[EnergyPlus_Support] model non-standard building facade for thermal analysis

["artitecture82" <artitecture@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,
Im new to E+ and I've usually run very basic analysis for thermal analysis of traditional building ... often approximated with boxes and few window.

Im doing a personal research as part of my master thesis and Im interested to compare the performance of different facades tipologies and shapes. The goal of the analysis is  given a climate and orientation for a typical vertical facade to understand the absorbed solar radiation and Temperature and Humidity at the interior boundary of the facade within closest zone. So single zone model. 

My question are these:
1) Im interested to analyse the performance of the only exterior facade and not the whole building. Is that possible to model in E+ ..probably modelling the building as a single box volume and changing the parameter/geometry for the facade type I want to analyse?

2) The geometry input. The scope of the research is actually to understand impact of different shapes/self shading combined with some metrial properties. So standard flat plane doesnt wotrk in this case. Take a look at this pdf http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5212179/sampleEnvelope.pdf .
So typically I will have a frame structure (in this case hexagonal) and some glazing. Let say I find an automated process to convert the 3d model in E+ coordinates. The problem Im facing is how do you treat the frame? as a wall? 
and do I need to assign orientation for each of the frame panel ?
I need to model the frame because for my assumptions it is important to understand the shading potential of facades I am going to study.

Thank you very much in advance for the help and advice.

Best,

Giulio



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