Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chuanqing Zhao, Fangke Qiao, Jiawei Ji, Shifeng Deng, Huimin Qi
Summary: This study focuses on the synthesis of silicon-containing polyarylacetylene (PSA) resin, which enhances the heat resistance and mechanical properties of polymer reinforcement phase. The honeycomb-like porous SiO2/PSA aerogels, prepared through click reaction, gel aging, freeze-drying, and curing, possess low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, and excellent thermal insulation performance. Compared to other polymer aerogels and materials, SiO2/PSA composite aerogel exhibits high temperature resistance, compressive strength, and has potential applications in the aerospace industry.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sasan Rezaei, Ali M. Zolali, Amirjalal Jalali, Chul B. Park
Summary: This study presents a rapid and simply prepared TMSPMA-based aerogel with ultra-low density, high mechanical properties, extremely low thermal conductivity, and high hydrophobicity achieved by manipulating the nano-architecture of the aerogel structure. Two novel approaches, including post-gelation free radical self-curing method and changing the precursor nature, were explored to optimize the connectivity state.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Baojie Zhang, Yun Liu, Qiaoxin Wu, Miao Zhou, Dong Su, Huiming Ji, Xiaolei Li
Summary: This study successfully developed a novel closed-cell/nanowire structured ceramic nanofiber aerogel by combining electro-spinning technology and solvothermal synthesis method. By using hollow TiO2 spheres as pore-making material and infrared opacifier, and incorporating in-situ grown TiO2 nanowires on the fiber surface, the aerogel exhibits high mechanical robustness, low density, and ultralow thermal conductivity.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Xiaoshuai Han, Weijie Wu, Zhiwei Tian, Jingwen Wang, Lei Zhang, Jingquan Han, Shanshan Li, Shaohua Jiang
Summary: Lightweight and sustainable cellulose-based aerogels are gaining attention for thermal insulation applications in green buildings. In this study, an anisotropic, lightweight, super-amphiphobic and thermal insulating rattan aerogel was successfully fabricated using a three-step process. The rattan aerogel exhibits low thermal conductivity and super-amphiphobic performance, making it highly promising for thermal management applications and green buildings.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Letizia Verdolotti, Maria Oliviero, Marino Lavorgna, Chiara Santillo, Francesca Tallia, Salvatore Iannace, Shu Chen, Julian R. Jones
Summary: A new organic-inorganic polyurethane-based hybrid material with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties was reported, prepared using a sol-gel approach. The synthesis method involved the preparation of a siloxane precursor, functionalization of traditional polyol, use of suitable catalysts and silicone surfactants, and foaming process. The resulting material showed improved thermal conductivity, stability, and mechanical properties.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
He Huang, Can Wu, Shiqi Wu, Ruiqun Pan, Lianhua Yin, Xiangyu Jin, Yiwu Pan, Hebing Wang, Xiaojie Yan, Changqing Hong, Wenbo Han, Xinghong Zhang
Summary: Soft and thermostable materials are crucial for applications in aerospace, wearable materials, and artificial intelligence in harsh environments. In this study, a hydrogen-bonded polyimide/silicone aerogel was obtained with a rational microstructure design, exhibiting super-flexibility, low density, low shrinkage, superhydrophobicity, and excellent thermal stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junyan Liu, Jingxiao Liu, Fei Shi, Chuangchuang Ma, Tianci Li, Chaofan Chen, Muhammad Wasim, Keya Zhu, Huijun Sun, Ziwei Tian
Summary: This study proposed two pore size controllable methods to construct rigid/flexible silica aerogels with an extensive range of pore size by controlling the binding modes among the gel network. The relationship between pore structure and macroscopic performance of silica aerogels was investigated, showing potential for tailored aerogels suitable for specialized applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Y. X. Chen, S. Sepahvand, F. Gauvin, K. Schollbach, H. J. H. Brouwers, Qingliang Yu
Summary: This study investigates a silica-cellulose composite aerogel made from olivine silica, which exhibits lower thermal conductivity and higher strength compared to traditional cellulose aerogel, showing promising potential as a high-performance insulation material.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Hao-Qiang Pang, Ting-Hui Fan, Tian Xia, Wen-Wei Qiao, Yan-Feng Gao
Summary: This study investigates the thermal conductivity and temperature response of silica aerogel doped with SiO2 micro hollow sphere particles (MHSP) using modeling and experimental testing. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in the thermal insulation performance of the aerogel when doped with SiO2 MHSP, particularly at larger temperature differences.
JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Patricia Fernanda Bergmann Becker, Carmeane Effting, Adilson Schackow
Summary: The study analyzed the properties of lightweight coating mortars by replacing fine aggregate with insulant alternative aggregates such as silica aerogel, expanded polystyrene, and vermiculite. Silica aerogel significantly reduced thermal conductivity and thickness of the mortar while EPS mortar performed the best in acoustic insulation. Overall, the use of alternative aggregates showed promising results in improving the performance of lightweight coating mortars.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Varvara Apostolopoulou-Kalkavoura, Shiqian Hu, Nathalie Lavoine, Mohit Garg, Mathieu Linares, Pierre Munier, Igor Zozoulenko, Junichiro Shiomi, Lennart Bergstrom
Summary: This study highlights that in super-insulating nanocellulose foams, thinner fibrils result in lower thermal conductivity, which strongly depends on relative humidity. Controlling heat transport of hygroscopic super-insulating nanofibrillar foams through moisture uptake and release could have potential applications in packaging and building.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lukai Wang, Junzong Feng, Yi Luo, Zhenhao Zhou, Yonggang Jiang, Xuanfeng Luo, Lin Xu, Liangjun Li, Jian Feng
Summary: The thermal-solidifying 3D printing strategy can be used to fabricate silica aerogels with complex architectures, exhibiting comparable performances to traditional aerogels and holding promise for custom design and industrial production of insulation materials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fei Peng, Yonggang Jiang, Jian Feng, Huafei Cai, Junzong Feng, Liangjun Li
Summary: A new method was developed to synthesize alumina-silica aerogel composites with mullite fiber reinforcement, which exhibit excellent thermal insulation performance and strong mechanical strength. These materials have low thermal conductivity and are ideal for high-temperature insulation applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gabrijela Horvat, Tomaz Kotnik, Klara Zvab, Zeljko Knez, Zoran Novak, Sebastijan Kovacic
Summary: The ability to combine different material chemistries to obtain hybrids with a hierarchical architecture is an emerging trend in materials engineering. In this article, a one-pot synthesis strategy is reported for the production of co-continuous organic-inorganic macro-mesoporous hybrid materials. The resulting materials exhibit enhanced thermal and mechanical properties compared to traditional high-performance insulators.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Wei-Cheng Hung, Richard S. Horng, Rung-En Shia
Summary: A novel method of improving the skeletal structure of aerogels by reinforcing them with three layers of glass fiber and carbon fiber has been proposed in this study, resulting in aerogel composites with improved heat insulation performance; By investigating different ratios of glass/carbon fibers in the composites, a balance between thermal insulation performance and strength was achieved, providing a practical alternative for preparing robust and sustainable heat insulation aerogel composites.
JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
Seyed Ehsan Samaei, Umberto Berardi, Hasan Asilian Mahabadi, Parham Soltani, Ebrahim Taban
Summary: Hybrid composites of polyurethane (PU) matrix and natural kenaf fiber filler were fabricated and optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with Central Composite Design (CCD). The acoustic performance of the composites was investigated using the impedance tube method, and the prediction models showed high accuracy. The addition of kenaf fibers significantly improved the acoustic absorption of the pure PU foam, and the optimized composite sample had a 35.4% increase in sound absorption compared to pure PU foam.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohammad Anvar Adibhesami, Hirou Karimi, Ayyoob Sharifi, Borhan Sepehri, Hassan Bazazzadeh, Umberto Berardi
Summary: This study aims to assess the level of alignment with health factors in Mahabad, Iran. The research shows that environmental quality, social relationships, and readability have the most impact on the physical and mental health of citizens. Understanding historical, social, cultural, and economic factors and characteristics can help urban experts understand different levels of public health.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Dardir, Jeffrey Wilson, Umberto Berardi
Summary: The combined effects of heat events and poor air quality conditions can severely affect population health. A novel correlational method was developed to assess the impact of short-term variations of environmental variables on community health responses. The study found that moderate levels of environmental variables were associated with increased deaths and emergency visits, with the elderly population being more vulnerable to these changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu, Zaiyi Liao, Umberto Berardi, Greg Labbe, Irina Akhmetova
Summary: Geopolymers are materials that show promise for use in Net-Zero Buildings due to their low embodied energy and ability to passively control indoor microclimate. The influences of manufacturing parameters, such as initial water content and alkalinity, on the thermal, hydric, phase composition, and microstructure of aerated geopolymers were investigated. The results showed that these factors affect the properties of the geopolymers, but all the samples demonstrated potential for efficient modulation of indoor environment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Akos Lakatos
Summary: The application of insulation materials with high-performance heat-blocking properties such as nano-structured insulations like aerogels and graphite polystyrene is essential in buildings and vehicles. This paper presents a comprehensive thermal characterization of fibrous aerogels (slentex, pyrogel) and graphite-expanded polystyrene to compare their thermal insulation capability. The surface analysis of the samples is conducted through microscopic and wetting experiments, and the results of thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity measurements for both individual and sandwich structures are shown. The slentex aerogel has the best thermal conductivity, while the hybrid structures show promising results. The pyrogel aerogel exhibits the highest moisture uptake. The results of infrared absorption tests and differentiated scanning calorimetry confirm the high infrared absorption of graphite polystyrene.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Anil Pundir, Arpan Gupta, Umberto Berardi
Summary: Investigations in solid-state physics have found that by using metamaterials, a type of periodic material, a bandgap can be produced which blocks the propagation of sonic waves. Researchers have recently studied various metamaterials inspired by the concept of bandgap. This study focuses on the analysis of the bandgap for two and three-component systems as 2D periodic materials, and explores the influence of geometric parameters on the bandgap.
BUILDING ACOUSTICS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesca Vecchi, Umberto Berardi, Guglielmina Mutani
Summary: The evaluation of building energy consumption is crucial for territorial policies and this study proposes a statistical model based on GIS to assess multi-variable building efficiency. By disaggregating consumption values at the block level, better assessments of building efficiency measures can be made. The results highlight the difficulties in assessing appliance use in low-rise apartments and the variability of natural gas consumption among different construction ages.
Article
Thermodynamics
Reza Daneshazarian, Umberto Berardi
Summary: In this study, a hybrid renewable energy system consisting of solar photovoltaic panels, evacuated tube collectors, and a ground source heat pump (GSHP) is investigated, with an underground nano-enhanced thermal energy storage (TES) system. The effectiveness of the system is analyzed using a co-simulation methodology, and the results show that adding nanoparticles increases the thermal storage capacity of the GSHP. The proposed system has significant economic, environmental, and energy consumption benefits, including reduced drilling costs and increased system performance.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Alessandro Cannavale, Marco Pugliese, Valeria De Matteis, Roberto Giannuzzi, Francesca Mancarella, Vitantonio Valenzano, Ubaldo Ayr, Stefania Liuzzi, Vincenzo Maiorano, Umberto Berardi, Giuseppe Gigli
Summary: In this study, a new thermoelectrochromic device was presented with a hydrogel-based electrolyte derived from cellulose, namely hydroxypropyl cellulose (HCP), showing thermochromic properties and good ion conduction. A PEDOT:PSS electrochromic layer was developed to fabricate a multifunctional device that can exploit the HCP's thermochromic properties at a critical temperature of 43? and demonstrate significant modulation of transmittance (52% at 650 nm) with a small external bias (2.5 V). This is the first smart window design incorporating HPC and PEDOT:PSS, offering a fully organic system suitable for various applications, including construction and transportation.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Saleem S. AlSaleem, Abdulbasit Almhafdy, Umberto Berardi, Amal A. Al-Shargabi, Ahmed AbdelMonteleb M. Ali
Summary: This study measured the sound levels at 12 different points in Al-Oqailat Park in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, and compared them with perception measurements from park visitors. The results showed that car traffic and horn noise were the primary sources of noise pollution in and around the park.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amal A. Al-Shargabi, Abdulbasit Almhafdy, Saleem S. AlSaleem, Umberto Berardi, Ahmed AbdelMonteleb M. Ali
Summary: The study addresses the concern of noise pollution from increased transportation and proposes effective strategies to mitigate its impact. Noise regression models are used to estimate road-traffic-induced noise pollution, and optimization techniques are employed to enhance prediction accuracy. The optimized Gaussian process regression model exhibits the highest prediction accuracy.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mohamed Dardir, Umberto Berardi, Jeffrey Wilson
Summary: An integrated approach was developed to assess the benefits of increasing urban greenery cover for city cooling potential. The framework used statistical-simulation and health-informed modeling to support decision-making and predict the impacts on mortality and health system use. Microclimate simulations were conducted to assess the effects on ambient temperature, heat stress, and energy consumption.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Monireh Fattahi, Ebrahim Taban, Parham Soltani, Umberto Berardi, Ali Khavanin, Vida Zaroushani
Summary: In the last decade, noise pollution and global warming have received much attention for their impacts on human health and the environment. The building sector has focused on using sound-absorbing and thermal insulation materials, including natural fibers. This study specifically explores the acoustic absorption and thermal insulation characteristics of corn husk fiber (CHF), showing excellent noise reduction coefficients and effective thermal conductivities. The proposed model for predicting the acoustic behavior of the CHF samples demonstrates high accuracy.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zsolt Kovacs, Attila Csik, Akos Lakatos
Summary: Super thermal insulation materials with low thermal conductivities like aerogels and vacuum insulation panels are displacing conventional thermal insulations in the market. These super insulation materials can be easily applied to vehicles, buildings, and pipes transporting hot medium. This study presents a comprehensive examination of two new silica-aerogel type insulations and investigates their thermal performance changes after thermal annealing. The results show significant changes in thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity for Pyrogel after annealing, while Slentex maintains constant thermal conductivity but changes in specific heat capacity.
THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRESS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Automation & Control Systems
Akos Lakatos, Alagba Henry Eze
Summary: For thermal insulating vehicles, lightweight materials like polymeric foams or microfiber insulations are commonly used. However, the use of novel super insulation materials, such as vacuum insulation panels, can also be effective for electric vehicles. This paper provides a comprehensive review of potential applications of aerogels, polymeric foams, and microfiber insulations, with a focus on their thermal properties like thermal conductivity and compressibility. Finding appropriate solutions for the aircraft industry is crucial due to the strict requirements for low weight, good noise, and thermal insulation.
VEHICLE AND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING 4, VAE2022
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Samiran Khorat, Debashish Das, Rupali Khatun, Sk Mohammad Aziz, Prashant Anand, Ansar Khan, Mattheos Santamouris, Dev Niyogi
Summary: Cool roofs can effectively mitigate heatwave-induced excess heat and enhance thermal comfort in urban areas. Implementing cool roofs can significantly improve urban meteorology and thermal comfort, reducing energy flux and heat stress.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qi Li, Jiayu Chen, Xiaowei Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the vertical wind conditions as a main external factor that limits the energy assessment of high-rise buildings in urban areas. Traditional tools for energy assessment of buildings use a universal vertical wind profile estimation, without taking into account the unique wind speed in each direction induced by the various shapes and configurations of buildings in cities. To address this limitation, the study developed an omnidirectional urban vertical wind speed estimation method using direction-dependent building morphologies and machine learning algorithms.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xiaojun Luo, Lamine Mahdjoubi
Summary: This paper presents an integrated blockchain and machine learning-based energy management framework for multiple forms of energy allocation and transmission among multiple domestic buildings. Machine learning is used to predict energy generation and consumption patterns, and the proposed framework establishes optimal and automated energy allocation through peer-to-peer energy transactions. The approach contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhances environmental sustainability.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ying Yu, Yuanwei Xiao, Jinshuai Chou, Xingyu Wang, Liu Yang
Summary: This study proposes a dual-layer optimization design method to maximize the energy sharing potential, enhance collaborative benefits, and reduce the storage capacity of building clusters. Case studies show that the proposed design significantly improves the performance of building clusters, reduces energy storage capacity, and shortens the payback period.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Felix Langner, Weimin Wang, Moritz Frahm, Veit Hagenmeyer
Summary: This paper compares two main approaches to consider uncertainties in model predictive control (MPC) for buildings: robust and stochastic MPC. The results show that compared to a deterministic MPC, the robust MPC increases the electricity cost while providing complete temperature constraint satisfaction, while the stochastic MPC slightly increases the electricity cost but fulfills the thermal comfort requirements.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Somil Yadav, Caroline Hachem-Vermette
Summary: This study proposes a mathematical model to evaluate the performance of a Double Skin Facade (DSF) system and its impact on indoor conditions. The model considers various design parameters and analyzes their effects on the system's electrical output and room temperature.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruijun Chen, Holly Samuelson, Yukai Zou, Xianghan Zheng, Yifan Cao
Summary: This research introduces an innovative resilient design framework that optimizes building performance by considering a holistic life cycle perspective and accounting for climate projection uncertainties. The study finds that future climate scenarios significantly impact building life cycle performance, with wall U-value, windows U-value, and wall density being major factors. By using ensemble learning and optimization algorithms, predictions for carbon emissions, cost, and indoor discomfort hours can be made, and the best resilient design scheme can be selected. Applying this framework leads to significant improvements in building life cycle performance.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
