[Equest-users] Boundary condition for a seismic gap

[Nick Caton]

Hi Jason,

I would allow whether the associated envelopes of each building are insulated to influence my decision re: adiabatic.  

Investigating further will probably take more work than simply modeling the situation as it is.  Model a separate unconditioned space, but assign each building's envelope construction to the appropriate interior partitions, and assign an appropriate sheet metal based construction to the sides and top as exterior surfaces.
  
Consider infiltration and the tightness of this seismic gap along the way.

If these are huge walls (multistory), reality may be that heat transfer is significant along the perimeter (front/back/top) and insignificant at the "core" (center-bottom).  Heat transfer then is something like a slab-on-grade on its side with the exposed perimeters composing much of the heat movement.  You could potentially approximate this by handling the top floors and perimeter spaces differently from the ground floors and core spaces in terms of adiabatic partitions.

NICK CATON, P.E.
SENIOR ENGINEER

Smith & Boucher Engineers
25501 west valley parkway, suite 200
olathe, ks 66061
direct 913.344.0036
fax 913.345.0617
www.smithboucher.com 


-----Original Message-----
From: equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] On Behalf Of David Eldridge
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 7:35 AM
To: Jason Quinn
Cc: equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: Re: [Equest-users] Boundary condition for a seismic gap

Your descriptions sound as if these are two existing buildings. Can you drop a data logger in there? (Real question: and get it back...) 

Temperature measurements might help you decide if the gap should be modeled as an unconditioned room, or else model the building wall as an exterior surface but without direct solar exposure.

Without any measurements, try both and see how it matches your calibration data.

Despite the lack of view, are there any windows?

DSE Mobile

On Jun 27, 2012, at 11:20 PM, "Jason Quinn" <jason.e.quinn at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm modeling a building that is next to another conditioned building 
> but they don't touch. There is a 1 foot gap between them that is 
> semi-enclosed (sheet metal around the sides and top (It is a seismic 
> gap). If the buildings were touching or had a REALLY small gap I'd 
> treat this surface as adiabatic but this case feels different.
> 
> I'm considering modelling this as a semi-conditioned space to take 
> partial credit (treat as a "room" with insulated walls and no 
> heating/cooling). Any other approaches that folks have used for this 
> situation?
> 
> --
> Jason Quinn
> Lead Engineer
> Sustainable Engineering Ltd.
> 82 Liverpool Street
> Wanganui 4500
> New Zealand
> 
> +64 21 1846 911
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