Modeling and simulation of adaptive facades

Opportunities to advance the development of innovative concepts

Roel Loonen, Jan Hensen. Eindhoven University of Technology

Research information
The potential of adaptive facades
Adaptive facades give buildings the flexibility to act in response to variable
weather conditions and occupant preferences (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). They are
recognized as a promising design concept for achieving high levels of indoor
environmental quality (IEQ), while offering potential for low-energy building
operation. The interest in adaptive facades is therefore growing steadily.
Decision-support tools in design and product development
Prescription-based design methods, rules-of-thumb and simplified
calculations have only limited value in supporting decision-making in the
complex design process of buildings with adaptive facades. Dynamic
simulations on the other hand, are able to provide insights into whole-building
performance aspects of adaptive facades throughout various stages of the
building design process. Simulation-based support can also be a helpful tool
in the product development process of innovative facade concepts.
A major obstacle is that most of the currently-used building performance
simulation (BPS) programs have limited options for modeling the timevarying behavior of dynamic building envelopes. More research is needed to
develop effective strategies for performance prediction of adaptive facades.
Simulation support for research and development (R&D)
The objective of our research is to investigate how computational modeling,
simulation and optimization techniques can be used to support, stimulate and
accelerate the transition towards next-generation adaptive faade systems.
We do this by developing and applying computational methodologies to
facilitate design analysis and performance-based design space exploration of
innovative adaptable building envelope components and concepts.
BPS adds many favorable opportunities to design and product development
processes, because it:
allows for testing multiple what-if scenarios in a virtual, and thus relatively
inexpensive way;.
can be a useful resource for managing risk and uncertainty in product
development, and thus increases chances that promising concepts
successfully make the transition from lab to the market;
is able to uncover the relationships between relevant whole-building
performance indicators, going beyond component-level metrics such as
U-value or g-value;
generates useful inputs for many types of subsequent analyses, such as
life cycle assessment, business models and marketing strategies.
Research examples
Many of our present research projects are carried out in collaboration with
academic and industrial partners. Examples include:
Energy harvesting smart window systems for enhanced daylight control
and thermal comfort (i.c.w. www.peerplus.nl).
Building-integrated transparent concentrating photovoltaic solar shading
(Fig. 3) (i.c.w. http://www.solarswingenergy.com).
Windows with switchable reflection properties in the near infra-red part of
the solar spectrum.
Opaque building elements with adaptable thermal insulation.

Involved persons:

Roel Loonen, Jan Hensen

Time span:

2014-2017 (EU COST Action TU1403)

Contact data:

r.c.g.m.loonen@tue.nl

Fig. 1: Adaptive faade systems are available in many different shapes

and colors. On www.pinterest.com/CABSoverview, we keep an overview
with currently more than 400 adaptive faade concepts.

Fig. 2: Illustration of the dynamic energy flows and interactions in

buildings with adaptive facades (from: IEA EBC Annex44, adapted by
Fernndez Solla (2014)).

Associated Publications:
1. Loonen, R.C.G.M., Trka, M., Cstola, D., & Hensen, J.L.M. (2013). Climate
adaptive building shells: State-of-the-art and future challenges. Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 25, 483-493.
2. Loonen, R.C.G.M., Singaravel, S., Trka, M., Cstola, D., & Hensen, J.L.M.
(2014). Simulation-based support for product development of innovative
building envelope components. Automation in Construction, 45, 86-95.
3. Hensen, J.L.M., Loonen, R.C.G.M., Archontiki, M. & Kanellis, M. (2015). Using
building simulation for moving innovations across the "Valley of Death".
REHVA Journal, 52(3), 58-62.

Fig. 3: SolarSwing Energy in the roof of a glazed sunspace

European COST Action TU1403

Adaptive Facades Network

COST is supported by
the EU Framework Programme
Horizon 2020