Precast Concrete, cavity & block wall

[nextvkin]

Hi,
I have a wall style which consists of a 150 concrete wall, an 80mm cavity, and a 150 masonry blockwall. However I want to show vertical joints (20mm gaps) in the concrete so as to look like precast concrete panels, the width of which will vary between 1800 & 3800mm. How do I go about doing that? Thanks in advance for any help.
(Still a newbie to ACA).

[tra1133]

A couple of ways to do this. You could lay out your wall style the width of your panel and set your wall style cleanups to not cleanup with any wall. This would show a gap between walls and then you set your endcap to show half of your gap (10mm). Also, set the insulation or cavity back whatever you require (example would be 150mm). then just copy or array these around your building. Only problem would be that you wouldn't see anything in the joint. Some tweaking would be necessary obviously.
Another way (and this may be a little too much) would be to set up panels as elements (if using Project Navigator). Set them up as stated previously and then bring them in as an element. Depending on how many different styles of panels you have would dictate how many you would need. The biggest issue with this would be the amount of memory needed to copy an xref in a construct. The plus side is that if you have any changes to make to a particular panel style, you would make it one time. Up to you on the pros vs. cons on this one. Personally, I would try the first option and see how that works out for you.
I am sure that someone else might have a better solution, but this could help.

[nextvkin]

Hi tra1133,
Thanks for your reply. Does that mean (in your first option) that there'll also be a gap in the inner skin, ie the blockwall?

[tra1133]

Yes, that would occur through the entire thickness of the wall. I think either option would depend on what the scale of your plan is. At 1/8" (or whatever the metric equivalent is) scale or higher, will you actually see a joint (more than just a line)? It may not be worth performing either option. I also forgot to mention that you could do a body (plan?) modifier, but you would need to do this every so many meters and if the wall moved you would have to go back and adjust every single joint.

[mylo]

Easier method is to create mass elements the size of the panel gaps you require. place them over the concrete panel and do an interfenrence condition and subtract. The ME's should be on a non-plotting layer.