BRIGE: Integrating Structural Control and Double Skin Façades for Building Safety and Energy Efficiency

这个扩大参与的工程研究启动补助金（BRIGE）项目旨在利用双层幕墙（DSF）作为建筑物的质量阻尼器，以提高建筑安全和能源效率。DSF系统由两层玻璃组成，它们之间有一个空腔。与单一的玻璃表皮系统相比，该系统更隔热，其空腔允许气流帮助建筑物通风。通过集成质量阻尼器和双层幕墙，可以在地震和强风期间阻尼结构振动，而不会增加额外的重量（即，单独的质量阻尼器）。立面的移动性也可以带来创新的方式来调节建筑物内的气流和环境条件。 拟议的研究将产生一个新的，可移动的DSF系统与致动器安装，以影响阻尼器运动的结构控制和空腔之间的皮肤环境控制。首先研究和优化DSF-阻尼器连接结构和阻尼器参数。将开发主动控制策略以最小化结构振动。此外，我们亦会研究DSF-阻尼器系统的各种运动，以达致最高的能源效益。这项研究的成功将有助提高建筑物的安全性和能源效益，从而改善建筑物的可持续发展。 准确理解结构和环境控制之间的协同作用将为建筑设计和运营提供变革性的转变。工程和建筑之间的综合协同研究将延长建筑物的生命周期，同时提高能源效率，从而实现确保社会更可持续发展的未来的更广泛目标。拟议的跨学科工作也将在两个方面增加工程的多样性。 首先，它将使当前的工程专业学生接触不同的学科。 其次，这项研究可以吸引非工程背景的学生。在跨学院的合作（土木工程和美术之间），PI开发了一个建筑未成年人计划，这将有助于招募谁是感兴趣的学生建筑到土木工程。鉴于女性和非裔美国学生在建筑学中的比例高于工程学，招收有建筑学兴趣的学生将增加吸引代表性不足的学生进入工程学的机会。

This Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grant in Engineering (BRIGE) project aims to utilize double skin façades (DSF) as mass dampers in buildings for improving both building safety and energy efficiency. A DSF system consists of two layers of glasses with a cavity between them. Compared to a single glass skin system, this system is more insulating and its cavity allows airflow to help ventilate a building. By integrating mass dampers and double skin façades, structural vibrations can be dampened during earthquakes and strong winds without adding extra weight (i.e., separate mass dampers) to the structure. The added mobility of façades can also lead to innovative ways to adjust airflow and environmental conditions in the building. The proposed research will yield a new, movable DSF system with actuators installed to affect damper movements for structural control and the cavity between skins for environmental control. The DSF-damper attachment configurations and damper parameters will first be studied and optimized. Active control strategies will be developed to minimize structural vibrations. Various movements by the DSF-damper system will also be examined to maximize energy efficiency.The success of this research will improve building sustainability by enhancing building safety and energy efficiency. Accurately understanding the synergy between structural and environmental controls will provide a transformative shift in building designs and operations. Integrative, synergistic research between Engineering and Architecture will prolong building life cycles while improving energy efficiency, thus achieving the broader goal of ensuring a more sustainable future for society. The proposed interdisciplinary work will also increase diversity in Engineering on two fronts. First, it will expose current Engineering students to different disciplines. Secondly, this research can attract students with non-Engineering backgrounds. In a cross-College collaboration (between Civil Engineering and Fine Arts), the PI developed an Architecture minor program that will help recruit students who are interested in Architecture into Civil Engineering. In light of the higher percentage of female and African American students in Architecture than in Engineering, recruiting students with architectural interests will increase the chances of attracting underrepresented students to Engineering.