Abstract
The well-documented potential of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) glazing in building façade applications and the lack of detailed optical modelling represents a significant research gap. This work presents a detailed optical model of PDLC glazing, capable of accurately reproducing its characteristics, such as scattering in the translucent state, with Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDFs). This model allows advanced daylighting and glare simulations with Radiance to be carried out. The “aBSDF” material type is deemed necessary to accurately represent the beam component of solar radiation, allowing a more accurate glare calculation. Thanks to the detailed optical model, the PDLC’s unusual glare characteristics are revealed, whereby less transmissive states can lead to increased glare risk in some circumstances.