A Multi-objective Optimization for Passive Adaptive Envelope Integrating Smart Materials

Recently, several studies have discussed the concept of kinetic facades that responds to environmental variations such as solar radiation intensity and humidity levels to improve indoor environment quality. Most of these kinetic facades are actively automated; which tend to use sensors and actuators in response to the environmental stimuli. On the contrary, recently, passive adaptive strategies have become an efficient alternative to active-automated strategies. The passive strategies depend on utilizing the passive actuated materials in facade systems design by taking advantage of self-adaptation of the materials' structure in response to environmental variations without using energy. Accordingly, the study argued that using these smart materials in fabricating solar shadings has a positive impact on buildings’ energy consumption. However, these shadings may lead to minimizing the Window-to-Wall Ratio, therefore, decreasing the daylight levels inside the space. Therefore, the study aims to present a multi-objective optimization for passive adaptive shadings that integrate smart materials to balance the daylight and solar radiation inside the space. The research goes through three consecutive phases. First, the shading module and building geometry modeling. Second, a multi-objective optimization that aims to generate a set of Pareto-optimal solutions; a set of non-dominated alternatives. Third, a performance comparison between three of the optimal solutions and the base case model without any shading elements. The results show that the optimal solutions can decrease 51-80% of the solar radiation intensity while keeping the illuminance levels at moderate levels inside the office space.