Assessment and Numerical Modeling of the Thermophysical Efficiency of Newly Developed Adaptive Building Envelopes Under Variable Climatic Impacts
Zhangabay N. Oner A. Ibraimova U. Ibrahim M.N.M. Tursunkululy T. Utelbayeva A.
January 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Buildings
2026#16Issue 2
The relevance of this study is driven by the increasing requirements for the energy efficiency and indoor comfort of residential and public buildings, particularly in regions with extreme climatic conditions characterized by substantial daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. Effective management of heat transfer through building envelopes has become a key factor in reducing energy consumption and improving indoor comfort. This paper presents the results of an experimental–numerical investigation of the thermal behavior of an adaptive exterior wall system with a controllable air cavity. Steady-state and transient simulations were performed for three envelope configurations: a baseline design, a design with vertical air channels, and an adaptive configuration equipped with adjustable openings. Quantitative analysis showed that during the winter period, the adaptive configuration increases the interior surface temperature by 1.5–2.3 °C compared to the baseline design, resulting in a 12–18% reduction in the specific heat flux through the wall. In the summer period, the temperature of the exterior cladding decreases by 3–5 °C relative to the baseline, which reduces heat gains by 8–14% and lowers the cooling load. Additional analysis of temperature fields demonstrated that the presence of vertical air channels has a limited effect during winter: temperature differences at the surfaces do not exceed 1 °C. A similar pattern is observed in warm periods; however, due to controlled air circulation, the adaptive configuration provides an improved thermal regime. The results confirm the effectiveness of the adaptive wall system under the climatic conditions of southern Kazakhstan, characterized by high solar radiation and large diurnal temperature variations. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of adaptive façades to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings during both winter and summer seasons.
adaptive facades , building energy efficiency , climatic conditions , controllable air cavity , heat transfer , thermal behavior of building envelopes
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Scientific Research Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering Problems, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, Tauke Khan av. 5, Shymkent, 160012, Kazakhstan
Department of Building Materials and Technologies, Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev av. 56, Karaganda, 100000, Kazakhstan
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, Tauke Khan av. 5, Shymkent, 160012, Kazakhstan
School of Chemical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Level 1, Building E42, Chancellory II, Gelugor, Penang, George Town, 11800, Malaysia
Department of Chemistry, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, Tauke Khan av. 5, Shymkent, 160012, Kazakhstan
Scientific Research Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering Problems
Department of Building Materials and Technologies
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning
School of Chemical Science
Department of Chemistry
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026