Tag Archives: roof

Fluid Cathedrals: Gels Under the Microscope

By Guest PostOctober 8, 2012Science3d maps, bandage, basilica, cables, computer simulation, correlation, di, discovery, dollop, engineering researcher, error, florence, flow, fluid, geodesic dome, hair gel, high tech, labyrinth, lilian hsiao, manufacturer, michael solomon, michigan, particle, pedestrian, pressure, railroad bridge, richmond newman, rigid structure, rods, roof, santa croce, sharon glotzer, tensegrity, trial

ANN ARBOR— A dollop of hair gel might not look like much, but Michigan Engineering researchers have found that it’s a labyrinth of chambers and domes, constructed by the particles inside. These structures allow the gel to hold its shape and determine how much pressure it can withstand before it starts to flow.

While manufacturers currently use trial and error to develop gels with a particular degree of solidity, this discovery could provide a way to design gels for particular applications. (more…)

Aquatics Center: Brown Dives into Solar Energy

By Guest PostFebruary 12, 2012Environmentaquatics center, boston, brown, chris powell, electricity from sunlight, environmental initiative, generate, glycol, hudson, hybrid, hybrid panels, hybrid solar panels, katherine moran coleman aquatic center, michael intrieri, photovoltaic strip, power, renewable energy, rhode island, roof, solar energy, solar installation, sundrum solar, sunlight solar energy, sustainable energy, thermal energy, thomas p, tip o neill, united states

The 168 rectangular panels on the roof of the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatic Center will generate enough power to keep the lights on and enough thermal energy to heat the million-gallon pool. The center, due to open April 13, will be Rhode Island’s first hybrid (heat and power) solar installation — also the largest in the nation and the first on a college campus.

Brown is diving into solar energy. (more…)