PhD Courses in Denmark

Humans spend approximately 80% of their time indoors, making the built environment a critical factor not only in ensuring the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants but also in significantly influencing energy consumption and environmental impact of buildings. In the EU, nearly half of total energy use is attributed to the control of indoor environment through heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Transformation of these technologies by using novel smart materials and new physical-chemical processes can significantly reduce building systems' energy demand, improving indoor air quality and minimizing the negative impacts on the environment and climate. This course introduces PhD students to the principles and applications of novel smart materials in sustainable built environment control. The course covers a wide range of different materials from smart functional materials, i.e., phase change materials (PCMs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), polymer hydrogel, etc., to advanced construction materials, biomaterials, and coating/film materials, etc. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools needed to design and integrate advanced material systems that enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance in the built environment.

A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:

• Identify and classify various types of smart materials relevant to architecture and construction.
• Understand the properties, mechanisms, and sustainability potentials of these smart materials.
• Analyze the performance of smart materials in building systems, focusing on adaptability, energy efficiency, durability, and user comfort.
• Evaluate integration strategies for implementing smart materials in building envelopes, structures, and indoor environments using passive design approaches.
• Evaluate integration strategies for using smart materials in active building systems, such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
• Use advanced numerical simulation tools (e.g., energy modeling, thermal performance analysis) to assess the environmental and functional benefits of smart material applications.
• Design experimental prototypes or case studies that demonstrate innovative uses of smart materials for energy savings, CO₂ emissions reduction, and climate responsiveness.
• Critically assess emerging technologies and interdisciplinary research related to smart materials and sustainable construction.

The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, hands-on exercises, workshops, and participant presentations. During the workshops, participants will form small groups (2–4 people) to conduct case design/analyses based on their research background. These groups will meet daily to work through structured tasks that build toward a final report/presentation. The course is structured into thematic modules covering: - Introduction to smart materials Definitions, classifications, and historical evolution; Overview of sustainability challenges in architecture and construction. - Smart materials for energy-efficient built environment control Cooling and dehumidification in buildings; Heating and thermal energy storage; Indoor air quality management; Energy harvesting, CO2 capture. - Advanced construction materials Advanced concrete; 3D printing construction materials; Environment-adaptive skin facades; Biomaterials; Double-skin façades. - Performance Metrics and Simulation Thermal, mechanical, and environmental performance; Energy modeling and building simulation tools (e.g., TRNSYS, EnergyPlus, etc.) - Case study applications Group project involving conceptual design and digital performance simulation. - Research, Innovation & Future Trends Interdisciplinary research in smart materials. Challenges of scalability, maintenance, cost, TEA, and LCA. Future directions in circular and regenerative material systems. In addition, a number of expert guest researchers will be actively involved throughout the course, providing insights into the latest developments and cutting-edge research in the field of smart functional materials.