20%) while harvesting solar heat. These benefits will eventually translate to each one of us as food consumers.2) Environmental benefits: The proposed greenhouse uses clean solar energy and it is self-sustaining. Other energy resources (either renewable or non-renewable) might be only necessary for maintenance or emergences. The green technology we proposed in this project is essential to expedite the process of shifting from energy-intensive agriculture to sustainable agriculture, which will reduce carbon footprints and alleviate global warming.3) Technical benefits: The innovative BIPVT-geothermal systems integrated with smart sensing and control units proposed in this project not only apply for greenhouses, they can also be adapted to many other civil infrastructures such as residential or commercial buildings, shading structures, rigid or flexible pavements, parking lots, swimming pools.4) Social benefits and policy changes: The energy-sustaining solar greenhouses will be examples: (a) to encourage the agricultural sector to promote improved energy efficiency and conservation in farm operations; (b) to educate the general public how to develop better ways to utilize renewable energy sources for food production and other applications.The popularization of these advanced greenhouse technologies can prompt positive changes in energy policies related to the agricultural sector and consequently other agriculture-related departments, which would work as a starting point of a healthy and more sustainable energy circle for all human-involved activities.' />
Source: LAMONT DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY OF COLUMBIA UNIV submitted to NRP
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO A ZERO-ENERGY GREENHOUSE USING SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1025558
Grant No.
2021-67021-34201
Cumulative Award Amt.
$453,850.00
Proposal No.
2020-08766
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Feb 15, 2021
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2025
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[A1521]- Agricultural Engineering
Recipient Organization
LAMONT DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY OF COLUMBIA UNIV
PO BOX 1000
PALISADES,NY 10964-1000
Performing Department
Civil Eng. and Eng. Mechanics
Non Technical Summary
Given the rising demand for food due to rapid population growth, greenhouses have become one of the most common on-farm facilities. However, conventional commercial greenhouses use fossil fuel energy for heating, contributing to agriculture's carbon footprint and suffering from low energy efficiency, short lifespans, and high maintenance costs. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a zero-energy greenhouse using solar and geothermal energy. Building integrated photovoltaic-thermal (BIPVT) panels for the roofing system and phase change material (PCM) based underground heat storage/dissipation system will be used for supplemental lighting and temperature/moisture control of the greenhouse. The proposed technology will significantly improve energy harvesting efficiency with solar and geothermal energy, create controlled indoor environments with self-powered smart sensing, and enhance farm production through optimized plant-environmental interaction.The research program will validate following hypotheses: 1) Optimizing energy harvesting and supplemental lighting for higher yield in the greenhouse; 2) Achieving seasonal heat storage through a geothermal system for greenhouse operation, and; 3) Utilization of solar and geothermal energy which may lead to affordable net zero-energy greenhouse technologies. The success of this project will immediately create new research areas and applications in energy sustainability of agricultural systems. The proposed greenhouse technology exhibits the following benefits:1) Energy and economic benefits: The BIPVT panel our team developed provides a viable solution to significantly increase the overall energy efficiency (e.g., PV efficiency enhanced by >20%) while harvesting solar heat. These benefits will eventually translate to each one of us as food consumers.2) Environmental benefits: The proposed greenhouse uses clean solar energy and it is self-sustaining. Other energy resources (either renewable or non-renewable) might be only necessary for maintenance or emergences. The green technology we proposed in this project is essential to expedite the process of shifting from energy-intensive agriculture to sustainable agriculture, which will reduce carbon footprints and alleviate global warming.3) Technical benefits: The innovative BIPVT-geothermal systems integrated with smart sensing and control units proposed in this project not only apply for greenhouses, they can also be adapted to many other civil infrastructures such as residential or commercial buildings, shading structures, rigid or flexible pavements, parking lots, swimming pools.4) Social benefits and policy changes: The energy-sustaining solar greenhouses will be examples: (a) to encourage the agricultural sector to promote improved energy efficiency and conservation in farm operations; (b) to educate the general public how to develop better ways to utilize renewable energy sources for food production and other applications.The popularization of these advanced greenhouse technologies can prompt positive changes in energy policies related to the agricultural sector and consequently other agriculture-related departments, which would work as a starting point of a healthy and more sustainable energy circle for all human-involved activities.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
30%
Developmental
50%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
4020440202030%
4020199202040%
1021430106015%
9036099302015%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery; 402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
1430 - Greens and leafy vegetables; 6099 - People and communities, general/other; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 0440 - Solar radiation;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 3020 - Education;
Keywords
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goal of this project is to develop a zero-energy greenhouse using solar and geothermal energy. This integrated, interdisciplinary research and extension project will achieve the following objectives: 1) Develop advanced BIPVT panels for improved energy harvesting and optimized indoor environment control; 2) Design and develop a geothermal heat well system with PCM; 3) Understand the heat transfer and underground temperature change for thermal management and energy efficiency optimization; 4) Study the correlation of lighting and plant yield for the optimal energy harvesting ratio; 5) Investigate the crop-environment dynamics for maximized yield of crops, and; 6) Demonstrate the greenhouse design and performance by demonstrating hydroponic lettuce culture for informal applied education and community engagement.
Project Methods
This integrated research-extension project aims to design and develop a novel greenhouse and demonstrate it in a field project for hydroponics of lettuce production. Six research tasks, each of which may include several subtasks in accordance with the research objectives, are provided as follows:Develop advanced BIPVT panels for improved energy harvesting and optimized indoor environment control (Yin, Wei - 12 mon)Design and develop a geothermal heat well system with PCM (Wei, Pena -18 mon);Understand the heat transfer and underground temperature change for thermal management and energy efficiency optimization (Yin - 24 mon)Study the correlation of lighting and yielding of plants for the optimal energy harvesting ratio (Lerner, Wei - 18 mon);Investigate the crop-environment dynamics for maximized yielding of crops (Lerner, Mattson - 24 mon)Demonstrate the greenhouse design and performance by hydroponics of lettuce for informal education and community engagement (Lerner, Pena - 24 mon)The above effort will be highlighted by the milestones as follows:Establish BIPVT design and manufacture by the 12th months;Geothermal well drilling and testing by the 16th months;Hydroponics modeling by the 18th month;Greenhouse construction completion by the 24th month, and;Life cycle performance analysis by the 36th month. The final report will document all activities.In addition, two outreach open houses at Tilly Foster Farm and summer programs will provide education opportunities to the local public and community students.

Progress 02/15/24 to 02/14/25

Outputs
Target Audience:1.The greenhouse structure has been erected and polycarbonate panels are used for buildingenvelope. 2. Geothermal wells have been designed and three boreholes were drilled around the threecorners, which will be used in the next phase for heat exchanger installation andtesting. The temperature change has been monitored for geothermal system design and analysis. 3. Hydroponics system has been designed and the material systems were ordered forinstallation and testing with lettuce growth. 4. The daily and annual temperature change in the greenhouse and underground has beenmodelled with the Green's function based thermal analysis for both harmonic and generaltransient heat transfer. 5. Agrivoltaic (AV)panels were designed with lightweight polycarbonate surface andtransparent backsheet, but the bending problem was identified and we change to glass-PV-TPE structure now. The team is planning to install the hydroponics system for lettuce grow in 2 months. The AVpanels are under the development and will be delivered in 2months and installed in 2 months. We will have ~4 months for regular operation of the greenhouse and finish the project inSeptember 2025. Changes/Problems:We need to install solar panels to the greenhouse and conduct the performance tests of lettuce growth. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided opportunity for my students on course work of E4115 Micromechanics of Composite Materials and E4113 Advance Mechanics of Solids for thermomechanical modeling of composite materials. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We presented the results in ASCE EMIconferences, USDA NIFA annual project meetings, and CCE outreach activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The team is planning to install the hydroponics system for lettuce growth in 2 months. The AV panels are under development and will be delivered in 2 months and installed in 2 months. We will have ~4 months for regular operation of the greenhouse and finish the project in September 2025.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The greenhouse structure has been erected and polycarbonate panels are used for building envelope. Geothermal wells have been designed and three boreholes were drilled around the three corners, which will be used in the next phase for heat exchanger installation and testing. The temperature change has been monitored for geothermal system design and analysis. Hydroponics system has been designed and the material systems were ordered for installation and testing with lettuce growth. The daily and annual temperature change in the greenhouse and underground has been modelled with the Green's function based thermal analysis for both harmonic and general transient heat transfer. Agrivoltaic (AV) panels were designed with lightweight polycarbonate surface and transparent backsheet, but the bending problem was identified and we changed to a glass-PV-TPE structure now.

Publications

  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: T. Chen, H.M. Yin, Camera-Based Plant Growth Monitoring for Automated Plant Cultivation with Controlled Environment Agriculture, Smart Agricultural Technology, 8, 2024, 100449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2024.100449
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: J.M. Zhang, C.L. Wu, H.M. Yin, Particle size effect on the thermomechanical behavior of composites - a comparative study between heterogeneous and homogenized beams, Mechanics of Materials, 2024, 198, 105106.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: M. Zadshir, B.W. Kim, H.M. Yin, Bio-based phase change materials for sustainable development, Materials, Special Issue Phase Change Materials (PCM) for Thermal Energy Storage, 2024, 17(19), 4816.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: L.G. Teka, R. Betti, H.M. Yin, The effect of wrapping force on the effective stiffness of packed parallel wire cables with elastoplastic contacts, Journal of Engineering Mechanics  invited by Special Collection on the EMI 2023 Conference Student Competition Finalist Papers. 150 (10), 04024073, 2024.


Progress 02/15/23 to 02/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Due to the change of the leadership of Tilly Foster Farm,CCE Putnam decided to switch the hosting farm to Pleasant View Harvest (PVH) Farm. The team has worked with the PVH, drilling company, farm structure manufacturer, and solar system manufacturer for construction, which are on the final phase ofcontracting. The team willunite not onlythe research aspects of this project but the extension aspects as well, via co-developed publications andpresentations. Integrating growers and local stakeholders as peer-educators is another extension aspect of this proposal. The farm will provide support and facilitate the construction of the greenhouse and the ongoing researchtasks and subtasks afterward. The facility will be our new demonstration site for the technology to the public, greenhouse customersand researchers. Changes/Problems:We are changing the hosting farm from Tilly Foster Farm to Pleasant View Harvest Farm. One year no-fee extension has been submitted. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided opportunity for my students on course work of E4116 Energy Harvesting for heat and mass transfer analysis in greenhouse applications. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We presented the results in conferences as follows: 1. Chao Liu, Byung-wook Kim, Huiming Yin, Tailoring the thermoelastic properties of a lattice-based composite with prestress, The third International Conference on Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structure, 9-11 August 2023, College Station, Texas. 2. Jinming Zhang, Chunlin Wu, Huiming Yin, Size effect on the thermoelastic behavior of a particulate composite beam - a comparative study of micromechanical models and numerical simulation, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023. 3. Chao Liu, Huiming Yin, Tailorable thermoelectricity of cubic lattice-based cellular and granular materials by the configuration stress, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023 4. Linda Teka, Huiming Yin, The effect of wrapping force on the transverse stiffness of packed bridge cables: an elastoplastic analysis, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023 5. Xin He, Huiming Yin, Stress and Fracture Analysis of a Perforated Spherical Container under Internal Pressure, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023 6. Byung-Wook Kim, Chao Liu, Huiming Yin, Thermoelastic Model of Cubic Crystals for Structural Metals, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023 7. Chunlin Wu, Tengxiang Wang, Huiming Yin, The Green's function based thermoelastic analysis of spherical geothermal tanks in a semi-infinite domain, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023 8. Chunlin Wu, Huiming Yin, The effects of boundary and inhomogeneities to delamination of a bilayered material, Mini-Symposia 1 - Modelling and Characterization of Damage and Fracture, The Fourth International Conference on Damage Mechanics, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, MAY 15 - 18, 2023. 9. Chao Liu, Byung-wook Kim, Huiming Yin, Zero-thermal expansion and temperature derivative of stiffness of composites with the configurational stress, Mini-Symposia 12 - In Honor of Prof. Khemais Saanouni "Advanced Damage mechanics and its application in metal forming", The Fourth International Conference on Damage Mechanics, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, MAY 15 - 18, 2023. Several papers are still underway. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Now the construction project is underway. We will have students participate in the design and construction, demonstration and testing, public open-house and workshops.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A. The startup company - PVT Clean Energy LLC - has secured USDASBIR Phase I: Thermal management and energy harvesting of a solar geothermal greenhouse for improved plant production. (Mehdi Zadshir PI, Yin, H. Technical Advisor - Consultant 50 hrs), USDA-NIFA, $175,000, 7/1/2023 - 1/31/2024 (on contract). B. Two patents have been developed by PVT Clean Energy LLC: 1. C. Liu, F. Pao, H.M. Yin, M. Zadshir, Design and manufacture of a hierarchical lattice-based material with ultra-lightweight, high stiffness, and designable thermoelasticity, Provisional patent Application #63/485,033, 2/15/2023, PVT Clean Energy LLC. 2. M. Zadshir, H.M. Yin, F. Pao, B.D. Leon, Photovoltaic thermal system for coupling to solar panel, Non-provisional patent Application, US 63/377,057, 9/26/2023, PVT Clean Energy LLC. C. The Finalist Place of the Student Competition of EMI Elasticity Committee (2023): Chao Liu, Tailorable thermoelectricity of cubic lattice-based cellular and granular materials by the configuration stress. Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023 (EMI 2023), ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6-9, 2023.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2024 Citation: C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, G. Weng, H.M. Yin, Thermoelastic modeling of functionally graded materials by a single domain integral with bi-material fundamental solutions, International Journal of Engineering Science (revisions).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2024 Citation: C.L. Wu, H.M. Yin, The effects of boundary and inhomogeneities on the delamination of a bi-layered material system, International Journal of Damage Mechanics (in press). https://doi/10.1177/10567895231216008.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: C.L. Wu, H.M. Yin, Stress discontinuity and singularity around the vertex of a triangular inhomogeneity, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 184, 2024, 105545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2024.105545.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: H.M. Yin, C. Liu, Anisotropy and asymmetry of the elastic tensor of lattice materials, Journal of Elasticity, 154, 2023, 659691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10659-023-10028-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: M. Zadshir, C.L. Wu, X.K. Yu, H.M. Yin, Design and performance testing of a novel building integrated photovoltaic thermal roofing panel (invited), Building Simulation  special issue - Flexible Building-integrated Solar Energy Technologies Towards Carbon Neutrality, 16, 2023, 18631879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-023-1027-z.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: C. Liu, H.M. Yin, Tailorable thermoelasticity of cubic lattice-based cellular and granular materials by the configuration stress, Materials & Design, 233, 112223 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2023.112223
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, H.M. Yin, Effect of defects and reinforcements on the mechanical behavior of a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panel, Proceeding Royal Society A. 479(2271), 20220754, 2023. 10.1098/rspa.2022.0754.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: L.G. Teka, L.M. Li, H.M. Yin, Deflection reduction of the guideway of aerial personal rapid transit systems by horizontal supports, Engineering Structures, 291. 2023, 116371, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116371
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: C.L. Wu, H.M. Yin, Thermoelastic fields for a heat exchanger of arbitrary shape in a bi-material infinite plane, International Journal of Structures and Solids, 269(1), 112167, 2023. 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2023.112167.


Progress 02/15/22 to 02/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:This project not only integrates engineering and horticulture research; it has a strong informal educationextension component as well. As a community based project, CCE Putnam resource educator Co-PI Lerner will be advised bycampus-based controlled environment and greenhouse specialist, Neil Mattson. This campus to county connection will unite notonly the research aspects of this project but the extension aspects as well, via co-developed publications and presentations.Integrating growers and local stakeholders as peer-educators is another extension aspect of this proposal. In the past year, Mr. Fred Pena left his position atPutnam County,which is still open, the Tilly Foster Farm construction plan has been held off. The team is still waiting for the new officer to resume the activities. However, our research on design and analysis are still on going. Changes/Problems:1. Due to the visa problems, our hiring of the Research Scientists have not received their visas until last November. Now they are here and we expecting rapid progress in Research and Development. 2. Our original coPI - the governmental leader Mr. Fred Pena left his position of Putnam County (owner of Tilly Foster Farm), we are waiting for the next leader to represent Tilly Foster Farm for the construction. 3. Our original coPI - Industry leader Zhenhua Wei left his position of Sustainble Product and Development Labfor a faculty position, his position is continued by Dr. Jason Lou, who will serve the coPI. 4. If we cannot get permit for Greenhouse construction at Tilly Foster Farm, we plan to change to another farm. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two undergraduate students participate in the development and testing of the passive heat exchanger for our geothermal system. One PhD student participated in the modeling and analysis. One PhD student conducted structural design of the Green House. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have interviewed two companies for the foundation and superstructure of greenhouse construction: Geothermal Foundation: Markanthony Barraza Owner/ General Manager HVSP Construction LLC Techno Metal Post 187 Plains Rd. Walden, NY 12586 Greenhouse superstructure: Zachery Carr Senior Greenhouse Designer O +1 (877) 835 9996 X 1170 C +1 860 936 0093 zcarr@growspan.com www.growspan.com HQ 1395 John Fitch Blvd South Windsor, CT MFG 18th Ave SW Dyersville, IA What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Greenhouse construction and testing. If Tilly Foster Farm cannot get the permit, we will seek to change to another farm.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Green house for Tilly Foster Farm has been designed and submitted to the Putnam County for the review. However, the County has not issued the permit for construction yet. Once the permit is obtained, we can start to acquire and develop the materials for construction and testing.

Publications

  • Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: H.M. Yin, L.L. Zhang, G. Song, C.L. Wu, Inclusion based boundary element method (iBEM), Academic Press, 2022. ISBN-13: 978-0128193846.
  • Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: H.M. Yin, M. Zadshir, F. Pao, Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal Systems: Fundamentals, Designs and Applications, Academic Press, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-0128210642
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: C.L. Wu, T.X. Wang, H.M. Yin, The Green's function based thermoelastic analysis of a spherical geothermal tank in a semi-infinite domain, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 173(4), 105207, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2023.105207.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: H.M. Yin, Generalization of the singum model for the elasticity prediction of lattice metamaterials and composites, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE (in press), 10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0002152.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2023 Citation: H.M. Yin, Improved singum model based on finite deformation of crystals with the thermodynamic equation of state, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE (in press), 10.1061/JENMDT.EMENG-6831.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: L.G. Teka, M. Zadshir, Huiming Yin. Mechanical analysis and design of large building integrated photovoltaic panels for a seamless roof, Solar Energy, 251, 1-12, 2023, 10.1016/j.solener.2022.12.045.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: H.M. Yin, J.H. Cui, L.G. Teka, M. Zadshir, Effect of wrapping force on the effective elastic behavior of packed cylinders, Journal of Applied Mechanics ASME, 90 (3), 031003, 2023, 10.1115/1.4056212
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, J.H. Cui, H.M. Yin, Elastic analysis of a bi-material system with a single domain boundary element method, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 146, 17-33, 2023, 10.1016/j.enganabound.2022.09.037.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, H.M. Yin, Stress concentration caused by a bubble in a bi-layered material, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 149(2), 04022109, 2022, 10.1061/JENMDT.EMENG-6779.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: T.X. Wang, C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, H.M. Yin, The Green's Function Based Thermal Analysis of a Spherical Geothermal Tank in a Semi-infinite Domain, Journal of Applied Mechanics ASME, 89(7), 071008, 2022, 10.1115/1.4054568.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: H.M. Yin, A simplified continuum particle model bridging interatomic potentials and elasticity of solids, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 148(5), 04022017, 2022, 10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0002096 (The Editors Choice for the Issue).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, G. Song, H.M. Yin, Inclusion-based boundary element method for virtual experiments of particulate composites containing arbitrarily shaped inhomogeneities, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 135, 93-114, 2022. 10.1016/j.enganabound.2021.10.024.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Q.L. Lin, Y.-C. Chen, F.L. Chen, TJ. DeGanyar, H.M. Yin, Design and experiments of a thermoelectric-powered wireless sensing network platform for smart building envelope, Applied Energy, 305, 117791, 2022. 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117791.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: X.K. Yu, M. Zadshir, J.R. Yan, H.M. Yin, Morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene and carbon nanotube modified asphalt binders, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 34(5), 04022047, 2022, 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0004183.


Progress 02/15/21 to 02/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:In this period, due to the bad COVID situation with our existing researchers, slow recruiting process for new researchers, and the long conflict of Interest review process, the working progress for informal education and community based projects were moving slow. Actually, we just finished the paperwork for subcontract two months ago, and are planning to reach target audience. Meanwhile, we have done the following: 1. Completed the survey of the local greenhouse design specifications with Tilly Foster Farm (TFF) 2. Reached two greenhouse manufacturers for the greenhouse construction 3. Presented our research in conferences and meetings. 4. One student won "The Second Place of the CEHMS F. Pao Poster Competition, Linda Getachew Teka, Design and Development of Solar geothermal Greenhouse at Tilly Foster Farms, NSF IUCRC CEHMS IAB Meeting, Virginia Tech, November 2021. " Now we are still in the hiring process to build up the team. Considering this situation, we will have to postpone some proposed work and hope we can move faster in 2022. Changes/Problems:In the past year, we had a lot of difficulties to conduct in-person meetings and recruit researchers or helpers. Although our theoretical or numerical work moved before our schedule, our field work lag much behind. We plan to catch up the work once the COVID situation is relieved in the New York City. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Ms. Linda Getachew Teka, an Africa student, was recruited in this study for her PhD degree. She won: The Second Place of the CEHMS F. Pao Poster Competition, Linda Getachew Teka, Design and Development of Solar geothermal Greenhouse at Tilly Foster Farms, NSF IUCRC CEHMS IAB Meeting, Virginia Tech, November 2021. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In the past year, we have done limited in-person community outreach due to many restrictions and difficulties. However we presented the work in conferences and professional meetings and received positive feedbacks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We hope to finish the construction project, so that we can have real product to do the research and demonstrate to the community. Meanwhile, we can validate our models that we have made big progress.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Interviewed geothechincal engineers and environmental engineers for the greenhouse design 2. Conduct the greenhouse design and prepare materials for construction 3. Develop algorithms for heat conduction and energy flow through the system. 4. Published the book of building integrated photovoltaic thermal systems with a chapter of BIPVT Applications in Farms

Publications

  • Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: 2. H.M. Yin, M. Zadshir, F. Pao, Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal Systems: Fundamentals, Designs and Applications, Academic Press, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-0128210642
  • Type: Books Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2022 Citation: 3. H.M. Yin, L.L. Zhang, G. Song, C.L. Wu, Inclusion based boundary element method (iBEM), Academic Press, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-0128193846
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: 1. Yanchu Zhang, Mehdi Zadshir, Huiming Yin. Nonlinear Deformation of Large Building Integrated Photovoltaic Panels under Static Transverse Loading. 13th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE2021), 11/29 - 12/2, Bangkok, Thailand, 2021.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: H.M. Yin, A continuum particle model bridging interatomic potentials and elasticity of solids, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: 2. C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, G. Song, H.M. Yin, Inclusion-based boundary element method for virtual experiments of particulate composites containing arbitrarily shaped inhomogeneities, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 135, 93-114, 2022. 10.1016/j.enganabound.2021.10.024.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: 3. Q.L. Lin, Y.-C. Chen, F.L. Chen, TJ. DeGanyar, H.M. Yin, Design and experiments of a thermoelectric-powered wireless sensing network platform for smart building envelope, Applied Energy, (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: 4. X.K. Yu, M. Zadshir, J.R. Yan, H.M. Yin, Morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene and carbon nanotube modified asphalt binders, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: 6. C.L. Wu, L.L. Zhang, H.M. Yin, Elastic solution of a polyhedral inclusion with a polynomial eigenstrain, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 88(12): 121001, 2021 doi.org/10.1115/1.4051869.