What is it about?
Contemporary building designs increasingly propose inflated ETFE cushions instead of flat glass, but it is hard to predict how well they insulate because of their multiple curved thin foil layers. This study tested with computer simulations how to calculate heat flow through these constructions. By comparing computer models to real-world physical tests, the study proved simulations are highly accurate. The study confirmed that outside temperatures change the insulation value significantly, while the tilt angle of the cushion has not that much influence. This provides architects with a reliable model to design more energy-efficient buildings with ETFE.
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Photo by Saifee Art on Unsplash
Why is it important?
While ETFE cushions are becoming more and more a popular choice in landmark buildings, their unique curved surfaces mean that standard energy models often struggle to predict how they will actually perform. This research bridges the gap between theoretical computer models and the actual thermal behavior of these building skins. By identifying a numerical simulation method that aligns closely with physical experiments, this study provides a more reliable tool for building design. This allows architects and engineers to more accurately predict a building's energy efficiency from the start, ensuring these innovative structures perform as sustainably as intended.
Perspectives
I hope this research makes the technical side of building physics a little more accessible and provides the data we need for creating a more sustainable built environment.
Dr. Jan-Frederik Flor
Taylor's University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Numerical investigations on the thermal performance of adaptive ETFE foil cushions, Energy Procedia, February 2019, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.1012.
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Resources
Switchable ETFE cushion: designing and building a model for experimental testing
This companion paper documents the process of building and programming a functional model of a switchable ETFE cushion for preliminary testing. It explores various prototyping techniques, demonstrating how parametric design software can be integrated with microcontrollers and sensors. By outlining this workflow from initial design to physical testing, the article offers practical insights into the early-stage development of adaptive building envelopes.
Experimental study on the thermal performance of ethylene- tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil cushions
This companion paper presents experimental data on the thermal performance of ETFE foil cushions. Using a climate chamber and full-size mock-ups, three different cushion designs, including clear, fritted and switchable designs, under varying steady state climate scenarios. By providing empirical results on how design variations and weather affect thermal transmittance, this work offers architects and engineers the essential data needed for accurate energy simulations and provides a base for future energy-efficient facade development with ETFE.
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