Where do curtain wall foundations go?

[sven.129574]

:???: Try this little test:

Draw a basic wall.
Draw a curtain wall next to it, with the same base level and height.
Make sure that your view range is deep enough to show foundations.
Make sure the structural foundations category is turned on.
Now place wall foundations under both the basic wall and the curtain wall.
The basic wall foundation shows up just fine, but where's the curtain wall foundation? You get the message about it not showing up with the viewing parameters you've got, but the foundation under the basic wall shows up just fine with the same settings. The foundation under the curtain wall is there somewhere. If you try to add another foundation under the curtain wall, it won't let you, because you supposedly have one already. This happens both in 2009 (which is what we're using) and 2010.

Where is it?

[jeffh]

Change the wall type to something other than a curtain wall...the foundation will show up. Then change back to a curtain wall family the foundation will remain visible.

You can create a support request on this issue and it can get logged with development for further investigation.

[cliff collins]

I tried this:
Embedded the Curtainwall in a load-bearing wall, used cut geometry to embed the curtainwall into the host wall. I then used the Structural Foundation by Wall tool.
Picked the Host wall. The Structural Foundation shows in 3D View below the host wall, but not below the curtainwall.

I suspect that this behavior is because Curtainwalls are generally not load-bearing, and do not require foundations for dead load support. Curtainwalls are intended, as in the real world, to be supported and tied back to the structure--i.e. columns/beams etc., which transfer the vert. and horizontal loads to the structural foundations.

That said, I also tried changing the Stuctural Properties of the Curtainwall to load bearing
under Element Properties. This had no effect on the foundation wall. I was, however, able to drag the grip edit points of the foundation across below the curtainwall, and it then showed correctly in 3D View and Plan View with View Depth adjusted to show the foundation below. However, I could not get the line to go away from where the foundation was dragged over below the curtainwall.

cheers............

[sven.129574]

I also tried changing the Stuctural Properties of the Curtainwall to load bearing under Element Properties. This had no effect on the foundation wall.

Yeah, I noticed that, too.


Change the wall type to something other than a curtain wall...the foundation will show up. Then change back to a curtain wall family the foundation will remain visible.

Thanks, that's an interesting trick to know. Of course, it works better if you haven't already positioned all your mullions and dimensioned them before structural does the foundations.



Embedded the Curtainwall in a load-bearing wall, used cut geometry to embed the curtainwall into the host wall. I then used the Structural Foundation by Wall tool.
Picked the Host wall....

I was, however, able to drag the grip edit points of the foundation across below the curtainwall, and it then showed correctly in 3D View and Plan View with View Depth adjusted to show the foundation below.

An interesting thought, thanks. Looks like you can do something similar by replacing one bottom panel of the curtain wall with a basic wall. Remove the bottom mullion under it, and then you can place a foundation under it and stretch it the length of the curtain wall. Unfortunately, the foundation goes away if you swap it back out for a curtain wall panel. Instead, you have to swap the wall out for a whole 'nother curtain wall and remove the side and top mullions from it, so it looks like just a panel with a mullion below it. Looks OK, though.