Xiao Jin ARCH655: 2016

Applying Ladybug to make Radiation Analysis and Optimization based on Parametric Modeling

Part 1: Parametric Modeling

Step 1

• Use Construct Point to build two points which are the centers of the roof and the base;

• Use Number Slider to control the height of the building, the radius of the roof and base;

• Use Divide Curve to divide the circles into 20 equal segments.

Step 2

• Use Explode Tree to extract all the segment points;

• Use Shift List and Number Slider to offset all the points and control the offset distance;

• Use Line to generate all the lines we will use later for skin pipes.

Step 3

• Use Divide Curve, Flip Matrix, Interpolate Curve to generate the curve boundary of each floor;

• Use Boundary Surfaces to form each floor surface.

Step 4

• Use Pipe to generate the skin pipes;

• Use Number Slider to adjust the radius of the pipes.

Step 5

• Use Brep Join to join the model mass, pipe skin and the floor surfaces.

Final Model from Different Views

Rendered Model

Part II: Ladybug Radiation Analysis

Ladybug Radiation Analysis

We need to drag the component Ladybug into the grasshopper canvas in order to make the rest of ladybug components to work. Connect it with Boolean Toogle.

Next, we need to download the EPW file. Drag the Download EPW Weather File into the canvas. Connect with a Boolean Toogle and set it true. This will automatically take you to a site with almost every city’s weather data. Find the location you want and double click, then you will be able to download a zip file of the weather data.

After these preparation work, let’s put an Open EPW Weather File component onto the canvas, connect with a Boolean Toogle and set it true. Navigate to the file we downloaded just now. (in the USA_TX_Houston-William.P.Hobby.AP.722435_TMY3 folder, the epw file). Then we need to put the Import EPW component, connect it to the EPW file. We can use the component GenCumulativeSkyMatrix which will calculate sky radiation for every hour of the year.

Attach the CumulativeSkyMtx to the SelectSkyMtx component, this will select the sky matrix you just created and allow you to add an analysis period. This will add accuracy for your analysis, especially if you are only looking for data from specific months.

we can now start to analyze the solar radiation on that given location. To do this we need to drop the Ladybug_RadiationAnalysis component onto the canvas, drag the SelectedSkyMtxOutput and attach it to the Radiation Analysis component. We also need the geometry from your model to be plugged in.

Set up the grid size and distance from base, connect with a Boolean Toogle. Now we are ready to do the analysis, just set it as true.

Part III: Optimization

Result before Optimization

Optimization Component

We can use the result of analysis for optimization purpose. Here I chose to maximize the radiation based on the total radiation of each floor. As we can see here, this is the number of total radiation before optimization. Use Galapagos Genetic Input, set Bottom Radius or any factor you would like to change as the factor, set the number we get from the radiation analysis as the fitness. Set up the Galapagos Editor. Click Start.

Optimization Process

Optimization Result

Final Model After Optimization

Part IV

1. Introduction

1.1 Phoenix International Media Center is located in the southwest corner of Chaoyang Park in Beijing, China. It is an exemplary case of Möbius strip.

Rendered Image of Phoenix International Media Center
image is credited to Arch Daily

2. Modeling

2.1 I create a circle and set up the trace for the elliptical section surfaces. I used the Perp Frames to generate 40 equally spaced, perpendicular frames along the circle.

Step 1

2.2 I use the Pi, Range, Rotate tools to arrange the ellipses along the curve gradually, rotating them with different angles.

Step 2

2.3 Use List Item to copy what I have done to refine the interface. Then Merge the 40 ellipses. At last, use Loft to bake the mass.

Step 3

2.4 I successfully got the building mass.

Step 4

2.5 Use Divide Curve on every ellipse, and we will get equally arranged points on them. Then we need to use Shift List and Flip Matrix to offset those points for outer skin.

Step 5

2.6 Do the same thing for the inner skin. Just redefine the expression of Shift List in order to change the directions.

Step 6

2.7 Use Interpolate on outer skin as well as inner skin to create curves for them, and use Pipe to get the thickness. We can use Number Slider to adjust the thickness.