Abstract: Adaptive structural systems have emerged as a promising approach for addressing the growing demand for energy-efficient buildings while maintaining high levels of structural performance. Traditionally, structural systems have been designed as static entities, with limited consideration of their potential influence on building energy performance. This study investigates the impact of adaptive structural systems on building energy performance through an integrated structural and energy-based analytical framework. A comparative quantitative approach is adopted in which an adaptive structural system is evaluated against a conventional static system under identical environmental, loading, and operational conditions. Structural response characteristics and operational energy demand indicators are analyzed simultaneously to capture the interaction between adaptability and energy efficiency. The results demonstrate that adaptive structural systems lead to consistent reductions in operational energy consumption and peak energy demand while simultaneously improving key structural performance metrics such as displacement control and load redistribution. The findings reveal that moderate, well-calibrated adaptability yields the most significant energy benefits, whereas excessive adaptability results in diminishing returns. Furthermore, the study confirms that adaptability introduces a synergistic effect, enhancing both structural and energy performance without compromising reliability. By positioning structural adaptability as an active contributor to energy regulation, this research advances current understanding of energy-efficient building design and highlights the expanded role of structural engineering in achieving high-performance and sustainable buildings.
Zahiri* et al. (Sat,) studied this question.