sustainable construction research at vrije universiteit brussel - 2014
DESCRIPTION
A presentation of the research team and project research by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel on the domain of sustainable construction. Provided by NCP Brussels and the Greenov ClusterTRANSCRIPT
æ-‐lab: Research Lab for Architectural Engineering “using engineering tools to create architecture”
æ-‐LAB is the research laboratory of the department of Architectural Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The research within æ-‐LAB is focused on three topics that ask for an interdisciplinary approach:
Transform Re-‐use Lightweight Structures Lab
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
h$p://www.vub.ac.be/ARCH/ae-‐lab/
æ-‐lab: Transform “Transformable Structures for Sustainable Development”
Transform
ExperDse:
• Technical and structural performance of transformable structures -‐ from rapidly deployable to permanent building structures
• Their environmental and financial life cycle impact
• Their implementaFon in at urban, building and component scale
Dynamic Reuse Strategies for the retrofiJng of post-‐war housing in Brussels
Context:
Post war apartment buildings in Brussels require urgent renovaDon measures: introduce material and waste efficiency over remaining life cycle
ObjecDve:
Develop dynamic soluDons for renovaDon based on detailing with reversible connecDons & reusable and standardised building elements, which anFcipate alteraDons during the building life cycle so that demoliDon waste and material consumpDon is avoided
Researcher(s): dr. ir. arch. Anne Paduart
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman
static CURRENT SOLUTIONS
DYNAMIC SOLUTIONS
Transform
Enhancing the adaptable capacity of urban fragments
Context:
Sustainable urban development is based on dynamic theories such as transiFon management or resilience, but sustainable urban neighbourhouds are not built for change.
ObjecDve:
A methodology to demonstrate the impact of change on urban projects and the importance of adaptability in reaching sustainability goals by means of a guided parDcipaDve design experiment, supported by a framework of assessment tools and guidelines. Researcher: ir. arch. Pieter Herthogs
Supervisors: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman, dr. Yves De Weerdt (VITO)
Transform
Technical and financial assessment approach for transformable construcFon typologies
Context:
The financial effects of ‘transformability’ are hardly understood and only parFally included in other researches. However, a constantly changing configuraFon and performance are expected to have an important impact on its financial feasibility.
ObjecDve:
New insights in the impact of design choices on the financial feasibility of transformable buildings, consFtuFng the basis for mulFple building and design assessment tools.
Researcher: Waldo Galle, MSc in engineering: architectural design and construcFon
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman
Transform
A life-‐cycle approach on buildings, components and materials for a holisBc assessment of our built environment and assets under development.
Dynamic detailing of building elements specified to the Belgian context Context:
When adapFng buildings to evolving requirements, (parFal) demoliFon is o[en the only opFon due to the non-‐adaptable way buildings were iniFally constructed. The environmental impact of these energy and material consuming intervenFons can be reduced by implemenFng an addiFonal parameter during the design phase: the Fme dimension. ObjecDve:
Dynamic detailing of building elements (based on tradiFonal/staFc masonry, steel, Fmber, cycle closed and concrete construcFon) & development of a design framework Researcher(s): ir. arch. Mieke Vandenbroucke
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman, dr. ir. arch. Wim Debacker
Transform
Design and Analysis of Deployable Structures with Universal Scissor Components (USC) for Mobile Architectural ApplicaFons
Context:
The increase of mobility and awareness of resource depleFon and waste producFon in our society requires systems for mobile and temporary structures
ObjecDve:
Develop a methodology for opDmum design of deployable scissor structures, for which the USC offers a sustainable soluFon by allowing component re-‐use
Researcher: ir. Lara Alegria Mira
Supervisors: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman (VUB) & Prof. dr. ir. Ashley Thrall (University of Notre Dame, IN, USA)
Transform
OpFmal geometric and kinemaFc design of foldable scissor and plate structures for architectural applicaFons
Context:
Foldable scissor and plate structures allow for rapid transformaFons to answer to changing needs. They are broadly applicable in the built environment, but due to their inherent complexity only few have been constructed.
ObjecDve:
To unravel the mathemaDcal principles behind these structures, in order to explore the design possibiliFes, as well as the effects of geometrical opFmisaFon and discrete thicknesses on the deployment process.
Researcher: ir. arch. Kelvin Roovers
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman
1.
Transform
2.
3.
4.
DESIGN METHOD FOR A FOLDABLE SCISSOR STRUCTURE
Robust design opFmisaFon for deployable adaptable shelters
Context:
Emergency tent (for field hospital, storage rooms, …) are not adequate because they are slow to build, are not adaptable and are le[ as waste.
ObjecDve:
Develop a new design method for mulD-‐criteria opDmisaDon with uncertainDes (robust design) in order to obtain a opFmal deployable adaptable shelters with can be used for different phases of the recovery.
Researcher(s): ir. Aushim Koumar
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. Tine Tysmans & Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman
Transform
CURR
ENTLY
Using the same components for
the housing of the local populaDon
RESEAR
CH
Scissor structure for quick and easy deployment
Slow to build & Not flexible
AdapFve shading elements based on curved-‐line folding
Context:
Since the control of solar radiaFon and daylight has a major influence on the energy efficiency and comfort in buildings, architects and engineers are experimenFng with new adapFve shading soluFons.
ObjecDve:
Design and analysis of adapFve shading elements based on curved-‐line folding, using elasFc deformaFons as a form-‐generaFng strategy.
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Aline Vergauwen
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman
Transform
Transformable ‘acBve bending’-‐structures for temporary architectural shelters
Context:
The elasFc bending of iniFally straight elements, allows for lightweight and material-‐efficient structures to be built. Its reversibility facilitates transportaFon, assembly, adaptability and re-‐use.
ObjecDve:
Developing new structural systems for temporary and transformable shelters, based on the manipulaFon of the elasDc bending of the structural members.
Transform
ELASTIC BENDING
ASSEMBLY
DEPLOYMENT
Researcher(s): ir. arch. SFjn Brancart
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Niels De Temmerman & Prof. dr. ir. arch. Lars De Laet
æ-‐lab: Re-‐Use “reconcile the authen8city of architectural heritage with modern standards ” ExperDse:
• InternaDonal comparaDve research on 19th and 20th century construcDon materials & techniques
• Study of 19th and 20th century building pracDce and culture in Belgium
Re-‐Use
Riveted connecFons in historical metal structures (1840-‐1940) Hot-‐driven rivets: technology, design and experiments
Re-‐Use
Context:
Nowadays most remaining historical riveted structures need renovaFon and/or strengthening or, if not, at least some maintenance.
ObjecDve:
This research consFtutes as input to the structural assessment of exisFng riveted structures by adding to our knowledge of hot-‐driven structural rivets (1840-‐1940), their technology, design and structural behaviour.
Researcher: ir. arch. QuenFn Colleke (VUB, Belgium) Supervisors: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Ine Wouters (VUB, Belgium)
Ass. prof. dr. ir. Stéphane Sire (UBO, France) [Edwin Clark, 1850]
Understanding and conserving the post-‐war housing stock in Brussels (1945-‐1975). Retrofit for conBnuity!
Re-‐Use
Context:
The majority of post-‐war houses needs retrofiJng within the next decades, yet the framework to determine the heritage value of this post-‐war heritage is lacking.
ObjecDve:
The goal of this research is to offer criteria for evaluaFng the heritage value of post-‐war houses in the Brussels region, in order to idenFfy levels of intervenFons that would be appropriate for them.
Researcher: dr.ir.arch. Stephanie Van de Voorde
Supervisors: prof.dr. Inge Bertels, prof.dr.ir.arch. Filip Descamps, prof.dr.arch. Ann Verdonck, prof.dr.ir.arch. Ine Wouters
Architectural Heritage & Energy Efficiency: RenovaFon strategies for stone imitaFng rendering mortars
Re-‐Use
Context:
Many stone imitaDng renders from the early 20th century suffer from degradaDon. Since there is lack of knowledge concerning their composiFon, properFes and applicaFon technique, incorrect decisions are o[en made during restoraFon, resulFng in increasing damage.
ObjecDve:
Development of an appropriate set of repair mortars for damaged surfaces and exploring the benefits of insulaDng base layers.
Improper repair of a damaged rendered surface with simulated joints [Old Bank building in Leuven, 2011]
Researcher: ir. arch. Yves Govaerts
Supervisors: Prof. dr. arch. Ann Verdonck, Prof. dr. ir. Arch. Michael de Bouw & Dr. ir. Wendy Meulebroeck
Reuse and opFmizaFon of heat-‐ and wind-‐induced low-‐pressure venFlaFon systems
Re-‐Use
Context:
Current renovaFon strategy for buildings consists of a structural renovaFon to which techniques are added to enhance user comfort in a second phase, instead of (re)integraFng techniques in the renovaFon.
ObjecDve:
develop a method for the analysis of low-‐pressure venFlaFon systems through the analysis and modeling of 19th-‐century venDlaDon systems and their opDmizaDon by introducing modern hybrid venDlaDon techniques.
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Maaike van der Tempel
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Filip Descamps & Prof. dr. ir. arch. Ine Wouters
IntegraFng human behavior in dynamic energy simulaFons in homes
Re-‐Use
Context:
Current energy performance calculaFon methods focus on building characterisDcs and neglect the influence of human behavior. These methods enable an objecDve comparison of buildings, but lead to poor predicFons of the actual energy consumpFon.
ObjecDve:
Develop models to include human behavior in dynamic building simulaFon tools to obtain more accurate individual energy consumpDon predicFons.
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Dorien Aerts
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Filip Descamps & Prof. dr. ir. arch. Ine Wouters
SmartBlind Project
Re-‐Use
Context:
The potenFal for improving the glazed facades and windows of Europe's building stock is enormous. The benefits of using a glazed facade with an adaptable control strategy is the ability to control privacy, adjust shading, reduce solar gain and control glare when needed.
ObjecDve: The Smartblind project aims at the development of an acDve film for smart windows with inkjet method. The VUB focusses on the simulaDon of the smart window and the building integraDon as well as the exploitaDon and disseminaDon of the project.
Researcher(s): arch. Evi Corne, ir. arch. Charloke Goovaerts
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Marijke Mollaert, Prof. dr. ir. arch. Filip Descamps
æ-‐lab: Lightweight Structures Lab ExperDse:
• Structural design and analysis of membrane structures
• Design and analysis of lightweight systems for spaDal structures: tensairity, compression-‐only, acFve bending
Lightweight
Architectural and structural design of adaptable lightweight structures
Lightweight
Context:
Lightweight structures are material efficient by being designed and conceived in an ingenious way. They are found in a broad range of structures, from large-‐scale membrane canopies, to shelters and shading elements.
ObjecDve:
The research and innovaFon of lightweight and flexible texDle and composite structures focuses on new social and environmental needs such as adaptable energy-‐efficient building envelopes or compact temporary shelters for events and emergency situaFons.
Supervisor: Prof. dr. ir. arch. Lars De Laet
S(P)EEDKITS: Rapid deployable kits as seeds for self recovery
Lightweight
Context:
More and more disasters, either natural or man-‐made, occur worldwide. As a result, countless people are rendered homeless without any medical care, sufficient and clean water, decent sanitaFon or energy supply.
ObjecDve:
A new emergency system of modular rapid deployable shelters will be developed. This to provide temporary infrastructure and to limit the damage to economic and social fabrics.
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Jan Roekens
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. Marijke Mollaert
Integrated analysis and experimental verificaFon of KinemaFc Form AcFve Structures for architectural applicaFons
Lightweight
Context:
KinemaFc form acFve structures combine the structural efficiency and low self weight of fabric structures with the high versaDlity of kinemaFc structures
ObjecDve:
Develop the necessary tools and knowledge to make the design and applicaDon of kinemaFc fabric structures with preserved prestress possible
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Silke PuysFens ir. arch. Maarten Van Craenenbroeck
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. Marijke Mollaert Prof. dr. ir. Danny Van Hemelrijck Prof. dr. ir. Wim Van Paepeghem (UGent)
Inflatable/Tensairity structures
Lightweight
Context:
Inflatable structures are mostly known for their light weight, small transport/storage volume and quick set-‐up; which can’t be offered by other convenFonal structures.
ObjecDve:
The structural concept Tensairity is the synergeFc combinaFon of an airbeam, slender struts and some cables. The feasibility of this concept is tested on structural elements like beams and arches.
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Jan Roekens
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. arch. Lars De Laet
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. Marijke Mollaert
Supervisor(s): Dr. Rolf Luchsinger
TexFle Reinforced Cement (TRC) composites as flexible formwork and tensile reinforcement for concrete shells.
Lightweight
Context:
The construcDon of concrete shells is expensive and complex due to the labour intensive and/or material wasFng formwork methods and the needed tensile (steel) reinforcement.
ObjecDve:
Design of the innovaFve formwork and reinforcement consisFng of TRC composites, exploiFng their flexible properDes in wet phase to create the formwork and their sDff and strong properDes in hardened phase .
Researcher(s): ir. arch. Evy Verwimp
Supervisor(s): Prof. dr. ir. Tine Tysmans en Prof. dr. ir. Marijke Mollaert