Mike Ashby, John Fernandez, Aileen Gray Cambridge 2007 © MFA and DC 2007 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Unit 9. Architecture & Built Environment: materials for construction

© MFA and DC 2007 Outline Content and use of the database Resources: “Material Architecture – emergent materials for innovative buildings and ecological construction” by John Fernandez, Architecture Press, Elsevier, Oxford, UK, 2006 ISBN The CES Database for Architecture and the Built Environment, 2 nd edition, by M.F. Ashby, J. Fernandez and A. Gray, Granta Design, Cambridge UK, 2007 Why should architects be interested in materials? The CES database for Architecture and the Built Environment Exercises

© MFA and DC 2007 Why do architects need to know about materials? Post-industrial revolution - ETFE (and thousands more) Space Center, Leicester, UK. N. Grimshaw Architect Pre-industrial revolution - Stone, wood, glass York Minster, York, UK.

© MFA and DC 2007 Today architects and structural engineers specify products, not materials Gypsum and glass fiber composite board used as exterior sheathing. Low-e laminated glass Products, not materials?

© MFA and DC 2007 Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA. Diller + Scofidio, Architect. Unfamiliar materials used in new products Angle selective glass

© MFA and DC 2007 Many materials used in these products are unfamiliar to designers. Simmons Hall Student Dormitory, MIT, USA. Steven Holl, Architect. Unfamiliar materials used in new products Aluminum skin, covering….. Waterproof, adhesive-backed EPDM

© MFA and DC 2007 Apartment Building, Munich, Germany. Thomas Herzog, Architect. Unfamiliar materials used in new products Silica aerogels allowing….. Translucent walls with high thermal resistance

© MFA and DC 2007 Cathedral of Los Angeles, USA. Rafael Moneo Architect Stata Center, MIT, USA. F.O. Gehry Architect Unfamiliar materials used in new products High density concrete with stainless steel reinforcement Stainless steel, zinc coated titanium, polymer sealants

© MFA and DC 2007 The 4 semi-autonomous systems Functions  Transmit vertical loads to foundation  horizontal loads  Resist dynamic loading from wind, other  high energy loads from earthquakes  Provide long term service Superstructure Building services  Provide heat and cooling to interior spaces  adequate ventilation  artificial and natural light  humidity control  water and waste removal  Control transfer of air  heat  water; liquid, vapor  radiation transfer  Provide acoustic separation Exterior envelope  Delineate interior space  Provide distinct climate zones  acoustically separate zones  finished surfaces  for health and safety of occupants Interior systems

© MFA and DC 2007 Materials The 4 systems require diverse materials Functions  Steel reinforced concrete  Cast iron and steel alloys  Timber  Brick, clay-based ceramics  Stone  Transmit vertical loads to foundation  horizontal loads  Resist dynamic loading from wind, other  high energy loads from earthquakes  Provide long term service  Glass  Aluminum  Silicone, neoprene, epoxies  Insulating fibers and foams  Bitumen, fiberglass  Control transfer of air  heat  water; liquid, vapor  radiation transfer  Provide acoustic separation  Wood particle boards  Polymer reinforced plaster  Resins and other polymers  Fabrics, natural fibers  Tiles, terracotta, brick  Delineate interior space  Provide distinct climate zones  acoustically separate zones  finished surfaces  for health and safety of occupants  Galvanized sheet metals  Adhesives and tapes  Polymer electrical insulators  Heat exchange materials  Copper and PVC piping  Provide heat and cooling to interior spaces  adequate ventilation  artificial and natural light  humidity control  water and waste removal

© MFA and DC 2007 The CES database for Architecture File Edit View Select Tools Browse SelectSearch MaterialUniverse Concrete, Stone, Ceramic, Brick….. + Wood, Plywood, Glulam, Bamboo, Straw… + Metals, Ferrous and Non-ferrous + Polymers: Elastomers, Thermoplastics… + Composites + Foams, Fabrics and Fibers + Table: MaterialsUniverse Subset: All Architecture Search Find what: Look in table: MaterialUniverse Glulam

© MFA and DC 2007 Architecture and the Built Environment Part of a typical record (reformatted): Sandstone

© MFA and DC 2007 What is different?  Additional fields (62 selectable fields)  Mechanical properties in bending  Hygro-thermal props  Acoustic properties  Durability in various atmospheres  More classes of concrete  More classes of brick and tile  More fibers, particle and plywoods  More materials for insulation  Images relating to built environment where possible Content: Level 2, expanded  126 records emphasising materials for the built environment

© MFA and DC 2007  Enables students to explore relationships  Carry out elementary selections (“Find materials with large thermal resistivity”) Ability to create property charts Materials with high thermal resistivity Results 5 out of 95 pass Material Material Material Material etc... Ranking T-resistivity

© MFA and DC 2007 Selection: cladding for buildings Select materials for cladding for buildings.  Durable, strong, ductile cladding in the form of sheet.  Environmentally friendly  As cheap as possible Design requirements Translation Function Protective cladding Constraints Form: sheet Tensile strength > 50 MPa Elongation > 2% Durability in industrial environment: Very good Durability in rural environment: Very good Durability in marine environment: Very good Free variable Choice of material Minimize cost (and / or) Minimize embodied energy Objectives

© MFA and DC 2007 Applying the constraints Mechanical properties Material form Bulk Sheet Durability MPa % - Industrial environment Tensile strength Elongation - - etc Rural environment Marine environment  Apply constraints using a Limit stage Very good 2 50

© MFA and DC 2007 Cladding: the selection  Then a graph stage to minimize cost and embodied energy

© MFA and DC 2007 Terne coated steel

© MFA and DC 2007 Demo

© MFA and DC 2007 Exercises: Searching the Architecture DB 9.1 Find, by Searching, the record for Glulam. What is it? Answer: Glued-laminated timber. 9.2 Find, by Searching, the record for SMC. What is it? Answer: SMC is Sheet molding compound, a polyester matrix glass-fiber composite 9.3 Find, by Searching, the record for RPC. What is it? Answer: RPC is Reactive powder concrete

© MFA and DC 2007 Exercises: Selecting from the Architecture DB 9.4 Find, using a Limit stage, materials that are Good thermal insulators Non-flammable Have very good frost resistance Results: Glass fiber Vermiculite

© MFA and DC 2007 Exercises: Selecting from the Architecture DB 9.5 Make a chart of Thermal resistivity plotted against Embodied energy per unit volume*. Hence find materials that are excellent insulators and have very low embodied energy. * Embodied energy / m 3 = Embodied energy/kg x Density Thermal resistivity (m.K/W) Embodied energy x Density Best choice BrowseSelectSearch 1. Selection data MaterialsUniverse: All Architecture MaterialsUniverse: All Architecture 2. Selection Stages Graph Limit Tree Thermal resistivity (m.K/W) Embodied energy x Density choice Thermal resistivity (m.K/W) Embodied energy x Density Best choice BrowseSelectSearchBrowseSelectSearch 1. Selection data MaterialsUniverse: All Architecture MaterialsUniverse: All Architecture 2. Selection Stages Graph Limit Tree

© MFA and DC 2007 End of Unit 9