Daylight simulation for Multi-Layer ETFE Pillows

Hi Mostapha,

it depends on what results you are looking for.

If you need a useful model of the transmission through your fenestration, you may consider using the glass modifier. There is an error in this, as the refractive index of ETFE is lower (should be 1.4) than that of glass, however, for a clear, thin ETFE film, this may be rather ok for near-normal angles.

In some of the images, the ETFE did not seam to be clear. Probably it hat be printed, or some surface treatment had been applied to roughen it. In this case, you need to model the surface as it is, which has little to do with the pure material properties of ETFE. Probably you need some data on the transmission and reflection, provided by the manufacturer or by your own measurements. That would allow you to approximate a trans / transfunc material to your sample.

If you want to model something like patterns, where parts of the surface are printed and others are not, you can use mixfunc and mix the surface material with a clear ETFE material.

The multiple internal reflections would be accounted for when directly looking at the pillow. Bright spots by such reflections e.g. on a ceiling or wall would not appear. That would require secondary light sources (not very useful for the complex geometry), the pmap, or maybe a precalculated BSDF of one pillow.

Cheers, Lars.

Hi Lars,

Thank you for the reply. I think I need to try mixfunc as I want to study
multiple different patterns on different layers.

As far as I know pmap for the new version of Radiance is not currently
available, so I should probably try using BSDF material.

Thanks again,
Mostapha

ยทยทยท

On Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 4:16 AM, Lars O. Grobe <grobe@gmx.net> wrote:

Hi Mostapha,

it depends on what results you are looking for.

If you need a useful model of the transmission through your fenestration,
you may consider using the glass modifier. There is an error in this, as
the refractive index of ETFE is lower (should be 1.4) than that of glass,
however, for a clear, thin ETFE film, this may be rather ok for near-normal
angles.

In some of the images, the ETFE did not seam to be clear. Probably it hat
be printed, or some surface treatment had been applied to roughen it. In
this case, you need to model the surface as it is, which has little to do
with the pure material properties of ETFE. Probably you need some data on
the transmission and reflection, provided by the manufacturer or by your
own measurements. That would allow you to approximate a trans / transfunc
material to your sample.

If you want to model something like patterns, where parts of the surface
are printed and others are not, you can use mixfunc and mix the surface
material with a clear ETFE material.

The multiple internal reflections would be accounted for when directly
looking at the pillow. Bright spots by such reflections e.g. on a ceiling
or wall would not appear. That would require secondary light sources (not
very useful for the complex geometry), the pmap, or maybe a precalculated
BSDF of one pillow.

Cheers, Lars.
_______________________________________________
Radiance-general mailing list
Radiance-general@radiance-online.org
http://www.radiance-online.org/mailman/listinfo/radiance-general