity in any treatment was usually less than 11%, the results showed: dense canopies gave better savings than medium canopies, which, in turn, gave better savings than the least dense canopies; wall canopies gave better results than a roof canopy; an east wall canopy gave better results than a west wall canopy; and shading all walls except the north gave better results than shading only the east and west wall.

The University of Arizona Main Campus is located in the city of Tucson, Arizona. A place that confronts high air temperatures and extreme solar radiation almost all year around. Currently, more than 38,000 students are enrolled as full-time facing the extreme climate conditions of heat. Thousands of students walk from one place to another experiencing uncomfortable walks causing them heat stress. Campus infrastructure is not capable to interact with the weather conditions of Tucson. The lack of shaded paths, materials with high emissivity of heat, nonnative vegetation, among other factors, make the walks unpleasant. This challenge affects people's health and consecutively the performance of cooling systems once the people enter to buildings overheated. Outdoor human thermal comfort in arid and desert areas is a relevant topic that carries implications and benefits on people and buildings performance. The amount and intensity of activities within individuals affects the level of comfort.

This study determined winter and summer shading coefficients for six commonly used landscape trees in Tucson using a photographic dot-matrix method. Tree types were developed from this data reflecting canopy density, shape, and foliage periods, then applied to SPS and MICROPAS computer programs to model effects of tree shade on annual energy loads for three residential construction types. Statistical analysis showed pruning to have a significant effect for 5 of the 6 species tested. Significant differences were also found among species and within species due to seasonal effects in foliage density. Shading scenarios manipulated the number and location of tree types were modeled. Greatest net annual savings were from 3 African sumac trees located on the west side of a masonry house typical of the 1950s (121). Shade from tree species found to have significantly different shading coefficients (10%) did not substantially increase energy savings ($5-12).

The aim of this research was to investigate the thermal performance of Double skin facades (DSFs) for office buildings in Amman. Special attention was given to the role of cavity-integrated shading slats. The study was conducted through a parametric study concerning configuration and design parameters of both DSF’s cavity and shading slats, in addition to boundary conditions. For the purpose of this study, a CFD-Fluent model was developed and validated. Besides, a new method for more accurate representation of solar radiation (as boundary conditions) was developed. Both RNG k-ε and SST k-ω turbulence models were used. The Discrete ordinates (DO) radiation model with non-gray option was selected for modelling of radiation heat transfer. Simulations confirmed that both the width of the cavity and the size and arrangement of openings would have a significant impact on overall performance of the system. The aspect ratio (H/W) of the cavity would further impact its operation, which could contribute to 77% and 26% increase in ventilation and temperature for inner glass surfaces, respectively, of a simple cavity. In addition, among other design parameters, the size and surface emissivity of integrated slats would have the largest influence on the natural ventilation rate in the cavity. The inner glass surface temperature is mainly influenced by the inclination angle and position of these slats in addition to the internal and external environmental conditions. The influence of these slats is also dependent on the aspect ratio of the cavity. Detailed design of these slats would play a further role, together with the boundary conditions (incidence angle) and other design parameters of the cavity (H/W aspect ratio). In Amman, DSFs were shown to have a good performance during heating seasons, as they would enable indoor thermal comfort and ventilation requirements to be met by passive means. During cooling seasons, DSFs with integrated slats would also be able to reduce total solar heat gains if sufficient ventilation could be provided for its cavity. However, artificial cooling is still required for such a hot climate. Controlling the cavity openings is highly recommended for both scenarios. It is recommended that the cavity width is at least 0.6m, the glass transmittance is about 0.8, the size for integrated slat is 20% of the cavity width, and the optimum surface emissivity of the slats is about 0.2. Slats should preferably be placed at mid of cavity or be adjustably according to the seasonal requirements. Optimum inclination angles for slats were found to be 45° degrees and 30° degrees for summer and winter, respectively. General recommendations and design guidelines were provided.

Theme of the diploma thesis is architectural study of school buildings in Ostrava. It combines a kindergarten, primary and secondary school – a grammar school. The school is situated next to the cultural cluster Černá louka in Ostrava – the new designed cultural center of the city, and also on the bank of the river Ostravice. The main idea is adaptation of the scale of school spaces due to children of a different age, an orientation of classrooms to south-east and at the same time to the river bank. The kindergarten is separated from service and volume of the school, the primary school and the grammar school are united in one two- and three-store building with an inner yard. The buildings are accessible for pupils from an entrance square near Černá louka, the entrance for public is situated on the new designed street connecting Černá louka and Nová Karolina. The complex offers also sport facilities, a gym, a swimming pool and exterior sport ground which is accessible from the cycling track along the river Ostravice. The exterior look of the buildings is based on the construction, the reinforced concrete structure from white architectural concrete, and is animated by shading panels from corten sheets.

<p>Over the past 20 years, the development in ComputationalElectromagnetics has produced a vast choice of methods based onthe large number of existing mathematical formulations of theMaxwell equations. None of them dominate over the others,instead they complement each other and the choice of methoddepends on the frequency range of the electromagnetic waves.This work is focused on the most popular method in the highfrequency scenario, namely the Geometrical Theory ofDiffraction (GTD). The main advantage of GTD is the ability topredict the electromagnetic field asymptotically in the limitof vanishing wavelength, when other methods, such as the Methodof Moments, become computationally too expensive.</p><p>The low cost of GTD is due to both the fact that there is noruntime penalty in increasing the frequency and that the raytracing, which GTD is based on, is a geometrical technique. Thecomplexity is then no longer dependent on electrical size ofthe problem but instead on geometrical sub problems which aremanageable. For industrial applications the geometricalstructures, with which the rays interact, are modelled bytrimmed Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) surfaces, themost recent standard used to represent complex free-formgeometries.</p><p>Due to the introduction of NURBS, the geometrical subproblems tend to be mathematically and numerically cumbersome,but they can be highly simplified by proper Object Orientedprogramming techniques. This allowed us to create a flexiblesoftware package, MIRA: Modular Implementation of Ray Tracingfor Antenna Applications, with an architecture that separatesmathematical algorithms from their implementation details andmodelling. In addition, its design supports hybridisationtechniques in combination with other methods such as Method ofMoment (MoM) and Physical Optics (PO).</p><p>In a first hybrid application, a triangle-based PO solveruses the shadowing information calculated with the ray tracerpart of MIRA. The occlusion is performed between triangles andtheir facing NURBS surfaces rather than between their facingtriangles, thus reducing the complexity. Then the shadowinginformation is used in an iterative MoM-PO process in order tocover higher frequencies, where the contribution of theshadowing effects, in the hybrid formulation, is believed to bemore significant.</p><p>Thesis presented at the Royal Institute of Technology ofStockholm in 2003, for the degree of Licentiate in ScientificComputing.</p>

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>This work presents a study and analysis of photovoltaic systems subject to partial shading, where the main consequence is the reduction of its energy production. To mitigate this problem, it is proposed a new photovoltaic architecture known as hybrid architecture. In this architecture, the system is separated into arrays that can be partially or completely shaded with other arrays that are not shaded. The partially shaded modules are connected in parallel to maximize its energy production, while unshaded ones are connected in series. A dc-dc converter is used with the array with the modules subject to partial shading for maximum power extraction of this array, to match the operating voltage of both arrays, and to ensure that during its operation, the unshaded array operates in maximum power point. Additionally, it is presented the small signal modeling of the dc-dc converter through the generalized modeling technique, with the inclusion of the dynamic of a photovoltaic array through an equivalent approximate model by a voltage source with a series resistance, and linearized for different curve points of the photovoltaic module. The proposed control system for this converter uses a controller based on the internal model principle, as the resonant one, whose objective is, besides eliminating the low frequency ripple at the input of photovoltaic module to reduce the losses of the maximum power point tracking algorithm, also reduce the dc-bus capacitance in dual-stage photovoltaic inverters. Shaded photovoltaic systems present higher complexity to predict its energy production. This is because there are different configurations to connect photovoltaic modules among each other, which results in different values of generated power. Consequently, a general methodology of energy production forecast that uses only the shaded area of the modules as a factor of analysis can be imprecise. Based on this, a new methodology for energy production forecast in partially shaded photovoltaic systems is presented. The proposed method consists in identifying the shaded modules in each time, to quantify the hourly irradiation incident on all modules, analyze the electrical configuration of the array and, from that, calculate the produced energy. At the end are presented simulation and experimental results that validate the use of hybrid architecture in photovoltaic systems that present partial shading conditions.<br>Este trabalho apresenta um estudo e análise de sistemas fotovoltaicos que apresentam redução da produção de energia devido ao sombreamento parcial em módulos fotovoltaicos. Para mitigar este problema, é proposta uma nova arquitetura de sistemas fotovoltaicos denominada arquitetura híbrida. Nessa arquitetura, o sistema é separado em um arranjo de módulos que podem ser parcialmente ou totalmente sombreados e outro com módulos não-sombreados. Os módulos do arranjo passíveis de sombreamento são conectados em paralelo entre si para se maximizar sua produção de energia, enquanto que os módulos não-sombreados são arranjados em série. Um conversor CC-CC é empregado junto ao arranjo dos módulos passíveis de sombreamento para extração da máxima potência desse arranjo, para compatibilizar a tensão de operação dos dois arranjos, e para garantir que durante a operação conjunta, o arranjo que nunca é sombreado opere no ponto de máxima potência. Adicionalmente, obtém-se a modelagem de pequenos sinais do conversor CC-CC através da modelagem generalizada, com a inclusão da dinâmica de um arranjo fotovoltaico através de um modelo equivalente aproximado por uma fonte de tensão em série com uma resistência, e linearizado para diversos pontos da curva do painel. Como proposta de sistema de controle desse conversor, utiliza-se um controlador baseado no princípio do modelo interno, como o ressonante, cujo objetivo é, além de eliminar a ondulação em baixa frequência presente na entrada dos painéis para reduzir as perdas do algoritmo de rastreamento do ponto de máxima potência, também possibilitar a redução da capacitância do barramento CC de inversores de duplo estágio. Sistemas fotovoltaicos sombreados apresentam maior complexidade para se prever a produção de energia. Isso ocorre pois existem diversas configurações para se conectar os módulos fotovoltaicos entre si, cujo impacto resulta em diferentes valores da energia gerada. Por consequência, uma metodologia generalizada de previsão da produção de energia que utilize apenas a área sombreada dos módulos como fator de análise pode ser pouco precisa. Com base nisso, uma nova metodologia para previsão da produção de energia em sistemas fotovoltaicos parcialmente sombreados é apresentada. O método proposto consiste em identificar os módulos sombreados em cada hora, quantificar a irradiação horária incidente em todos os módulos, analisar a configuração elétrica do arranjo e, a partir disso, calcular a energia produzida. Por fim são apresentados resultados de simulação e experimentais que validam a utilização da arquitetura híbrida em sistemas fotovoltaicos que apresentam condições de sombreamento parcial.

Since the oil energy crisis of the seventies until the Brazilian 2001 blackout, energy savings became an important issue in Brazil and the building industry has been identified as a sector where substantial savings may occur. In commercial buildings the energy consumption is strongly related to air conditioning systems. Facing this context, the present work intends to evaluate the impact of using solar shading devices in the energy consumption performance of medium size typical office buildings located in Maceió city, Brazil. In low latitude regions, solar radiation represents an important parcel of buildings total heat gain. The evaluation was carried out through a parametric investigation where the effect of facades orientation and typology in the energy consumption, as well as the effect of plan typology regarding the location of corridor (central or lateral). Computer simulations of models representing the combinations for parameters above mentioned were carried out using the Energyplus software in order to estimate the energy consumption of each model. The simulations have shown the energy consumption for the considered models, allowing for the estimation of the impact magnitude regarding each of the different examined parameters. When solar shading devices were added to facades built in masonry with exposed windows the energy savings related to air conditioning systems was 18.7%, while for curtain wall facades it reached 39.2%. Results lead to the conclusion that the use of solar shading devices represents a relevant design strategy for energy savings in office buildings located in Maceió.<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>Desde a crise do petróleo nos anos de 1970 até o colapso energético de 2001 a conservação de energia passou a ser alvo de discussões no Brasil e o setor da construção civil foi identificado como um campo de grande potencial de combate ao desperdício energético. Nas edificações comerciais o consumo energético está fortemente relacionado aos sistemas artificiais de geração de conforto ambiental como os sistemas artificiais de condicionamento térmico, por exemplo. Diante deste contexto, o presente trabalho avalia o impacto decorrente da utilização dos dispositivos de proteção solar para o desempenho energético de edificações que representam as características típicas dos edifícios de escritórios de médio porte localizados na cidade de Maceió/AL. Sabe-se que nestas regiões, de baixa latitude, a radiação solar representa uma parcela significativa no calor total que atinge as edificações. Para tal, adotouse uma metodologia de análises paramétricas nas quais foi comparado o desempenho energético das edificações sob diversas condições de orientação geográfica, tipologia de fechamento de fachada e localização do corredor de circulação horizontal (central e lateral). Os índices de consumo energético foram obtidos a partir de simulações com modelos computacionais utilizando o software Energyplus. As simulações realizadas permitiram quantificar e classificar o desempenho energético das edificações, sob as diversas características construtivas estudadas. A inclusão dos dispositivos de proteção solar representou, em alguns casos, para os sistemas artificiais de condicionamento térmico, economia energética anual de 18,7% no comparativo com as edificações com fachada em alvenaria e janela exposta e, 39,2% no comparativo com edificação com fechamento de fachada em pele de vidro. Desta forma conclui-se que a utilização dos dispositivos de proteção solar apresenta-se como uma alternativa de adequação climática e de redução de consumo energético bastante eficiente para edificações localizadas na cidade de Maceió.

<p>During our education to become lighting designers at Jönköping University, the artificial lighting has been in focus. Therefore we wanted to learn more about daylight. We chose to do this from a visual approach in open plan offices. Since daylight is part of the architects´ responsibility to master, we wanted to examine what architects think of when they plan daylight environments in open plan offices and how this is expressed in the buildings with focus on the visual factors.</p><p>Our questions at issue are:</p><ol><li>What knowledge do architects have concerning daylight planning, and how do they use this knowledge in their practice?</li><li>How well do the chosen daylight environments meet the end-users need of a good visual environment? </li></ol><p>The study consists of three case studies, carried out in the same way. Each case study contains an analysis of the daylight environment in a modern building with open plan offices. A responsible architect was interviewed about the intensions for the building, and about his or her general thoughts about daylight. Three end-users were also interviewed about their experiences of their working environment and the daylight conditions in each building. In total three buildings were analysed, three architects and nine end-users were interviewed.</p><p>The result shows that it is hard to tell what knowledge architects have about daylight, since it is a part of the overall design of the building. It is also very individual whether the architect displays an interest, and work with daylight issues in an active way. We can see differences in this matter between the interviewed architects.</p><p>The analysed buildings also show varying results in the visual qualities. The results from our environment analyses are at most part confirmed by the end-users in each building. The problems we have found concerning the daylight environment are primarily the solar shadings and the layout of furnishing.</p><p>Our conclusion is that architects could benefit from collaboration with lighting designers in daylight issues. This is because lighting designers have more knowledge about the visual conditions of the eye, and a more explicit focus on the end-user. To ensure a good collaboration the lighting designers also need to increase their knowledge about daylight in buildings, and about the building construction as a whole.</p><br><p>Under vår utbildning till ljusdesigners på Jönköpings Tekniska Högskola har fokus legat på det elektriska ljuset. Då vi ville lära oss mer om det minst lika viktiga dagsljuset, valde vi att undersöka detta ur ett visuellt perspektiv i kontorslandskap. Dagsljuset är arkitektens ansvar att behärska, varför vi ville undersöka vad arkitekter tänker på när de planerar dagsljusmiljöer i kontorslandskap, och hur detta yttrar sig i den färdiga byggnaden med fokus på de visuella faktorerna.</p><p>Följande frågeställningar formulerades:</p><ol><li>Vilken kunskap har arkitekter om dagsljusplanering och hur använder de sig av denna kunskap i praktiken?</li><li>Hur väl uppfyller utvalda dagsljusmiljöer brukarens behov av en god visuell miljö?</li></ol><p>Studien bygger på tre fallstudier utförda på samma sätt. Varje fallstudie innefattar en analys av dagsljusmiljön i en modern byggnad innehållande kontorslandskap. En ansvarig arkitekt intervjuades om intentionerna med respektive byggnad, samt om dennes tankar kring dagsljus i allmänhet. I respektive byggnad intervjuades även tre brukare om deras upplevelse av arbetsmiljön och dagsljuset. Totalt analyserades tre byggnader, och tre arkitekter samt nio brukare intervjuades.</p><p>Resultatet visar att det är svårt att uttala sig om arkitekters kunskap om dagsljus, då det ingår som en del i gestaltningen av hela byggnaden. Det är även väldigt individuellt huruvida arkitekten intresserar sig för och aktivt arbetar med dagsljusfrågor. Vi ser stora skillnader i det avseendet hos de arkitekter vi intervjuade.</p><p>De analyserade byggnaderna visar även skiftande resultat i dagsljusmiljöns visuella kvaliteter. Resultatet av våra miljöanalyser bekräftas till stor del av brukarna i respektive byggnad. Problemområden för den visuella dagsljusmiljön som vi fann, är i första hand solavskärmningar samt möblering i rummet.</p><p>Vår slutsats är att arkitekter kan ha nytta av att samarbeta med ljusdesigners i dagsljusfrågor då ljusdesigners har en större kunskap om ögats visuella förutsättningar och ett tydligare brukarperspektiv. För att ett gott samarbete ska kunna upprättas krävs samtidigt att ljusdesigners ökar sin kunskap om dagsljus i byggnader, och om byggnaders konstruktion som helhet.</p>

This survey deals with the dimensionality of the natural ventilation and its fitness to building houses in the Brazilian Northeast. It is a case study due to the limited sample of the object evaluated, since that its abridgement involved only two houses located in Maceió city in the state of Alagoas. As matter of fact, by the end of 1970 through 1980, a pernambucano architect under the name of Armando de Holanda wrote a booklet guide containing 9 (nine) bioclimatic strategies to solve the problem of the hot and damp ventilation that reaches the tropical regions causing distress to their inhabitants, above all inside the houses. According to Holanda s point of view the trouble could be lessened if the building of the houses were more adequate and suitable to the local temperature of the environment. The statements lined out by Holanda consisted of nine (9) strategic. In the inquiry made up, some of Holanda s a priori strategic propositions have been selected and evaluated such the natural air performance, the shading and other items of two houses built by two architects who drew and carried out an experimental project for their own dwellings. Both houses were object of analysis and evaluation by means of a detailed methodoly concerning the climatic data and the bioclimatic strategies followed by an essay of ventilation and sunny rays with virtual models through computerized SketchUp application of the solar chart. As a result, the house 1 (one) showed up efficient average of natural ventilation and shading, while the house 2 (two) attested the average and positive performance of natural ventilation as well as shading. Yet in both houses the direct observation registered adequate bioclimatic strategies, but some determined solutions seemed inadequate to a hot and damp climate as inward divisions no evidence of eaves. Hypothetically the conclusion is that Holanda s guidance may cause good effect when well fitted, in spite of being necessary some practical experiments to assure thermal comfort to the buildings situated in hot and damp regions, with the adoption of the suggested methodoly and good tools of evaluation preceded by an architectonic planning.<br>Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas<br>A tradição construtiva luso-brasileira, como ilustram as tradicionais casas de fazenda, e o modernismo dos anos de 1950-1970, como as casas modernistas urbanas, adotavam a preocupação com a ventilação natural e a proteção solar no trópico quente e úmido. Na década de 1970, o arquiteto pernambucano Armando de Holanda desenvolveu o Roteiro para Construir no Nordeste, reunindo nove estratégias bioclimáticas. Para o clima quente e úmido do Nordeste brasileiro, com temperaturas amenas durante quase todo o ano, as principais estratégias de projeto para promover conforto térmico resumem-se em permitir o escoamento da ventilação natural no interior das edificações e promover o sombreamento das fachadas e aberturas. Contudo, com o intensivo desenvolvimento dos conhecimentos em conforto ambiental no Brasil, estima-se que a adoção exclusiva dessas estratégias, sem experimentos práticos, não é suficiente para garantir a eficiência da edificação, necessitando, portanto, da adoção conjunta de métodos de avaliação de desempenho ambiental. O objetivo dessa pesquisa de mestrado em arquitetura e urbanismo é avaliar o desempenho da ventilação natural e do sombreamento de casas projetadas segundo os princípios abordados na cartilha de Armando de Holanda. Avaliaram-se duas casas construídas em Maceió/AL, entre final de 1970 e início de 1980, projetadas por arquitetos e professores da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. A metodologia proposta compreendeu: detalhamento de dados climáticos e estratégias bioclimáticas para Maceió; visitas às residências, levantamentos arquitetônicos, análise bioclimática; entrevistas com os arquitetos/moradores das casas; realização de ensaios de ventilação, no equipamento mesa d´água com maquetes vazadas, e de insolação com modelos virtuais, no programa de computador SketchUp e aplicação da carta solar. Constatouse médio desempenho de ventilação natural e de sombreamento na Casa 1; e médio e positivo desempenho de ventilação natural e de sombreamento, respectivamente, na Casa 2. Verificouse a utilização de adequadas estratégias bioclimáticas nas casas, porém destacaram-se determinadas soluções inadequadas para o clima quente e úmido, como a compartimentação interna e a ausência de beirais. Conclui-se pelos adequados princípios bioclimáticos do Roteiro, porém pela necessidade de experimentos práticos para garantir conforto térmico às edificações de forma a prever as deficiências e solucioná-las. Sugere-se a aplicação da metodologia proposta e das ferramentas de avaliação em pesquisas e planejamento arquitetônico para possibilitar maior garantia de desempenho térmico nas edificações, localizadas em regiões de clima quente e úmido.

Lors d'une démarche de modélisation énergétique d'un bâtiment, la prise en compte de l'enveloppe solaire reste souvent imprécise. L'objet du travail présenté ici est la description détaillée de solutions de protections solaires, induisant un tirage thermique (bardage, store), dans un objectif de modélisation et de valorisation pour répondre aux besoins d'industriels du secteur ; la caractérisation des performances permet alors d'assister la maitrise d'œuvre en phase conception.La mise en place d'une plateforme expérimentale - mur exposé sud muni d'une protection solaire devant lame d'air - a permis la mesure de températures d'airs et d'éléments solides présents dans le système, de vitesses d'écoulement dans la lame d'air ouverte, et du flux radiatif incident. Deux types de bardage bois, un type de store et un type de métal déployé ont été considérés.Parallèlement, un modèle 1D amélioré de transfert de chaleur dans le système étudié est développé. Trois familles de modèle de convection dans la lame d'air sont identifiées, présentées et intégrées dans le modèle global. La description de l'écoulement dans la lame d'air est retenue à partir d'analyses des résultats expérimentaux.Un modèle simplifié d'intégration de tels systèmes de protections solaires dans des plateformes de simulation thermique de bâtiments est proposé, basé sur la paramétrisation des sollicitations extérieures par le facteur solaire. La méthode de calcul du facteur solaire est présentée. Le caractère intrinsèque facteur solaire et son intérêt sont discutés notamment à partir d'analyse de sensibilités.

The present PhD. thesis deals with the systems of building services (namely heating, ventilating and air conditioning, shading) which provide required indoor microclimate inside the immovable heritage. The work thus combines the exclusively technical field of building services (BS) and the general principles of heritage conservation. The aim of my PhD. thesis is the analysis of immovable heritage conservation processes, focusing on the current state of research and BS systems documentation. Furthermore the work concerns the possibilities of temporary measurements of indoor climate parameters inside the immovable heritage, and aims to develop a computer model (in BSim software) for the simulation of various working conditions in the selected buildings. For the stated aims were selected three representative historic houses: historical assembly hall at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology; the Palm Greenhouse at Lednice Chateau in Moravia; and Villa Tugendhat in Brno. These buildings had been surveyed for several years, and in this PhD. thesis I present their analysis, evaluation, and conclusions. The aims of this PhD. thesis broadly correspond to the transnational objectives. The present research is, for example, in accordance with the international document ICOMOS Charter (Zimbabwe, 2013) which is concerned with the analysis, conservation, and restoration of architectural heritage. The research of immovable heritage is also supported by European Union, e.g. by the Seventh Framework Programme of EU.

The emergence of freeform architecture provides interesting geometric challenges with regards to the design and manufacturing of large-scale structures. To design these architectural structures, we have to consider two types of constraints. First, aesthetic constraints are important because the buildings have to be visually impressive. Sec- ond, functional constraints are important for the performance of a building and its e cient construction. This thesis contributes to the area of architectural geometry. Specifically, we are interested in the geometric rationalization of freeform architec- ture with the goal of combining aesthetic and functional constraints and construction requirements. Aesthetic requirements typically come from designers and architects. To obtain visually pleasing structures, they favor smoothness of the building shape, but also smoothness of the visible patterns on the surface. Functional requirements typically come from the engineers involved in the construction process. For exam- ple, covering freeform structures using planar panels is much cheaper than using non-planar ones. Further, constructed buildings have to be stable and should not collapse. In this thesis, we explore the geometric rationalization of freeform archi- tecture using four specific example problems inspired by real life applications. We achieve our results by developing optimization algorithms and a theoretical study of the underlying geometrical structure of the problems. The four example problems are the following: (1) The design of shading and lighting systems which are torsion-free structures with planar beams based on quad meshes. They satisfy the functionality requirements of preventing light from going inside a building as shad- ing systems or reflecting light into a building as lighting systems. (2) The Design of freeform honeycomb structures that are constructed based on hex-dominant meshes with a planar beam mounted along each edge. The beams intersect without torsion at each node and create identical angles between any two neighbors. (3) The design of polyhedral patterns on freeform surfaces, which are aesthetic designs created by planar panels. (4) The design of space frame structures that are statically-sound and material-e cient structures constructed by connected beams. Rationalization of cross sections of beams aims at minimizing production cost and ensuring force equilibrium as a functional constraint.

Due to the fact that construction, maintenance and operation of buildings consume almost 50% of the energy today, architects play a major role in the reduction of energy consumption. The building’s envelope (façades and roof) can have a significant and measurable impact. With regard to overheating and the potential lost of internal heat, transparent parts of the building envelope have a large effect on the building’s energy consumption. Modern, transparent façade systems can fulfill contemporary demands, such as energy conservation, energy production or the degree of visual contact, of sustainable buildings in order to reduce internal heating, cooling, and electrical loads. An analysis of existing shading devices and façade design leads to a comparative analysis of conventional shading devices like horizontal and vertical blinds as well as eggcrate and honeycomb shading structures in a hot-humid climate like Austin, Texas. This study helped evaluating strengths and weaknesses of each device resulting in an optimization process of conventional shading devices. Ultimately, an optimized shading structure has been developed. This project aimed to develop an advanced transparent façade system for a south-oriented commercial façade in Austin, Texas, which fulfills high standards with regard to low energy use, by limiting cooling loads and demands for artificial lighting while avoiding glare and heat losses during the cold season. The optimization has been achieved in providing full shading for a specified period of time throughout the year while providing maximized solar exposure. The shading structure consists out of an array of fixed shading components varying in size and proportion to fulfill criteria like specific views, transparency and aesthetics. The shading structure has been compared to conventional shading devices and analyzed with regard to the reduction of annual solar radiation. The improvement in design and energy consumption contributes to the variety of shading structures for building skins. It is anticipated that the solutions will help to widen the options for aesthetically pleasing, high-performance façades for commercial buildings.

abstract: In geographical locations with hot-arid climates, sun control in buildings is one primary problem to solve for the building envelope design. Today's technological advances in building science bring with them the opportunity to design dynamic façade systems for sun radiation control and daylighting. Although dynamic systems can become an attractive visual element, they can be costly and challenging to maintain for building owners. Alternatively, fixed solar-shading systems can be designed to create dynamism in the façade of the building, while providing similar functionalities for sun control. The work presented in this project focuses on the use of a visual scripting editor for modeling software, Grasshopper, to develop a Solar Control Visual Script that evaluates building envelope surfaces with planar and non-uniform rational basis-spline (NURBS) forms and provides projections for fixed sun control systems. The design platform of Grasshopper allows individuals with no experience or prior computer coding education to build up programming-like capabilities; this feature permits users to discover new design possibilities within flexible frames that can contribute to the overall design being pursued, while also having an environmental response. The Solar Control Visual Script provides minimum sizing geometries that achieve shading in openings at a particular date and time of the year. The model for this method of analysis makes use of three components to derive the appropriate values for the projections of shading geometries: typical meteorological year (TMY) data, irradiation isotropic equations and shading profile angles equations for vertical and tilted surfaces. Providing an automatic visual of generated geometries uncovers the opportunity to test several model forms and reiterates the analysis when modifying control parameters. By employing building science as a set of environmental parameters, the design outcome bears a dynamic form that responds to natural force conditions. The optimized results promote an efficient environmental design solution for sun control as an integral alternative into the building envelope.<br>Dissertation/Thesis<br>M.S. Built Environment 2012

Cities and buildings play a critical role in setting the conditions for human well-being while contributing to more just and environmentally conscious societies and economies. The design of environmentally and socially meaningful buildings has benefitted, in the past two decades, from scientific progress in the fields of computation and materials, as well as from a new way of looking into Nature as an inspirational example. This research focuses on the design of shading systems for building façades, assuming that biomimetics and computational design are a valid and proved combination. The main research question is how to develop architectural shading systems mimicking the adaptation strategies of Nature. The challenge is addressed by developing a design methodology for the creation and optimization of solar control systems based on the biological adaptive systems of terrestrial plants; creating a transfer and interpretation process of biological concepts to an architectural lexicon; and creating a universal methodology applicable to a diverse set of climatic, functional and local contexts. The research proposes a bioshading system design methodology, developed on a problem-based approach. Starting with the architectural challenge of design, solutions are sought in Nature to solve specific performance requirements of shading systems. The development of the methodology rests upon an informed process that integrates and interrelates three domains: architecture, Nature, and artifact. The ‘architecture’ domain is based on the conceptual process, the computational and parametric environmental analysis, and a diagnosis that informs the understanding of the performance requirements that need to be fulfilled. The ‘Nature’ domain is defined through an abstraction process: sustained by a mapping of plants’ features and adaptation strategies, the creation of a meme semantics triggers a performance-based design process. The ‘artifact’ domain is the physical materialization of the design concept, enabling its evaluation and emulation. The Nature-inspired design methodology developed in this research makes it possible for architects to solve the challenges of shading building façades, integrating local climate-related performance requirements with formal architectural criteria, using biomimicry as a mediator. In a step-by-step path, the user identifies specific project-related requirements, discovers and explores natural processes that guide inspiration, and conceptualizes a design proposal that is further simulated and prototyped.<br>As cidades e os edifícios desempenham um papel crítico na definição das condições para o bem-estar humano, contribuindo para sociedades e economias mais justas e ambientalmente conscientes. O projeto de edifícios com significado ambiental e social beneficiou, nas últimas duas décadas, do progresso científico nos campos da computação e dos materiais, bem como de uma nova forma de encarar a natureza enquanto modelo inspirador. Esta investigação centra-se no design de sistemas de sombreamento para fachadas de edifícios, assumindo que a biomimética e o design computacional são uma combinação válida e comprovada. A principal questão de investigação é como desenvolver sistemas de sombreamento arquitetónicos mimetizando as estratégias de adaptação da natureza. O desafio é abordado através do desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de projeto para a criação e otimização de sistemas de controlo solar tendo por base os sistemas de adaptação biológicos das plantas vasculares terrestres; criação de um processo de transferência e interpretação de conceitos biológicos para um léxico arquitetónico; e criação uma metodologia universal aplicável a um conjunto diversificado de contextos climáticos, funcionais e locais. A presente investigação propõe uma metodologia de projeto de sistema bioshading, desenvolvida através de uma abordagem problem-based. Partindo do desafio arquitetónico de projeto, são procuradas soluções na natureza para resolver requisitos de desempenho específicos de sistemas de sombreamento. O desenvolvimento da metodologia tem por base um processo informado que integra e interrelaciona três domínios: arquitetura, Natureza e artefacto. O domínio 'arquitetura' tem por base o processo conceptual, na análise ambiental computacional e paramétrica e num diagnóstico que informa o entendimento dos requisitos de desempenho a serem cumpridos. O domínio 'Natureza' é definido por meio de um processo de abstração: sustentado por um mapeamento de recursos e estratégias de adaptação das plantas, a criação de uma semântica de memes desencadeia um processo de design com base no desempenho. O domínio "artefacto" é a materialização física do conceito de design, permitindo a sua avaliação e emulação. A metodologia de design inspirada na natureza desenvolvida neste trabalho de investigação possibilita aos arquitetos resolverem os desafios de sombreamento de fachadas de edifícios, integrando os requisitos locais de desempenho relacionados com o clima com critérios formais de arquitetura, usando a biomimética como mediadora. Num percurso progressivo evolutivo, o utilizador identifica requisitos específicos do projeto, descobre e explora processos naturais que orientam a inspiração e conceptualiza uma proposta de projeto que é simulada e prototipada.

Most scientific studies concerning energy conservation benefits of trees have been completed in cooling dominated climates or have involved model-based engineering studies. An infestation of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) (anoplophora glabripennis) has initiated an extensive tree removal program in Worcester, Massachusetts. A June 1, 2011 tornado in Springfield, Massachusetts has damaged a randomized sample of the urban canopy cover in Springfield. These events provide natural, controlled experiments to quantify the energy use impact of trees in real-world settings. Large-scale tree removal and natural disasters completely transform the landscape. Due to the reduction in shade, near-ground temperature increase is substantial. With the trees gone, the increased velocity of cold winter winds is noticeable for neighborhood residents. Tree removal due to ALB infestation in two residential neighborhoods in Worcester, Massachusetts in the winter of 2008-2009 resulted in a 37% increase (t = -9.09, p<0.001) in baseline-corrected, weather-normalized electrical consumption from the 2008 to 2009 cooling seasons. In Springfield, Massachusetts we find no difference in baseline-corrected, weather-normalized natural gas consumption for the heating season for individual homes after the June 1, 2011 tornado. The results of this research will aid in the development and implementation of energy conserving treeplanting and retention programs and policies pursuant to the Clean Energy and Climate Change Plan of 2010 in Massachusetts.

Rehabilitation clinics remain until this day a greatly unexplored topic from the perspective of architectural design. Stroke is the most common condition that is treated in neurological rehabilitation clinics in Germany and it is a disease that causes the most complex disability. Since stroke numbers are expected to constantly grow in the future, there is a definite need for understanding the stroke survivors’ spatial needs and for accommodating them in the built environment in a way that supports their recovery process and their life after rehabilitation. This PhD thesis aims at contributing to this wide knowledge gap and at introducing new research directions focusing on the relationship between stroke patients’ and the rehabilitation built environments. Rehabilitation clinics were chosen as the research setting for this study as the environments that stroke survivors encounter after the hospital stay and where they undergo a challenging rehabilitation process with the goal of returning home to their normal lives. This rehabilitation process involves living in rehabilitation clinics for a certain period and attending various types of therapies led by a multidisciplinary team, with multiple therapies per day, every day of the week. This type of intensive therapy is important for stroke patients since the greatest amount of functional recovery can be expected in the first 3 to 6 months after the stroke onset. German neurological rehabilitation clinics are commonly transformed from other functions or newly built without evidence-based knowledge about the spatial needs of their patients. This practice creates barriers in the built environment for patients, likely hindering their recovery process and negatively influencing their psychological well-being. These barriers can most directly influence and hinder patients’ mobility within the clinic. Mobility, as the main goal of stroke rehabilitation, is often not well-supported in the built environment of rehabilitation clinics. This study, therefore, focuses on identifying barriers and facilitators to mobility in rehabilitation clinics and their architectural properties and the different experiences of patients with different mobility levels. Three empirical research methods were used to investigate the relationship between the stroke inpatients’ mobility and the built environment of rehabilitation clinics: patient shadowing, patient questionnaire and staff questionnaire. These three methods were the elements of Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) applied in seven German neurological rehabilitation clinics over the period between September 2016 and May 2018. The results show that the built environment of rehabilitation clinics hinders patients’ mobility in five main aspects: challenging wayfinding, long distances, insufficient dimensions of corridors, floor surfaces and physical obstacles. It was also found that mobility facilitators are greatly lacking. Stroke patients with the lower levels of mobility, and especially patients using a wheelchair, were found the most vulnerable to the identified barriers. Patients were also greatly inactive during their time in the clinic since 50% of the day was spent in patient rooms. They also expressed a wish for a greater variety of common spaces within the clinic. The absence of motivating spaces was likely to be another important reason for patients’ inactivity, besides the avoidance of various barriers. The architectural properties of the identified barriers and facilitators were used to develop a catalogue of architectural design guidelines that present a new model for rehabilitation buildings: the transitional model. The given recommendations are based on the obtained study results and the experience of living in rehabilitation clinics and observing their daily life for 14 weeks. The catalogue of guidelines is intended for architects, medical professionals and others included in the process of planning a rehabilitation clinic. The main goal is to provide directly applicable evidence-based recommendations for mobility supporting clinics and to facilitate the dialogue between different professions involved in the planning process.<br>Rehabilitationskliniken sind bis heute ein aus architektonischer Sicht wenig erforschtes Thema. Schlaganfall ist die häufigste Erkrankung, die in neurologischen Rehabilitationskliniken in Deutschland behandelt wird und die die komplexeste Beeinträchtigung verursacht. Da zu erwarten ist, dass die Anzahl der Schlaganfälle in Zukunft stetig zunimmt, müssen die räumlichen Bedürfnisse der Schlaganfallpatienten unbedingt begriffen und in der gebauten Umgebung so untergebracht werden, dass ihr Genesungsprozess und ihr Leben nach der Rehabilitation unterstützt werden. Diese Dissertation zielt darauf ab, zu dieser breiten Wissenslücke beizutragen und neue Forschungsrichtungen einzuführen, die sich auf die Beziehung zwischen Schlaganfallpatienten und der rehabilitierten Umgebung konzentrieren. Rehabilitationskliniken wurden als Forschungsumgebung für diese Studie ausgewählt, da sie nach dem Krankenhausaufenthalt von Schlaganfallpatienten heimgesucht werden und sich dort einem herausfordernden Rehabilitationsprozess unterziehen, um zu ihrem normalen Leben zurückzukehren. Dieser Behandlungsprozess beinhaltet das Leben in Rehabilitationskliniken für einen bestimmten Zeitraum und die Teilnahme an verschiedenen Arten von Therapien, die von einem multidisziplinären Team mit mehreren Therapien pro Tag an jedem Tag der Woche durchgeführt werden. Diese intensive Therapieform ist wichtig für Schlaganfallpatienten, da in den ersten 3 bis 6 Monaten nach dem Schlaganfall mit der größten Wiederherstellung der Funktion gerechnet werden kann. Deutsche neurologische Rehabilitationskliniken werden häufig von anderen Funktionen umgestaltet oder ohne evidenzbasiertes Wissen über die räumlichen Bedürfnisse ihrer Patienten neu errichtet. Dieses Vorgehen schafft Barrieren in der gebauten Umgebung für Patienten, die wahrscheinlich ihren Genesungsprozess behindern und ihr psychisches Wohlbefinden negativ beeinflussen. Diese Barrieren behindern auch die Mobilität der Patienten in der Klinik. Mobilität als Hauptziel der Schlaganfallrehabilitation wird in der bebauten Umgebung von Rehabilitationskliniken häufig nicht gut unterstützt. Diese Studie konzentriert sich daher auf die Identifizierung von Barrieren, die Erleichterungen für die Mobilität in Rehabilitationskliniken und deren architektonischen Eigenschaften, sowie auf die unterschiedlichen Erfahrungen von Patienten mit unterschiedlichen Mobilitätsniveaus. Drei empirische Forschungsmethoden wurden verwendet, um den Zusammenhang zwischen der Mobilität von Schlaganfallpatienten und der gebauten Umgebung von Rehabilitationskliniken zu untersuchen: Patienten-Shadowing, Patientenfragebogen und Mitarbeiterfragebogen. Diese drei Methoden waren die Elemente der Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE), die in sieben deutschen neurologischen Rehabilitationskliniken im Zeitraum von September 2016 bis Mai 2018 angewendet wurden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die bebaute Umgebung von Rehabilitationskliniken die Mobilität der Patienten in fünf Hauptaspekten behindert: Herausfordernde Orientierung, große Entfernungen, unzureichende Abmessungen der Korridore, Bodenflächen und physische Hindernisse, sowie ein Mangel an Unterstützungselemente der Mobilität. Schlaganfallpatienten mit eingeschränkter Mobilität und insbesondere Patienten, die einen Rollstuhl benutzen, waren am anfälligsten für die festgestellten Hindernisse. Die Patienten waren auch während ihrer Zeit in der Klinik sehr inaktiv, da 50% des Tages in Patientenzimmern verbracht wurden. Die Patienten wünschten sich mehr Abwechslung in den Gemeinschaftsräumen der Klinik. Das Fehlen von motivationsfördernde Bereiche ist wahrscheinlich ein weiterer wichtiger Grund für die Inaktivität der Patienten, neben der Vermeidung verschiedener Hindernisse. Die architektonischen Eigenschaften der identifizierten Barrieren und Unterstützungselemente wurden verwendet, um einen Katalog von Empfehlungen für die architektonische Gestaltung zu entwickeln, in dem ein neues Modell für Rehabilitationseinrichtungen vorgestellt wird: das Übergangsmodell. Die gegebenen Empfehlungen basieren auf den erhaltenen Studienergebnissen und der Erfahrung der Beobachtung der Abläufe in Rehabilitationskliniken für 14 Wochen. Der Empefehlungskatalog richtet sich an Architekten, Mediziner und andere Personen, die an der Planung einer Rehabilitationsklinik beteiligt sind. Hauptziel ist es, direkt anwendbare evidenzbasierte Empfehlungen für mobilitätsunterstützende Kliniken bereitzustellen und den Dialog zwischen verschiedenen am Planungsprozess beteiligten Berufen zu erleichtern.