Termite-inspired metamaterials for flow-active building envelopes

Andréen, D and Soar, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6523-5957, 2023. Termite-inspired metamaterials for flow-active building envelopes. Frontiers in Materials, 10: 1126974. ISSN 2296-8016

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Abstract

In this article we investigate the performative potential of reticulated tunnel networks to act as drivers for selective airflows in building envelopes and thereby facilitate semi-passive climate regulation. We explore whether such transient flow can be used to create functionally graded metamaterials in bio-inspired, additively fabricated buildings. The tunnel networks are modelled on the egress complex found in the mound of certain macrotermite species. The hypothesis we explore is that oscillating airflow of low amplitude can be used to generate large scale turbulence within the network and thereby increase the mass transfer rates across the network. The hypothesis is tested through a series of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional experiments where various geometries are exposed to a forced oscillation of the air or water column. The results are evaluated in the 3-dimesional experiments through tracer gas measurements, and in the 2-dimenstional experiments through visual qualitative assessment using fluorescein dye. We find that the oscillating fluid gives rise to large scale turbulence that causes a net mass transport across the tunnel network, and that this turbulence occurs when certain combinations of amplitude, frequency, and network geometry are ac

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Frontiers in Materials
Creators:	Andréen, D. and Soar, R.
Publisher:	Frontiers Media SA
Date:	26 May 2023
Volume:	10
ISSN:	2296-8016
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.3389/fmats.2023.1126974 DOI 1785580 Other
Rights:	This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	09 Sep 2025 15:35
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2025 15:35
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54306

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