Flectuation – Adaptive Façade Shading with Pneumatically Actuated FRPs

FLECTUATION – ADAPTIVE FAÇADE SHADING FROM ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE FIBRE-REINFORCED COMPOSITE COMPONENTS WITH INTEGRATED, PNEUMATIC ACTUATION AND A SURFACE FUNCTIONALISED BY MEANS OF PHOTOVOLTAICS

Conventional solar shading is a highly industrialised and cost-optimised industry. At the same time, it is difficult to implement fundamental changes. The Flectuation project aims to develop adaptive façade elements (shading units) made of fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP). The deformation of the elements is realised by embedded pneumatic chambers. The energy for actuation is provided by integrated photovoltaic (PV) films. Due to the integrated PV, the control system regulates not only the position for optimal shading of the interior (shading efficiency), but also the orientation of the PV foils for maximum efficiency (energy harvesting).

Previous work by the ITFT and ITKE shows that adaptive FRP components are technically feasible. However, the research is not yet ready for the market: A detailed study to investigate the influencing factors and design criteria to achieve the required fatigue strength of such elements is part of Flectuation. The aim of the work is not only to develop an exemplary adaptive FRP component, but also a material catalogue for the design of new adaptive components. The material, software and manufacturing concepts planned in the project will create an automated workflow for the production of adaptive FRP components, which will also be attractive for small series and the production of individual single components outside the construction industry.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Götz T. Gresser
Institute for Textile and Fiber Technologies (ITFT), University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers
Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), University of Stuttgart

RESEARCHERS

Dr.-Ing. Larissa Born (ITFT)
Dr.-Ing. Axel Körner (ITKE)
Matthias Ridder (ITFT)
Edith Anahi Gonzalez San Martin (ITKE)

PARTNERS

Jehle Technik GmbH
HELLA Sonnen- und Wetterschutztechnik GmbH
Formfinder Software GmbH

FUNDING

AiF Projekt GmbH / Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)