modeling columns with sub-surfaces

miguelnery · Posts: 72

Hi,

I’m using this office building from the 50’s as a renovation case study.
It has uninsulated brick parapets and windows in the middle of concrete columns. In the back elevation the columns (0,40x0,75m) face the parapet, but in street elevation (0,40x0,50m) they are protuberant in relation to the other elements.
Maybe this is a simple thing, but I’m not sure how to construct the model.
I’m modelling the columns as “sub-surfaces”, but I’m not sure how to model it.

Q1- Sub-surface of back elevation can be modelled as a concrete wall with a thickness of 0,75m?

Q2- Sub-surface of front elevation can be modelled as a concrete wall with a thickness of 0,50m?

Q3- Does DB accepts different sub-surfaces in the same block? I’ve tried this but when I change one of the surfaces (in the same wall) the others assume the same material.

Q4- Is any way to define the position of subsurface in relation to parapet and window?

Best regards,

Miguel

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1160 Location: Stroud

Miguel,

Sub-surfaces are intended to be used for modelling exceptions in the overall wall fabric such as columns. Of course, ideally such constructions would be modelled using 3-D finite difference techniques, but you should be able to get an approximation using DesignBuilder sub-surfaces.

So I think the answer to questions 1 & 2 is yes.

3 - You can only have one sub-surface construction per surface.

4 - Yes you can position sub-surfaces anywhere on the surface. Existing sub-surfaces can be moved.

I hope this answers the questions.

Regards
Andy

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