103_SmartSurface_Material Study

Mechanism for ventilation element: 

When the temperature goes up, the hexagon pad will open to let the air flow come through while the temperature goes down, it will close to reduce heat loss.For this, Bi-matelic and Shape-memory alloy have been studied.

• Option 1: due to the different thermal expansion and contraction on both side (each side is one kind of metal), when temperature goes up, one side would bend more than the other to fulfill the open of ventilation pad.
• Option 2: Shape-memory alloy can be taught to remember the shape A(close) under low temperature and remember shape B(open) under high temperature.When the temperature reaches the settled high temperature, it will "remember" shape B while the temperature goes cooler, it will perform shape A.

But bi-matelic material requires extreme high or low temperature to change shape, shape-memory alloy is more feasible for our smart-surface.

   

102_SmartSurface_React as skin

My group, Team 3, got WIND, INFLATE, DAILY as both constrains and opportunities for our first task. During the first group meeting, we described our “smart-surface” as human skin which could be triggered by outside condition then take actions to react to help improve micro-environment in the house.

• Wind: connect to ventilation
• Inflate: connect to shading

We target our smart-surface to solve ventilation and shading problems with response to the temperature change.

Pic on the right is a potential section and plan view of the units of our surface.  

101_Smartsurface_Blink

Play with Aduino. It is fun~