Paper Conference

Proceedings of SimBuild Conference 2012: 5th conference of IBPSA USA

     

Tilted Glazing in Building Simulations and Its Effect on Form-Refinement of Complex Facades

Won Hee Ko, Marc Schiler, Karen Kensek, Peter Simmonds
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
IBE Consulting Engineers, Sherman Oaks, CA

Abstract: Contemporary high-rise buildings can have complex facade configurations, but existing building simulation programs may not have either the capability or userfriendliness to help architects make better decisions early in the design process that could reduce energy use for these forms. This is especially true with faceted and curvilinear building facades where the glazing is not necessarily vertical. Building codes and software often cannot handle these more unusual curtain wall constructions and dynamic geometries. Consideration of these aspects will become increasingly important as parametric forms become more common. Advances in technology have been improving the building design process. One of the important competencies of building professionals is controlling the tremendous amount of data and information that is now associated with buildings. Intelligent software programs allow architects to study design parameters in the design phase, and some of the programs can even suggest design solutions. The ability to use the appropriate software programs and integrate them with design intuition has become one of the most important criteria for a technology-savvy architect in the burgeoning filed of computational design. This paper focuses on tilted glazing and the effect of its angular dependence on direct solar heat gain (DSHG). Spreadsheet calculations were conducted, and the results were linked to an algorithm developed in Grasshopper to demonstrate form refinement of faceted building facades with an emphasis on the angle-dependent DSHG of glazing. This tool can be used at the outset of design or later as one of the components of an energy simulation program where architects can fine tune their initial ideas for the massing of a building. It can help them determine a better tilt angle of glazing for the building and its overall geometry in a specific climate.
Pages: 361 - 368
Paper:
simbuild2012_06b_1_Ko