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Defines enumerated values for all implemented corner styles in curve offsets.
Namespace: Rhino.GeometryAssembly: RhinoCommon (in RhinoCommon.dll) Version: 5.1.30000.12 (5.0.20693.0)
Syntax
C#
public enum CurveOffsetCornerStyle
Visual Basic
Public Enumeration CurveOffsetCornerStyle
Members
Member name
Value
Description
None
0
The dafault value.
Sharp
1
Offsets and extends curves with a straight line until they intersect.
Round
2
Offsets and fillets curves with an arc of radius equal to the offset distance.
Smooth
3
Offsets and connects curves with a smooth (G1 continuity) curve.
Chamfer
4
Offsets and connects curves with a straight line between their endpoints.
…
taTree.
2. Since GH is acyclic by design we can't pick individually (without code, that is) our "picks" for the iceberg ... thus we need a global policy applied to ALL grid points at once.
3. This is what the next part does: it picks randomly some iceberg stuff and modifies their Z by a random value. If the Z is always "above" the grid or not it depends upon the domain of values to operate. Seed means "roll the bones again" (meaning another collection).
4. So we have the modified points Data Tree (that are steady - acting as the tips of the iceberg). Let's call them Anchors.
5. If we subtract set 4 from 1 we have the points prone to vary according some manipulation. Kangaroo does that manipulation (this is the best add-on that GH has to offer by 1M miles made by a very clever fella).
6. But if we instruct Kangaroo to do the job... he makes chaos since the points in 4 are not sufficient: we need perimeter steady points that act as Anchors as well. So we manage some logic to pick a variable set of perimeter points and we "merge" 4 and 6 and we have the final set of Anchors on hand - whilst all the rest are points willing to change.
7. Kangaroo is a physics engine meaning that the only thing that understands is ... er ... points and their relation (the "line" connecting them, that is). Kinda like a CPU that understands 0 and 1 and nothing else.
8. So we provide Kangaroo info about all the lines involved: how "stiff" they are and what is the expected/desired final length.
9. By double clicking the Kangaroo component ... the "simulation" starts running (in some kind of "loops") and goes towards an "equilibrium" where all our desires are satisfied - or the solution's entropy is the minimum possible (well up to some level, he he). Kangaroo displays a small control dialog that allows you to halt the process or reset it (meaning: start again).
10. If the instructions are "good"/"proper" the "loops" (iterations) are relatively few: if K does 1M "loops" ... this means that your instructions are silly or not well thought.
After stopping Kangaroo ... we have (hopefully) a "well" distorted collection of points (and their equivalent mesh) to proceed further via components usually found in the WB add-on
PS: If all the above sound Greek to you ... it's because I'm Greek, he he.
Moral: Get the gist of Kangaroo ASAP - worth spending some time I recon. If you do that and you need examples (other than the ones available at download time) ... well I have more than 300 (from simple to ultra paranoid).…
en la práctica de nuevos métodos de diseño y fabricación utilizando herramientas digitales. Estos procedimientos emergentes están cambiando radicalmente la manera en que nos aproximamos al proceso de diseño en términos de concepción y producción. Los participantes serán introducidos en el uso de softwares de modelado 2d y 3d para la generación de geometrías que serán posteriormente mecanizadas in situ en una máquina de control numérico CNC de 3 ejes.
¡AL FINAL DEL CURSO TE LLEVAS TU LÁMPARA A CASA!
Profesores: Equipo MEDIODESIGN* + TOOLINGROUP*
*Official Rhino Trainners. Acreditación otorgada por McNeel, desarrolladores del software Rhinoceros.
Lugar: Mediodesign. Pallars 85-91 5-2 BCN
Duración: 16 / 20 horas
Fecha: sábado 9 / domingo 10 julio de 2011
Horario: de 10h a 14h / de 16h a 20h
Plazas: 20 participantes
REQUISITOS
< Dirigido a estudiantes y profesionales de la arquitectura, diseño y profesiones afines.
< Ordenador portátil.
< Softwares instalados. En el momento de la inscripción, los participantes recibirán las instrucciones para la descarga e instalación de versiones gratuitas (trials) de los softwares.
CONTENIDOS
< Introducción al diseño avanzado y la fabricación digital.
< Entorno Rhinoceros y sus plug-ins.
< Herramientas y estrategias de trabajo CNC.
< Materiales y sus características.
< Planteamiento del ejercicio: diseño de una luminaria
< Desarrollo del archivo de RhinoCam para el mecanizado CNC.
< Mecanizado y post-producción.
< Entrega de propuestas: Presentación en formato digital del proceso de diseño y fabricación (pdf, powerpoint, etc…) y del prototipo de luminaria realizado.
INSCRIPCIONES
Precio: 199 € Materiales incluidos.
Forma de pago: mediante transferencia bancaria.
Límite fecha de inscripción: lunes 4 de julio 2011
Se otorgará certificado de asistencia. …
The PC actually stops working because after a few seconds the simulation starts the fan inside the PC all of a sudden stops and for the next 5-10 mins I cannot do anything, even alt+ctrl+canc. After I wait for that time i get the followig error:
the ReadMe says:
{0;0;0}0. Grid-based Radiance simulation1. The component is checking ad, as, ar and aa values. This is just to make sure that the results are accurate enough.2. -ar is set to 300.3. Good to go!4. Current working directory is set to: C:\Users\Luigi\Desktop\Prova__\Prova_1\gridBasedSimulation\5. Found a trans material... Resetting st parameter from 0.85 to 0.011276004966. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline7. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline8. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline9. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline10. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline11. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline12. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline13. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline14. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline15. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline16. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline17. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline18. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline19. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline20. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline21. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline22. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline23. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline24. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline25. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline26. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline27. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline28. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline29. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline30. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline31. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline32. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline33. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline34. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline35. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline36. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline37. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline38. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline39. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline40. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline41. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline42. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline43. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline44. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline45. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline46. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline47. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline48. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline49. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline50. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline51. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline52. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline53. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline54. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline55. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline56. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline57. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline58. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline59. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline60. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline61. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline62. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline63. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline64. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline65. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline66. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline67. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline68. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline69. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline70. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline71. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline72. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline73. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline74. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline75. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline76. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline77. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline78. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline79. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline80. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline81. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline82. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline83. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline84. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline85. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline86. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline87. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline88. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline89. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline90. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline91. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline92. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline93. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline94. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline95. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline96. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline97. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline98. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline99. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline100. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline101. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline102. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline103. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline104. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline105. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline106. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline107. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline108. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline109. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline110. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline111. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline112. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline113. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline114. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline115. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline116. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline117. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline118. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline119. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline120. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline121. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline122. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline123. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline124. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline125. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline126. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline127. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline128. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline129. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline130. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline131. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline132. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline133. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline134. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline135. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline136. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline137. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline138. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline139. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline140. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline141. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline142. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline143. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline144. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline145. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline146. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline147. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline148. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline149. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline150. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline151. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline152. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline153. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline154. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline155. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline156. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline157. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline158. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline159. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline160. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline161. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline162. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline163. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline164. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline165. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline166. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline167. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline168. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline169. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline170. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline171. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline172. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline173. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline174. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline175. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline176. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline177. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline178. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline179. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline180. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline181. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline182. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline183. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline184. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline185. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline186. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline187. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline188. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline189. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline190. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline191. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline192. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline193. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline194. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline195. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline196. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline197. WMIC PROCESS get Commandline198. Runtime error (IndexOutOfRangeException): index out of range: 0199. Traceback: line 320, in script
The thing is that if I raise the -aa parameter from 0.05 to 0.1 all works fine..
Is this only related to my PC then?? What should I do to solve this issue?
Thanks again for your help
Luigi…
corner, solid surface, reflectance 0.18, when there is NO direct sunlight on the sensor (illuminance<10000 lux).
Shading Group 1 State 2: curtains along the glass, trans surface, transmittance 0.2, when there is direct sunlight on the sensor (illuminance>=10000 lux).
After the run I checked the ill files in the folder and the shading schedule in the intgain.csv file and found some inconsistency, taking Jan 1st as an example
In the intgain.csv, the shading schedule shows the curtain only covers the glass (state 2) at 9.5,11.5,13.5.
But in the ILL file with no dynamic shading, the sensor point (first column after hour) illuminance is above 10000 lux from 10 to 15. So the shading schedule should be 1 from 9.5 to 14.5, right? Or am I missing something here?
I'm trying to get the lux hours/accumulated illuminance for the test point, but there is no ILL file that actually combined the ill, state-1 ill, and state-2 ill together based on the shading schedule? (My understanding is the "read annual result I" visualizes the Daylight Autonomy based on the advanced shading schedule but didn't generate another ill file?)
I was doing it in Excel and found the difference between shading schedule and the sensor reading. Please let me know if I made any mistakes in the simulation setting! Any comments on a better data processing method would be much appreciated!
Best,
XF
…
o, presso la sede Eurac e il TIS, nei giorni 21,22 e 23 maggio 2015.
Il processo di progettazione integrata è riconosciuto come metodo per ottenere gli elevati livelli di qualità oggi richiesti agli edifici. Con questo approccio diventano sempre più rilevanti il comfort visivo e la gestione dell’illuminazione naturale in relazione al risparmio energetico. Di fatto, il nuovo protocollo Leed v4 riconosce crediti ad hoc e conferma l’importanza della progettazione daylighting per “collegare gli occupanti con lo spazio esterno, rinforzare i ritmi circadiani, ridurre l’uso dell’illuminazione elettrica con l’introduzione della luce naturale negli spazi”.
Una progettazione robusta richiede l’uso di strumenti di simulazione efficaci e Radiance è riconosciuto come uno dei software con le capacità di fornire risultati affidabili. Radiance è utilizzato sia a livello di ricerca che tra i progettisti, ed è tra i più accurati per la simulazione professionale della luce naturale ed artificiale. Non ha limiti di complessità geometrica ed è adatto a essere integrato in altri software di calcolo e interfacce grafiche. Le principali e più versatili tra queste (DIVA4Rhino, plug-ins per Grasshopper e Rhinoceros3D), essendo in grado di facilitare notevolmente le procedure di programmazione, saranno oggetto del corso.
Il corso è rivolto a progettisti e ricercatori che vogliano acquisire strumenti pratici per la simulazione con Radiance al fine di mettere a punto e verificare le soluzioni più adatte alle proprie esigenze. Sono previste lezioni di teoria e pratica con esempi ed esercitazioni volte a coprire in modo dimostrativo ed interattivo i concetti trattati.
Il corso viene riconosciuto con 15 crediti dall’Ordine degli Architetti.
Le domande di iscrizione devono essere presentate entro il 27 aprile 2015.
Scarica la brochure con tutte le informazioni Corso Radiance - EURAC.pdf
Il corso è sponsorizzato da Pellinindustrie.…
nd linear/planar tectonics. Within this new field of investigation, the Stuttgart VS will be researching into novel techniques of material mixtures and grading, associative design and double curvature surface generation.
For the second cycle of this exploration we will be based at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart. Drawing from the Institute’s long history of experimentation and research on tensile structures instigated by Frei Otto in the 1960s and conducted at present by Werner Sobek, this year we will be focusing on the design and fabrication of materially graded membranes, as well as the application of UHPC and FGC on fabric formworks. The workflow followed will be divided into two stages:
1. Computing Membranes: Computational form finding methods will be taught by professional engineers and architects from ILEK and str.ucture GmbH. The aim will be to utilise the latest software technologies to form find membranes for textile structures, or fabric formworks for complex concrete structures. The results will be evaluated against criteria such as internal air pressure, as well as asymmetric and wind loading. The outcome of this research will inform the material grading procedures (i.e. changing the stiffness, thickness or porosity of the membranes themselves, or the consistency of the concrete poured into the formworks) that will follow in stage two.
2. Fabricated Grading: The digitally computed membranes or formworks will eventually be fabricated physically, utilising the workshop and robotic fabrication facilities at ILEK. The objective will be to rethink conventional research on tensile and concrete structures as isotropic constructs, by customising attributes such as materiality, reinforcement, rigidity, translucency, patterning, and porosity among others. The final, graded prototypes will be made up of mixtures of materials, all accurately engineered to respond to variable environmental, structural and aesthetic criteria, in essence forming multi-material structures that have finally caught up with the latest material developments.
Prominent Features of the workshop/ skills developed:
Teaching team consisting of AA diploma tutors and ILEK and str.ucture GmbH engineers.
Access to the Institute of Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK), the Materials Testing Institute and Concrete Spraying Robotic facilities at the University of Stuttgart, as well as to the office of str.ucture GmbH Structural Design Engineering.
Computational skills tuition on Grasshopper, Rhino Membrane, and Karamba.
Lectures series by leading academics and practitioners in architecture and engineering.
Fabrication of functionally graded membrane and/or concrete structures.
Eligibility
The workshop is open to current architecture and design students, PhD candidates and young professionals. Software Requirements: Rhino (SR7 or later) and Grasshopper.
Fees
The AA Visiting School requires a student fee of £595 and a young professional fee of £895 per participant, which includes a £60 Visiting membership fee.
The deadline for applications is 10 July 2017.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/VISITING/stuttgart?name=stuttgart
For inquiries, please contact:
mixedmatters@aaschool.ac.uk…
rmation?" I know that this can already be accomplished using the brilliant Kangaroo plugin, but I wanted a simpler and faster (yet still accurate) single component that could replicate this unique curve using a variety of inputs: the length of the rod/wire, the width/distance between the endpoints, the height of the bend, and the tangent angle at the start. I also wanted make the unknowns (such as height if only length and width are known) easily accessible for plugging into additional components.
The resulting script, being an all-in-one solution, is somewhat unwieldy, but it could easily be broken down into smaller components (custom .gha's which I don't have the ability to code). If someone wants to tackle this, please do! I'm not an expert coder by any means, and as this was only my second time diving into Grasshopper scripting, if the script seems somewhat strange, that's probably why. I did try to comment the code pretty well though. Here's the full description:
--------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION: This beast creates the so-called 'elastica curve', the shape a long, thin rod or wire makes when it is bent elastically (i.e. not permanently). In this case, force is assumed to only be applied horizontally (which would be in line with the rod at rest) and both ends are assumed to be pinned or hinged meaning they are free to rotate (as opposed to clamped, when the end tangent angle is fixed, usually horizontally). An interesting finding is that it doesn't matter what the material or cross-sectional area is, as long as they're uniform along the entire length. Everything makes the same shape when bent as long as it doesn't cross the threshold from elastic to plastic (permanent) deformation (I don't bother to find that limit here, but can be found if the yield stress for a material is known).
Key to the formulas used in this script are elliptic integrals, specifically K(m), the complete elliptic integral of the first kind, and E(m), the complete elliptic integral of the second kind. There was a lot of confusion over the 'm' and 'k' parameters for these functions, as some people use them interchangeably, but they are not the same. m = k^2 (thus k = Sqrt(m)). I try to use the 'm' parameter exclusively to avoid this confusion. Note that there is a unique 'm' parameter for every configuration/shape of the elastica curve.
This script tries to find that unique 'm' parameter based on the inputs. The algorithm starts with a test version of m, evaluates an expression, say 2*E(m)/K(m)-1, then compares the result to what it should be (in this case, a known width/length ratio). Iterate until the correct m is found. Once we have m, we can then calculate all of the other unknowns, then find points that lie on that curve, then interpolate those points for the actual curve. You can also use Wolfram|Alpha as I did to find the m parameter based on the equations in this script (example here: http://tiny.cc/t4tpbx for when say width=45.2 and length=67.1).
Other notes:
* This script works with negative values for width, which will creat a self-intersecting curve (as it should). The curvature of the elastica starts to break down around m=0.95 (~154°), but this script will continue to work until M_MAX, m=0.993 (~169°). If you wish to ignore self-intersecting curves, set ignoreSelfIntersecting to True
* When the only known values are length and height, it is actually possible for certain ratios of height to length to have two valid m values (thus 2 possible widths and angles). This script will return them both.
* Only the first two valid parameters (of the required ones) will be used, meaning if all four are connected (length, width or a PtB, height, and angle), this script will only use length and width (or a PtB).
* Depending on the magnitude of your inputs (say if they're really small, like if length < 10), you might have to increase the constant ROUNDTO at the bottom
REFERENCES: {1} "The elastic rod" by M.E. Pacheco Q. & E. Pina, http://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/rmfe/v53n2/v53n2a8.pdf {2} "An experiment in nonlinear beam theory" by A. Valiente, http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/doc/I3lwnxdfGz {3} "Snap buckling, writhing and Loop formation In twisted rods" by V.G.A. GOSS, http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~gossga/thesisFinal.pdf {4} "Theory of Elastic Stability" by Stephen Timoshenko, http://www.scribd.com/doc/50402462/Timoshenko-Theory-of-Elastic-Stability (start on p. 76)
INPUT: PtA - First anchor point (required) PtB - Second anchor point (optional, though 2 out of the 4--length, width, height, angle--need to be specified) [note that PtB can be the same as PtA (meaning width would be zero)] [also note that if a different width is additionally specified that's not equal to the distance between PtA and PtB, then the end point will not equal PtB anymore] Pln - Plane of the bent rod/wire, which bends up in the +y direction. The line between PtA and PtB (if specified) must be parallel to the x-axis of this plane
** 2 of the following 4 need to be specified ** Len - Length of the rod/wire, which needs to be > 0 Wid - Width between the endpoints of the curve [note: if PtB is specified in addition, and distance between PtA and PtB <> width, the end point will be relocated Ht - Height of the bent rod/wire (when negative, curve will bend downward, relative to the input plane, instead) Ang - Inner departure angle or tangent angle (in radians) at the ends of the bent rod/wire. Set up so as width approaches length (thus height approaches zero), angle approaches zero
* Following variables only needed for optional calculating of bending force, not for shape of curve. E - Young's modulus (modulus of elasticity) in GPa (=N/m^2) (material-specific. for example, 7075 aluminum is roughly 71.7 GPa) I - Second moment of area (or area moment of inertia) in m^4 (cross-section-specific. for example, a hollow rod would have I = pi * (outer_diameter^4 - inner_diameter^4) / 32 Note: E*I is also known as flexural rigidity or bending stiffness
OUTPUT: out - only for debugging messages Pts - the list of points that approximate the shape of the elastica Crv - the 3rd-degree curve interpolated from those points (with accurate start & end tangents) L - the length of the rod/wire W - the distance (width) between the endpoints of the rod/wire H - the height of the bent rod/wire A - the tangent angle at the (start) end of the rod/wire F - the force needed to hold the rod/wire in a specific shape (based on the material properties & cross-section) **be sure your units for 'I' match your units for the rest of your inputs (length, width, etc.). Also note that the critical buckling load (force) that makes the rod/wire start to bend can be found at height=0
THANKS TO: Mårten Nettelbladt (thegeometryofbending.blogspot.com) Daniel Piker (Kangaroo plugin) David Rutten (Grasshopper guru) Euler & Bernoulli (the O.G.'s)
--------------------------------------------------
Edit: More on the math behind this here.
Cheers,
Will
…
Added by Will McElwain at 4:08pm on February 26, 2014
ight be able to provide more insight). Whenever you run a new simulation in Radiance, it is not always necessary to re-write all of the initial simulation files from scratch. These initial simulation files include both a .rad geometry file as well as a separate .pts file that contains the test point locations. If all that you are changing in a given parametric run is the locations of the test points (like your case), it is not necessary to re-write (or reinterpret) the entire .rad geometry file. My guess is that there is some type of check for this built into either code Mostapha wrote or radiance functions that Mostapha is calling. As such, it seems that the rad geometry file is not being re-written (or re-interpreted by radiance) completely when all that you change is the test points and this actually seems to be saving you an extra 10 seconds each time that you run the component without changing the materials or the building geometry. Other times (like when you plug in custom radParameters), it seems that it re-writes (or re-interprets) the .rad geometry file from scratch since this file is probably affected by customized rad parameters.
So far, if this explanation is holding, it seems like there would be no concern on your end but I also recognize that the difference between these long and short simulations is giving you radiation results that are ever so slightly different from each other (by my estimates, they differ by about 0.2%). Compared to the other types of assumptions that the radiance model is making, though, these are mere rounding errors that probably originate from the number of decimal places in the vertices of the rad geometry file. Rather than worrying about whether your simulations are giving you the right rounding errors to give you matching results, I would encourage you to instead contemplate how much your radiance results are matching reality given all of the assumptions that you are making about the climate (with the epw file for a "typical" year) and with the number of light bounces in the radiance simulation. To give you an example, I ran your model with a higher quality of simulation type (3 ambient bounces) and this gives you results that differ by 1.1% from the original simulation that you were running with only 2 ambient bounces (this is practically an order of magnitude larger than 0.2%).
To address your unease I will say that, for a long time, I also felt uneasy any time that I encountered something that seemed unpredictable in software that I was using. Once I started coding my own stuff, though, I realized quickly that unpredictable behavior is an unavoidable aspect of all software. There is always a tradeoff between accurate results and the time it takes to get them, which produces a multitude of possible ways to arrive at a solution. Add into this complex situation the fact that you might have an almost infinite number of possible inputs to a given set of code.
Because of the unpredictable multitude of cases, there is no application that is completely free from limitations and assumptions. In this light, what ends up being more important than the actual calculation method used is the social infrastructure that is in place to help understand what is being run under the hood, hence why both Radiance and Honeybee are open source and why we try to build a robust community of support through forums like this one!
-Chris…