ABSTRACT
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites are quickly becoming an accepted material for both interior and exterior applications in design. This project exemplifies the opportunities that exist with a light weight system capable of being quickly customized and manufactured. The intent of this design was to create an expressive facade panel which helps to insulate the building through its geometry. The effect of normalizing pressure is important as it helps to reduce air infiltration, a significant factor in energy loss in small-scale structures. The effect of the geometry of the panel creates this turbulence zone only at higher wind speeds when it is most necessary. Variations of the panel design were tested using Computational Fluid Dynamics software capable of simulating the performance of the panels at various wind velocities. The panels are manufactured using both decades-old techniques and cutting-edge robotics. Each unique panel requires a mold used to lay up the fiberglass.
