Specify the thickness, material, and function of layers in a compound structure (wall/roof/floor/ceiling).
This video demonstrates the following:
Walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs are all compound structures. A compound structure is composed of layers. You define each layer by assigning a material, a thickness, and a function, which controls layer behavior. All of the layers together make up the compound structure of the element. A common example of a compound structure is a wall assembly.
In this example, we'll use a wall assembly to show how to edit the layers in a compound structure. In the Properties palette, click Edit Type. Then in the Type Properties dialog, click the Edit button next to the Structure parameter.
In the Edit Assembly dialog, you can add, change, or delete layers. In this case, we'll add a layer of insulation to the wall. In the table, the layers that make up the assembly are arranged so the exterior of the wall is on the top, and the interior of the wall is on the bottom. Use the controls below the table to add and delete layers, and to move layers up and down in the assembly.
Assign a material by clicking the ellipses in the Material cell of the table. Then, set the Thickness of the layer. The thickness and the thermal asset of the material will be used to calculate an R value and thermal mass for the element.
In the Function cell, the value you enter, including the priority number, will control how compound elements join each other. Think of the function as describing the way the real-world material is used in the wall and the priority number as defining the join behavior. When compound elements are joined, layer functions and priorities will be matched and materials will be joined between the 2 compound elements.
The Wraps setting is only available for walls and is used in conjunction with the Wrapping at Ends and Wrapping at Inserts type properties. When a layer is set to wrap in the assembly, and the type properties are set, layers can wrap to the interior or exterior side at wall ends, or they can wrap to both sides when a door or window is inserted in the wall.
For compound structures in floors and walls, you can specify a single layer inside the Core Boundary as a structural material. When you select the Structural Material checkbox, the structural analytical model will use the physical asset of the material assigned to the selected layer.
The layers of a compound structure are visible when the detail level of the view is set to Medium or Fine. If the detail level is set to Coarse, only the boundary of the elements will be displayed. In the Type Properties dialog, you can assign a Coarse Scale Fill Pattern and Color to the element type for use at coarse scale views.
Edit the compound structures of the elements in your model to match the way the elements will be constructed in the finished building.