Steven Van Dessel

My research and teaching activities are in the area of sustainable building design and building technology, with a special focus on the study of adaptive building enclosure systems. One of the goals of this research is to develop smart materials that can alter their thermal properties in response to changing outdoor conditions, in order to conserve energy and optimize building thermal comfort. This research entails the use of energy modeling tools, experimental investigations including synthesis of new materials, and the study of practical applications. The broader perspective of this work is to realize sustainable construction systems that minimize material consumption and optimize energy use while reducing costs. In this work we are also working with undergraduate students on projects that deal with the practical challenges of sustainable building design. Examples of such projects include participation in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competitions, which focuses on the design of zero-energy buildings. Such projects are designed to offer opportunities to students that are interested in expanding their knowledge of environmental design, energy modeling tools, new materials, construction detailing, and the practical planning and construction of building projects.

Scholarly Work

Tine Lanssens, Charlot Tanghe, Nima Rahbar, Pinar Okumus, Tahar El-Korchi, Steven Van Dessel “Mechanical Behavior of a Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sandwich Panel with Through-Thickness Fiber Insertions” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 64 (2014) pp. 473-479 2014

Okumus, P.; El-Korchi, T.; Van Dessel, S.; Tassignon, T.; Van Parys, T.; Freeman, G. "Structural Design of an Affordable, Functional, Sustainable Solar Decathlon House", Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Design in Civil & Environmental Engineering, June 28th and 29th, 2013, Worcester, MA 2013

Marc Delghust, Jelle Laverge, Arnold Janssens, Michel De Paepe, Steven. Van Dessel, “Robustness study of a flexible zero-energy house”, 2011 Passief-Huis-Symposium 2011

Steven Van Dessel, Benjamin Foubert, “Active thermal insulators: Finite elements modeling and parametric study of thermoelectric modules integrated into a double pane glazing system” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 42 (2010) pp. 1156–1164 2010

Xu Xu, Steven Van Dessel, “Evaluation of an Active Building Envelope window-system”, Building and Environment 43 (2007) pp. 1785–1791 2007

Xu Xu, Steven Van Dessel, Achille Messac, “Study of the performance of thermoelectric modules for use in active building envelopes”, Building and Environment 42 (2007) 1489–1502 2007

Media Coverage

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Telegram.com

New WWl memorial at Green Hill Park

Steven Van Dessel, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and his students were highlighted in The Telegram & Gazette (scroll down to last graph) for designing the new WWl memorial at Green Hill Park, which was unveiled yesterday.

Forbes

Too Hot, Too Cold? Scientists Search For The Optimal Temperature For Learning

Forbes reported online about research led by Shichao Liu to study the optimal indoor conditions for learning. Liu, Jacob Whitehill and Steven Van Dessel received $299,991 develop technologies that detect and boost student engagement in lessons by controlling classroom temperature, ventilation, and lighting.