Research Article

Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures

Volume: 17 Number: 2 July 18, 2026
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Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures

Abstract

Phase-change materials (PCMs) enable adaptive solar management by providing temperature-responsive modulation of optical and thermal properties without continuous external energy input. Although PCM-based smart windows and tunable photonic structures have been widely studied, most existing works focus on single architectures or isolated optical metrics, with limited consideration of thermodynamic relevance and long-term robustness. In this study, a fully simulation-based, multi-objective numerical framework is developed for the design of PCM-enabled tunable solar management structures. Generic coating-like structures incorporating thermochromic PCMs are analyzed using spectral optical simulations across the solar wavelength range. The PCM phase transition is modeled as a continuous process with finite transition bandwidth and hysteresis, enabling realistic representation of non-ideal phase-transition behavior. Solar-weighted optical metrics, including solar transmittance, luminous transmittance, and solar modulation capability, are evaluated and coupled to an energy-balance-based assessment of absorbed solar power as a proxy for solar-induced thermal load. Multi-objective optimization is employed to systematically explore trade-offs between solar modulation, daylight preservation, and thermal impact, yielding Pareto-optimal design sets rather than a single optimized configuration. The results show that significant suppression of solar heat gain can be achieved while maintaining acceptable visible transmittance, and that the associated trade-offs are strongly design dependent. Robustness analysis using degradation proxy scenarios further reveals that designs optimized solely for ideal conditions suffer pronounced performance loss, whereas robustness-aware solutions retain a substantially larger fraction of their functional performance.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Energy Generation, Conversion and Storage (Excl. Chemical and Electrical), Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 18, 2026

Submission Date

January 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 2

APA
Tiktaş, A. (2026). Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures. Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.1857340
AMA
1.Tiktaş A. Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures. DUJE. 2026;17(2). doi:10.24012/dumf.1857340
Chicago
Tiktaş, Aslı. 2026. “Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures”. Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi 17 (2). https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.1857340.
EndNote
Tiktaş A (July 1, 2026) Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures. Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi 17 2
IEEE
[1]A. Tiktaş, “Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures”, DUJE, vol. 17, no. 2, July 2026, doi: 10.24012/dumf.1857340.
ISNAD
Tiktaş, Aslı. “Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures”. Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi 17/2 (July 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.1857340.
JAMA
1.Tiktaş A. Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures. DUJE. 2026;17. doi:10.24012/dumf.1857340.
MLA
Tiktaş, Aslı. “Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures”. Dicle Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Mühendislik Dergisi, vol. 17, no. 2, July 2026, doi:10.24012/dumf.1857340.
Vancouver
1.Aslı Tiktaş. Multi-Objective Numerical Design of Phase-Change-Material-Enabled Tunable Solar Management Structures. DUJE. 2026 Jul. 1;17(2). doi:10.24012/dumf.1857340