Testing
Thermo-physical characteristics of investigated materials will be determined through direct measurements of thermal conductivity, via hot disk apparatus, of solar and visible transmissivity and reflectance by means of UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer and emissivity by FTIR spectrophotometer, through the instruments available in DENERG laboratories. Panels and composites will proceed in two different ways: analytical (properties of composite systems are calculate by properties of individual components) and experimental using Doppler, thermographic methods and, thermostatic chambers. The acoustic characteristics will be assessed by phonometric and intensimetric tests. For panels and composites, the absorption /reflection measurements for flat incidence will be carried out in anechoic chamber using techniques that involve the use of the impulse response or by characterization, while for the random incidence will be conducted in a reverberation room. The mechanical behaviour of flexible and rigid lightweight components (membranes and thin shells) will be also assessed, using the biaxial rig. Further investigation will also deal with the foreseeing of the right integration of new light materials and components with traditional and heavy ones; as well as the simulation of the performances of their construction interface. It is also foreseen an investigation of materials with measures through impedance tube (available through the PoliMi Sound and Vibration Laboratory, Mech. Department); evidence of sound insulation will be realized through intensimetric investigation at "existing structures" (the existing box must be adapted to the noise from rain or possibly it can be assumed a campaign in the anechoic chamber).
The structural testing of fabrics will be carried out in the interdepartmental lab on Textiles materials and polymers "TEXTILES HUB".
Thermal testing will be performed in the corresponding laboratories of the Energy Department of PoliMi.
The acoustical testing will be carried out in the PoliMi sound and vibration laboratory "PSVL".
Stage 1: Material Library
A thorough market research will be performed in order to find the available material resources that are commonly used in an emergency. In particular various fabrics and tensile structure components. A small library will be created that later might be used optimisation techniques. With enough data an algorithm may be created that could try out all the possible material choices from the library and give out the most optimal results among the choice.
Stage 2: Testing
Some of the widely used fabrics will be tested in single layered and composite modes to determine their thermal and acoustical characteristics. Also, their structural capabilities will be tested (see details in methodology). These characteristics are later going to be used to perform digital simulations on various solutions to determine the optimal usage of the materials. In some parts an optimization process may be added.
Stage 3: Design
The obtained knowledge and data will be used to create shelter designs that act mainly on tensile fabric structures, provide enough internal comfort and maintain reusability.
Possible types of structures:
- Active bending
- Tensegrity
- Pneumatic cushions
- others
Comparisons may be made to widely used non-tensile structure shelter internal comfort conditions where appropriate in order to better assess the outcomes of given solutions. The final design solutions should be prototyped and if possible made into fully working models.