Numerical Assessment of Zebra-Stripes-Based Strategies in Buildings Energy Performance: A Case Study under Tropical Climate

Urban growth has increased the risk of over-heating both in the microclimate and inside buildings, affecting thermal comfort and energy efficiency. That is why this research aims to evaluate the energy performance of buildings in terms of thermal comfort (operative temperature (OP) levels, satisfied hours of natural ventilation SHNV, thermal lag), and energy efficiency (roof heat gains and surface temperatures) in an urban area in Panama City, using superficial-heat-dissipation biomimetic strategies. Two case studies, a base case and a proposed case, were evaluated using the Designbuilder software through dynamic simulation. The proposed case is based on a combined biomimetic strategy; the reflective characteristics of the Saharan ant applied as a coating on the roofs through a segmented pattern such as the Zebra’s stripes (one section with coating, and another without). Results showed that the OP decreased from 8 to 10 °C for the entire urban zone throughout the year. A reduction of 3.13% corresponding to 8790 kWh per year was achieved for cooling energy consumption. A difference of 5 °C in external surface temperature was obtained, having a lower temperature in which the biomimetic strategy was applied. Besides, it was evidenced that a contrasted-reflectivity-stripes pitched roof performed better than a fully reflective roof. Thus, the functionality of Zebra stripes, together with the reflective characteristics of the Saharan ant, provide better performance for buildings’ thermal regulation and energy needs for cooling.

Introduction experience Нydrangea petiolaris Siebold & Zucc. іn the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka”

The information on the natural habitat and the history of Hydrangea petiolaris Siebold & Zucc. The results of inventory researches of H. petiolaris in dendrological parks and botanical gardens of Ukraine are generalized. It was found that most of them successfully adapt to the factors of the new environment, grow well and develop in botanical gardens and arboretums. The use of cultivated individuals of H. petiolaris will help to improve the condition of existing plantations, increase decorativeness and generally improve the aesthetic and sanitary and hygienic condition of green areas of public use in the settlements of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. We used the method of integrated numerical assessment of viability and prospects for the introduction of woody and shrubby plants on the basis of visual observations of P. I. Lapin, S. V. Sidneva (1973) testified to the prospects of the introduction of H. petiolaris in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

Objective Numerical Evaluation of Diffuse, Optically Reconstructed Images Using Structural Similarity Index

Diffuse optical tomography is emerging as a non-invasive optical modality used to evaluate tissue information by obtaining the optical properties’ distribution. Two procedures are performed to produce reconstructed absorption and reduced scattering images, which provide structural information that can be used to locate inclusions within tissues with the assistance of a known light intensity around the boundary. These methods are referred to as a forward problem and an inverse solution. Once the reconstructed image is obtained, a subjective measurement is used as the conventional way to assess the image. Hence, in this study, we developed an algorithm designed to numerically assess reconstructed images to identify inclusions using the structural similarity (SSIM) index. We compared four SSIM algorithms with 168 simulated reconstructed images involving the same inclusion position with different contrast ratios and inclusion sizes. A multiscale, improved SSIM containing a sharpness parameter (MS-ISSIM-S) was proposed to represent the potential evaluation compared with the human visible perception. The results indicated that the proposed MS-ISSIM-S is suitable for human visual perception by demonstrating a reduction of similarity score related to various contrasts with a similar size of inclusion; thus, this metric is promising for the objective numerical assessment of diffuse, optically reconstructed images.

A Numerical Assessment of the Efficacy of a Topography Design with Increasing Gradient Complexity for Filtering Biofouling Material through the Membrane Module of a Water Treatment System

Biofouling can also be defined as the micro- / macro- organisms stuck on the surface that has been submerged in water. This is normally found in marine industry and water treatment industry. There are 3 ways of antifouling where the 3rd method surface modification was the main point to be focused on. Surface modification has high potential for antifouling performance and is not harmful to the ecosystem. In this research study was to find out the efficacy of antifouling performance with increasing the gradient complexity. The 2 models used were smooth topography and circular topography and have been manipulated and simulated with WorkBench 2020, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The results were simulated with the correct meshed and models. The simulated results were converged and 2 hydrodynamic variables; velocity and wall shear were used to check the efficacy of antifouling performance.