Adaptive FRP Structures for Exterior Applications

Abstract

Regarding modern, daylight-flooded buildings with large window façades, appropriate shading systems to improve the energy consumption of climate controlling systemsarebecoming more relevant. Building envelopes contributelargelyto the temperaturecontrol andshouldbe at best installed on the outside to prevent the interior from heating up. Preferably,those systems work with minimum maintenance and maximum robustness, covering as much of the window area as possible. Previous shading systemswere mostly based on rigid-body mechanismsusing error-prone joints. Components, whose movability is achieved by a local compliance of the material, offera way to avoid the usage of mechanical joints. Within this paper,a newfiber-reinforcedplastic (FRP)façade shading demonstratorcalled “Flexafold”is presented. Its opening and closing movement arecontrolled by pneumatic cushions which are integrated directly into the laminate set-up. The Flexafold shows thereby the possibility of producing self-supporting, adaptive FRP components whose actuators are integrated into the component and thus protectedin exterior applications. The functional principles and components of Flexafold, e.g. the locally compliant FRP material, the folding pattern and the integrated actuator system, are explainedwithin this paper. Furthermore,acomparison to existing adaptive façade shading systems“flectofin®”and “Flectofold” is given.