The Use of Smart Materials in Architecture: Nitinol-based Foldable Façade Systems

Year 2023, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 1 - 9, 15.06.2023

Alim Battal , Sevil Yazıcı

https://doi.org/10.26650/JTADP.01.001

Abstract

The built environment accounts for a significant portion of global energy consumption and carbon emissions. The generation of kinetic facade systems that can adapt to the changing environmental conditions has gained even more importance for this reason. This study focused on the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) and folding techniques to create heat-active systems and explores the potential of using smart materials in architectural design. The methodology of this research consists of two main stages as undertaking physical experiments and generating a computational design model of the system. Physical experiments involved shaping and programming Nitinol wire as a type of SMA, and creating foldable units based on flat and curved folding techniques. The computational design process includes transferring the physical behavior of Nitinol wire and foldable units by the use of design and simulation tools in an algorithmic modeling environment, in order to create a kinetic building envelope model. The study discusses the potential use of responsive folding techniques to create facade elements that can change shape through the use of SMA actuators without additional mechanical devices and energy use.

Keywords

Climate-adaptive façade, smart materials, shape memory alloy, folding

References

• Boer, B., Loonen, R.C.G.M., Trcka, M., Hensen J., Kornaat W. (2011). Climate Adaptive Building Shells for the Future Optimization with an Inverse Modelling Approach. Proceedings ofthe ECEEE Summer Study 2011, 1413-1422. google scholar
• Chu, W.S., Lee, K.T., Song, S.H., Han, M.W., Lee, J.Y., Kim, H.S., Kim, M.S., Park, Y.J., Cho, K.J.,& Ahn, S.H. (2012). Review of biomimetic underwater robots using smart actuators. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 13(7), 1281-1292. google scholar
• Ergin, Ö., & Girgin, Z. C. (2019). Uyarlanabilir Cephe Sistemlerinde Şekil Hafızalı Alaşımlar ve Uygulamaları. Aurum Journal Of Engineering Systems and Architecture, 3(2), 169-181. google scholar
• Fiorito, F., Sauchelli, M., Arroyo, D., Pesenti, M., Imperadori, M., Masera, G., & Ranzi, G. (2016). Shape morphing solar shadings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 863-884. google scholar
• Gamal, Y., & Mowafy, O. (2018). Shape Memory Alloy Shading Systems : An Optimization Model. Proceedings of BSO 2018: 4th Building Simulation and Optimization Conference, 488-494 google scholar
• Karaseva, L. V., & Cherchaga, O. A. (2021). Conceptual Designs of Kinetic Facade Systems. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1079(4), 42-53. google scholar
• Khoo, C.K., Salim, F., and Burry, J., (2011). Designing Architectural Morphing Skins with Elastic Modular Systems. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 9(4), 397-419. google scholar
• Lang, R. J. (2017). Twists, Tilings, and Tessellations. A K Peters/CRC Press. google scholar
• Payne, A.O. and J.K. Johnson (2013). Firefly: Interactive Prototypes for Architectural Design. Architectural Design, 83 (2), 144-147. google scholar
• Schneider, M., Frensen Waldhör, E., Denz, P.-R., Vongsingha, P., Suwannapruk, N., Sauer, C. (2020). Adaptive Textile Facades Through the Integration of Shape Memory Alloy. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, I, 360-370 google scholar
• Wadood, A. (2016). Brief Overview on Nitinol as Biomaterial. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2016, 1-9. google scholar
• Won, J., Silverio, M., Llubia, J.A., Dubor, A. (2017). Remembrane: A Shape Changing Adaptive Structure. Proceedings of the 17th International Conference of the Computer-Aided Architectural Design Futures, 180- 198 google scholar