chaPter 12 the Broader context
516
independent of common energy sources via the use of solar cells, of
course, is so prevalent that it hardly needs mention. Yet widespread
energy selfsufficiency is a very long way away. Nanotechnologies will
certainly help make solar cells far more efficient than currently (see
Section 9.7) and will come in forms that allow more versatile placement and use. Improvements can be expected in the form of other
energy sources, such as geothermal. Also important is the potential
for improved efficiencies in the plethora of systems that distribute
energy throughout buildings, including ubiquitous elements such
as heat exchangers or the like (Section 9.3). As noted, improved
enclosure systems will reduce heating and cooling demands.
Nanoporous materials, or nanomaterials with catalytic properties,
are expected to aid in achieving clean air and clean water objectives
within buildings.
Structural systems obviously provide a fundamental role in buildings.
Included here are structural system elements made from longused
conventional materials, especially steel and reinforced concrete.
Aluminum and other metals can be used in certain circumstances
as well. These traditional materials have long been the subject of
intensive research and development. The basic materials used are
already surprisingly sophisticated—advanced metallurgy in steel
has certainly had its successes—and nanomaterials can be expected
to play a role in their further evolution, such as metal matrix nanocomposites. The development of sensorbased structural systems
that have either embedded damage detection technologies or active
responses to changing loading or force conditions that are enabled
by sophisticated control systems are undoubtedly areas that could
benefit from nanotechnologies. In these cases, member sizes can be
expected to reduce. Many devices are being developed, for example,
for controlling damaging effects of seismic ground motions or wind
forces. The future is bright here.
In construction, however, it should always be remembered that vast
amounts of common building activities use primary materials in
massive quantities – often in situations where performance requirements are not particularly high – and in relatively lowvalue contexts. This is not a picture that fosters widespread technologically
based revolutions to improve performances if costs for using innovative new materials escalate as well. This picture differs in comparison with other industries. A driving force in selecting metals
for use in the structures for aerospace industry, for example, is to
use materials with high strengthtoweight or stiffnesstoweight
ratios, so that overall product weights can be reduced. The same
driver is present in the automotive industry. Benefits of reduced
516
independent of common energy sources via the use of solar cells, of
course, is so prevalent that it hardly needs mention. Yet widespread
energy selfsufficiency is a very long way away. Nanotechnologies will
certainly help make solar cells far more efficient than currently (see
Section 9.7) and will come in forms that allow more versatile placement and use. Improvements can be expected in the form of other
energy sources, such as geothermal. Also important is the potential
for improved efficiencies in the plethora of systems that distribute
energy throughout buildings, including ubiquitous elements such
as heat exchangers or the like (Section 9.3). As noted, improved
enclosure systems will reduce heating and cooling demands.
Nanoporous materials, or nanomaterials with catalytic properties,
are expected to aid in achieving clean air and clean water objectives
within buildings.
Structural systems obviously provide a fundamental role in buildings.
Included here are structural system elements made from longused
conventional materials, especially steel and reinforced concrete.
Aluminum and other metals can be used in certain circumstances
as well. These traditional materials have long been the subject of
intensive research and development. The basic materials used are
already surprisingly sophisticated—advanced metallurgy in steel
has certainly had its successes—and nanomaterials can be expected
to play a role in their further evolution, such as metal matrix nanocomposites. The development of sensorbased structural systems
that have either embedded damage detection technologies or active
responses to changing loading or force conditions that are enabled
by sophisticated control systems are undoubtedly areas that could
benefit from nanotechnologies. In these cases, member sizes can be
expected to reduce. Many devices are being developed, for example,
for controlling damaging effects of seismic ground motions or wind
forces. The future is bright here.
In construction, however, it should always be remembered that vast
amounts of common building activities use primary materials in
massive quantities – often in situations where performance requirements are not particularly high – and in relatively lowvalue contexts. This is not a picture that fosters widespread technologically
based revolutions to improve performances if costs for using innovative new materials escalate as well. This picture differs in comparison with other industries. A driving force in selecting metals
for use in the structures for aerospace industry, for example, is to
use materials with high strengthtoweight or stiffnesstoweight
ratios, so that overall product weights can be reduced. The same
driver is present in the automotive industry. Benefits of reduced