Jc Chilton

Case study of a rainwater recovery system in a commercial building with a large roof

Abstract This paper describes a prototype rainwater recovery system that has been fitted within a supermarket. In this system, rainwater is recovered from the roof structure, collected and then used to satisfy part of the domestic cold water requirements of the supermarket (for toilet flushing). The design and commissioning of the system installed is first described. The system has been fitted with a monitoring system, which has been used to record the water usage and to estimate the rainwater recovered for use in the supermarket over approximately an 8-month period. The results are used to calculate the collection efficiency of the system compared to potential gains determined from local rainfall data. This data has also been used to calculate the revenue cost savings for this system. The additional capital cost of this system has been estimated and this has been used to calculate a payback period of 12 years, based upon a collection efficiency of 57.4%. Alternative payback periods for different locations in the UK are also discussed. Finally, this paper considers the effects of alternative roof and tank sizes on system economics. This shows that tank size is critical and that different configurations may be used to achieve payback periods approaching 4 years.

Tensile structures - textiles for architecture and design

Abstract: In this chapter mainly tensile textile structures used for the roofing of small, medium and large enclosures are considered, although the principles outlined apply equally to facades, and to textile structures in interior design and art. Commencing with a brief history of the development of modern tensile structures, the general principles (structural efficiency, typical materials, form-finding, patterning, fabrication, installation and pre-stressing) are discussed. Physical and environmental properties and other factors that influence the aesthetic and architectural perception of tensile structures and the spaces they enclose, for example translucency, thermal performance, acoustics and lighting, are also reviewed. Case studies of selected architectural, interior design and art projects are presented to illustrate recent practice. Finally, future trends are identified and a selection of further sources of information and advice is given.

An Evaluation of Thermal and Lighting Performance Within an ETFE Structure

This paper reports on a study into the thermal and lighting environment of an enclosed ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil-covered structure. This is based on the on-site monitoring over set periods of time in summer 2014 and winter 2015. ETFE foil is a relatively new highly-translucent construction material that has been used in some high profile projects around the world. In a unique development, this project looked at a new building product that makes use of ETFE film and tensioned it over aluminium frames to create a modular ETFE-covered panel that can look similar to and can be installed as a replacement for glazing. This opens up new markets for the use of ETFE film, such as agriculture and horticulture, and allows for possibilities such as urban and vertical farming or the retrofitting of existing commercial and residential greenhouses. A test structure was constructed from the ETFE-covered panels. This paper will report on the impacts of solar radiation on the thermal environment as well as the relative humidity within this enclosure so that a more holistic understanding of the thermal comfort can be obtained. The second section will explore the internal daylighting environment including analysis of the daylight factor within the structure and luminance mapping to examine brightness and visual performance and its effect on the perception of space and objects within. The paper will conclude that the temperature within the enclosed ETFE structure can become too high during the summer months and may require heating when occupied during the winter months. The research also finds that the daylight levels can be too bright if the internal space were to be used regularly by occupants, although this may be beneficial for plants. In both cases, overheating and solar gain issues can be resolved through appropriate shading and ventilation.

Effect of cracks on vibration, buckling and parametric instability of cylindrical shells

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study on the vibration, buckling, and parametric instability behavior of a circular cylindrical shell with a crack, subject to axial periodic loading. The effects of crack length and orientation are analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). The results show that under tension load, the frequency of the shell initially increases with the load; however, it decreases as the load further increases, which leads to local buckling near the crack. The fundamental frequency of the shell is affected by the size and type of the crack. Natural frequencies decrease as the compressive load increases and the fundamental frequency becomes zero at the buckling load of the shell. Under tensile load, the natural frequencies initially increase with the load, but begin to fall beyond a certain load level and rapidly approach zero as the cracked zone buckles locally. For perfect shells under compressive periodic loading, the size of the instability region increases and its vertical position becomes lower as the static load factor increases. Under tensile periodic loading, the width of the instability regions decrease and they move upward on the frequency ratio axis as the static load factor increases. The presence of a crack has a very significant effect on both the size and the vertical position of the fundamental region of instability. The chapter presents a study on the vibration, static, and dynamic instability behavior of cylindrical shells with different crack types subject to uniform periodic compressive or tensile axial loading.

The Monitoring and Assessment of Indoor Environment and Domestic Electricity Use in a Preliminary Post-occupancy Case Study

The preliminary case study, which is undertaken in an ecological housing development in the UK, forms part of a doctoral research project on the monitoring and assessment of energy and indoor environment of the UK’s domestic buildings. The unique features of the monitoring system in this case study are discussed in the first half the paper, followed by the data presentations reflecting the early stage of the work. The research is a dynamic process related to the development of the monitoring system and the associated analysis methods. Future work will be required on the basis of the current progress to investigate the possibilities of maintaining the residents’ comfort conditions while minimising their energy use.

Research and Teaching of Space Structures

This paper discusses the influence that the research interests of those who teach about space structures has on the content of the courses they develop, the methods of teaching that they employ and the learning experience of the students that they teach. An outline space structures curriculum is proposed and ways of amplifying, refining and disseminating this are suggested. The potential for using studio design projects as a vehicle for teaching about space structures and, in some cases, as a research tool, are also discussed. It is not intended that the initial ideas presented here be taken as an absolute solution but as a rudimentary foundation to provoke a wide-ranging discussion about the teaching of space structures. That is to try and answer the question – what should be taught, how and to whom?