The authors investigate building performance of a thermomechanically-actuated responsive facade (RF) system in comparison with an electro-magnetic motor actuation. Smart material such as shape-memory alloys (SMAs) has large potential to provide lightw...
The authors investigate building performance of a thermomechanically-actuated responsive facade (RF) system in comparison with an electro-magnetic motor actuation. Smart material such as shape-memory alloys (SMAs) has large potential to provide lightweight, compact RF actuation against the problems of traditional kinetic mechanism (motional noise, energy consumption, complex mechnical equipment, etc.). A NiTi-alloy spring actuator was fabricated and installed in a test scale model of a louver type RF. Environmental performance (indoor illuminance and temperature) of the SMA RF was compared with the static and motor-actuated case. The test results show that there is little significant difference between the two actuation mechanisms (SMA and motor) in daylight control, thereby demonstrating the utility of SMA in climate-adaptive responsive architecture.