Lightweight Energy: Membrane Architecture Exploiting Natural Renewable Resources PDF
Preview Lightweight Energy: Membrane Architecture Exploiting Natural Renewable Resources
Research for Development Alessandra Zanelli Carol Monticelli Nebojsa Jakica Zhengyu Fan Editors Lightweight Energy Membrane Architecture Exploiting Natural Renewable Resources Research for Development SeriesEditors EmilioBartezzaghi,Milan,Italy GiampioBracchi,Milan,Italy AdalbertoDelBo,PolitecnicodiMilano,Milan,Italy FerranSagarraTrias,DepartmentofUrbanismandRegionalPlanning,Universitat PolitècnicadeCatalunya,Barcelona,Barcelona,Spain FrancescoStellacci,SupramolecularNanoMaterialsandInterfacesLaboratory (SuNMiL),InstituteofMaterials,EcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne (EPFL),Lausanne,Vaud,Switzerland EnricoZio,PolitecnicodiMilano,Milan,Italy EcoleCentraleParis,Paris,France The series Research for Development serves as a vehicle for the presentation and dissemination of complex research and multidisciplinary projects. The published workisdedicatedtofosteringahighdegreeofinnovationandtothesophisticated demonstrationofnewtechniquesormethods. The aim of the Research for Development series is to promote well-balanced sustainable growth. This might take the form of measurable social and economic outcomes, in addition to environmental benefits, or improved efficiency in the use ofresources;itmightalsoinvolveanoriginalmixofinterventionschemes. ResearchforDevelopmentfocusesonthefollowingtopicsanddisciplines: Urban regeneration and infrastructure, Info-mobility, transport, and logistics, Environment and the land, Cultural heritage and landscape, Energy, Innovation in processes and technologies, Applications of chemistry, materials, and nanotech- nologies,Materialscienceandbiotechnologysolutions,Physicsresultsandrelated applicationsandaerospace,Ongoingtrainingandcontinuingeducation. Fondazione Politecnico di Milano collaborates as a special co-partner in this series by suggesting themes and evaluating proposals for new volumes. Research forDevelopmentaddressesresearchers,advancedgraduatestudents,andpolicyand decision-makersaroundtheworldingovernment,industry,andcivilsociety. THESERIESISINDEXEDINSCOPUS · · Alessandra Zanelli Carol Monticelli · Nebojsa Jakica Zhengyu Fan Editors Lightweight Energy Membrane Architecture Exploiting Natural Renewable Resources Editors AlessandraZanelli CarolMonticelli DepartmentofArchitecture,Built DepartmentofArchitecture,Built EnvironmentandConstructionEngineering EnvironmentandConstructionEngineering PolitecnicodiMilano PolitecnicodiMilano Milan,Italy Milan,Italy NebojsaJakica ZhengyuFan DepartmentofCivilandArchitectural Xi’anUniversityofArchitecture Engineering andTechnology UniversityofSouthernDenmark Xi’an,China Odense,Denmark ISSN 2198-7300 ISSN 2198-7319 (electronic) ResearchforDevelopment ISBN 978-3-031-08153-8 ISBN 978-3-031-08154-5 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08154-5 ©TheEditor(s)(ifapplicable)andTheAuthor(s),underexclusivelicensetoSpringerNature SwitzerlandAG2023 Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.AllrightsaresolelyandexclusivelylicensedbythePublisher,whether thewholeorpartofthematerialisconcerned,specificallytherightsoftranslation,reprinting,reuse ofillustrations,recitation,broadcasting,reproductiononmicrofilmsorinanyotherphysicalway,and transmissionorinformationstorageandretrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilar ordissimilarmethodologynowknownorhereafterdeveloped. Theuseofgeneraldescriptivenames,registerednames,trademarks,servicemarks,etc.inthispublication doesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexemptfromtherelevant protectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. Thepublisher,theauthors,andtheeditorsaresafetoassumethattheadviceandinformationinthisbook arebelievedtobetrueandaccurateatthedateofpublication.Neitherthepublishernortheauthorsor theeditorsgiveawarranty,expressedorimplied,withrespecttothematerialcontainedhereinorforany errorsoromissionsthatmayhavebeenmade.Thepublisherremainsneutralwithregardtojurisdictional claimsinpublishedmapsandinstitutionalaffiliations. ThisSpringerimprintispublishedbytheregisteredcompanySpringerNatureSwitzerlandAG Theregisteredcompanyaddressis:Gewerbestrasse11,6330Cham,Switzerland Foreword Startingfromthetitle,thisbookcontainsallthekeywordsthebuiltenvironmentis askedtodealwith,toaddressmoreeffectivelythehugechallengederivingfromthe environmentalemergency.“Lightweight”isastrategytoreducetheCO emissions 2 burden, “energy” is needed to run our activities, “membrane” reminds us of the crucialimportancetheenvelopeismorethaneverplayingonabuildingperformance, “natural”recallsthenewlyre-emergingbiophiliatrendwhichmoreoverappearedof dramatic urgency in pandemic times, “renewable”, one of the pillar concepts of circulareconomy,“resources”,inotherwordswhatweextract,produceandexploit in a hopefully circular way to make our activities run and, finally, “architecture”: becauseultimatelybuildingsareintendedanddesignedtobecomfortable,healthy andbeautiful. How to analyse, develop and combine all these aspects? This is the challenge behind this book, which moreover describes an innovative approach for building products and solutions, with a special focus on ultra-lightweight materials and membranestructures. As a matter of fact, the challenges, I mentioned, ask for a holistic integrative approach.Theprogressinaddressingtheclimateissues,evenadoptingsomesustain- ability strategies, has been barely visible so far. A different mindset is needed, implyingthetransitiontoaregenerativescenarioforthebuiltenvironmentandthe buildingindustry. Beside the design strategies, isn’t a building anything else than an assembly of materials?Underthisperspective,thisiswheremostofthesustainabilityissueslie. Manufacturing companies are now called to a reconsideration and in most cases a radicaltransformationoftheirproductionprocesses,addressingthewholelifecycle oftheirproducts.AstheInternationalLivingFutureInstitute(ILFI)LivingProduct Challenge certification reads out, “What if products improved your quality of life andhelpedecosystemsthrive?”Forthat,researchandcontinuousinnovation,aswell exemplifiedinthisbookarekey. Toleavethefossilfuelsera,whichishopefullytheendgoaltheeconomicsector shouldpursuewithconviction,astrategytowardscarbonneutralityistobeadopted. Thisiswherethesolutionsdescribedinthisbookfindagreatrelevance.Achieving v vi Foreword ZeroCarbonbuildingsisagainamatterofcombiningdesignstrategiesandmaterials in the most optimal way, to reduce the overall greenhouse gases emissions. From thisangle,itisfundamentaltoreducetheproducts’embodiedenergy,whichagain depends on their characteristics, including their weight. This is where again the solutionsdescribedinthebookfindtheirplaceatthecentreofthediscussion. The other global current hot trend is surely well-being, with a warning: well- beingshouldbeachievedwithoutcreatingnegativeimpactsontheenvironment.In otherwords:Areweabletoguaranteeacomfortable(biophilic,Iwouldadd)indoor environment,ensuringontheotherhandarestorativeorevenregenerativescenario forourbuildings,communitiesandcities?Areweabletodesign,buildorrenovate buildingswithapositivehandprint,whicharefinefor(human)beingsaswellforthe environment?Thisisthechallengeinsidethechallenge. Onceagain,asmart,innovative,ground-breakingresearchapproachmightrepre- sent the starting point of a process able to ignite the mindset transformation of a newcommunityofdesigners,manufacturers,buildersandownersofthetwenty-first century.Thisbookwillprovidebrilliantandinformativeinsightsintothisdirection. CarloBattisti President LivingFutureEurope TheInternationalLivingFutureInstitute Seattle,USA [email protected] Introduction Thetermmembraneinconstructionreferstoathinflexiblelayerabletocarrytension, overturning the conventional relationship between self-weight and carried loads. In architecture, membranes are commonly associated with the diffusivity of light throughultra-thinlayersandoftenalsowiththetemporarybuilding. In the realizations of these recent years, we notice countless improvements in themembranearchitecture’stechnology,andanincreasinglywidenumberofengi- neeringfirmsaremostlyspecializedintensilestructures.Despitetheemergingneeds oflighterandfasteralternativesforefficientbuildings,membranestructuresstillhave alowmarketpenetrationcomparedtothewiderpredominantbuildingtechnologies, astherearestilltwomainbarriers.Thefirstisaculturalbias,assoftmaterialsare hardlyconsideredstronganddurabletoqualifyanentirebuilding.Thesecondbarrier isthelackofsharedknowledgefordesignersonhowtomakeanarchitecturebuilt withthinmembranelayersenergyefficient. Furthermore,duetothecurrentenergyresourcecrisis,itissharedevidencethatitis nolongersustainabletopostponetheextensiveuseofrenewableenergytechnologies andthedesignofNearlyZeroEnergybuildings.Theeffectiveapplicationofthese strategiestolightweight,membrane-basedbuildingsneedsspecialattention. A question comes up from these premises: May both lighter-mass and lighter- energydesigncriteriaeffectivelycoexistandreinforceeachothertoenhancingthe developmentofmembranetensilearchitecture? The authors aim to propose the first nucleus of systematic knowledge on the behaviour of architectural enclosures and building envelopes made of translucent membranesandtransparentfoils,thenfocusingonthepotentiality,thecurrentlimi- tations and future developments of using the resistant support of membranes as a means of interaction with external resources. Through an in-depth examination of the interactions between natural resources—water, wind and sun—and ultra-thin membranes, designers will be able to understand how current and upcoming tech- nologies bring very close the time when we can create the building enclosures as biologicalskins:withoutseams,awholebutwithmanyperformances,andalways abletoreactappropriatelytoexternalconditions. vii viii Introduction Thebookaimstoexploremembranematerialsasameansoftranslatingnaturaland renewableresourcesintoanovelkindofarchitecturalskins,moreflexible,dynamic and reactive ones. The book also aims to demonstrate that, besides the attitude of continuouslyrefiningtheoverallmembranesystems’efficiency,itistimetocalibrate asetofenvironmentallysustainabledesignstrategies,specificfortheseultra-thinand extremelyreactivetotheclimatekindsofarchitecturalskin. After the first chapter in which the authors give an essay of the present tech- nologies and imagine a development path for membrane structures intended as an interactiveandintelligentskinsforthetomorrowarchitecture,thethemeofdesigning inamoreenergy-savingway,makingthebestuseofrenewablesolutions,isinthe second chapter for the first time systematically treated in relation to lightweight buildingsystemsandtensilemembranes. As the coated textiles and transparent foils use has been recorded growing as enclosuresforinsulatedbuildings,theauthorsunderlinetheneedtoexplorethedual concept of lightweight and light-energetic building. The thin and flexible surfaces oftextilearchitecturerepresentafrontierapplicationnowadaystotriggerachange in the designing approach of all buildings. In the third chapter, therefore, all the maindesignstrategiesareconsideredtoobtaintheefficiencyofthisparticulartypeof constructionwithultra-thinskin.Heretheauthorsstartacross-cuttingandcombined exploration of the climate-based design methodology and strategies. Both active and passive systems are investigated, referring to alternative productive resources likesunwindandwater,forenergystorageandinteriors’well-being.Furthermore, attentionispaidtotheopportunitytocombinetheuseofmultiplenaturalresources inthedefinitionofinnovativemembranearchitecture.Theexploitationofwaterand wind resources, which can be adequately captured through the meshes of fabrics, is considered particularly relevant and innovative. In dealing with this topic, the authors want to convey their awareness that knowledge on this topic is currently beingtransferredfromrealapplicationsconductedonotherbuildingtechnologies, while further experiments, supported by accurate evaluations of the peculiarities oftheconstructionmaterial,mustbeurgentlyorientedonmembranesandfabrics. Consistent with this intention, the authors present some case studies and ongoing researchprojectsinthesecondpartofthebook. Understanding the energy behaviour of membranes and foils used as building envelopesthereforepassesthroughanotherfundamentaltopicofdiscussioninthis book, namely the integration of flexible photovoltaic in membrane construction systems. It seems an obvious fact, but it should be emphasized that a membrane skinofthebuildingmovescontinuouslyundertheeffectofthewind,andtherefore, alsothephotovoltaiccellsintegratedintothissurfacemustbeabletomaintaintheir performanceinthiscontinuousswayingofthestructuralsurfaces.Theradiativeeffect ofthesunontheultra-thinlayersoffabricsandtransparentsheetsisconsiderable,and therefore, the question clearly arises: Why not to exploit this solar energy directly through the surface of the membrane? Another evident fact is that the industrial processesfortheproductionofmembranesforarchitecturearethesamethatmake it possible to encapsulate the materials used today to create flexible photovoltaic cells. Starting from these assumptions, in the fourth chapter that closes the first Introduction ix partofthebook,theauthorspresentthestateofdevelopmentofflexiblephotovoltaic technologyanditisstilltoorareapplicationinthefieldofmembranestructures. Afteranin-depthframingofthemethodsandapproachesofhowtodesignanew kindoflightweightandenergy-lighterbuildingaccordingtotheentirelifecycleand inrelationtothekeyperformancesoftextilearchitectureandmembranestructures, the second part of the book shows case studies of basic and applied research and industrialdevelopment,whichhaveseentheauthorsengagedinrecentyears,experi- mentingwithnewapproachesandnewformsofenergylightnessforanincreasingly dematerializedarchitecture. Fourmainresearchanddevelopmentpathsarepresentedthatseemmostlyinline withtheadaptabilityneedsofcontemporaryarchitectureandwiththeeco-efficiency constraintsoflightweightconstructionThroughthedifferentcasestudies,theauthors return to discuss the issues addressed theoretically in the first part of the book, thistimeexperimentallyapplyingtheeco-efficiency evaluations tothenewresults emergingfromthevariouscasestudies. The first two—the SOFT-PV project from the fifth chapter and the TIFAIN project from the sixth chapter—focus on those advances in facade materials and photovoltaicsystemsapplicabletomembranearchitecturebasedonfabricandtrans- parent sheet. In these two experimental cases—a basic research the first and an industrialdevelopmentresearchthesecond—themulti-disciplinaryapproachesthat typicallydriveinnovationintheconstructionsectorarehighlighted.Thelifecycle assessments of a membrane-integrated-organic-photovoltaic skin and of a curved transparentenvelopethatcanbeintegratedwithvariousgenerationsofphotovoltaic cells are then explained step by step. The goal of optimizing daylighting, energy efficiencyandenergystorageinmultilayertransparentfacadesisattheheartofthese twocasestudies. Subsequently,intheseventhchapter,theauthorsfocusonanotherfrontiertheme forthedevelopmentofultra-lightarchitecture,namelytheefficiencyofarchitectural textile collectors for the collection of dew and fog, thus being able to exploit a renewablewaterresourcethatisusuallynotused. The last case study, presented in the eighth chapter, concerns a demonstrator pavilion,thattheauthorscontributedtodesignandbuild,preciselywiththeintent ofexperimenting—thankstoalearningbydoingapproach—thecomplexityofthe design theme that is at the centre of the discussion in this book: designing for the urgent achievement of an energetic and environmental lightness and not just with theweightandtheshapeinmind.Muchfurtherdevelopmentscouldarisefromthat thefirsttransportablebuildingprototypeanditsfilteringskin,presentedinthelast chapter.Thankstothatcasestudy,theauthorsarewillingtostartasystematicreview oftheknowledgeontheinternalcomfortofultra-lightweightskinsandmembrane architectureingeneral.Eventually,thankstothislastcasestudy,theauthorsbelieve that this even small but meaningful quantum of experimental knowledge can have a great value in what is easily applicable to countless situations, in which similar constructiontechnologyisappliedtoday,consequentlyincreasingtheoverallquality ofthebuiltenvironment.
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