IES-VE User Forum

Hi all,

I am investigating the effects of reflectivity on the solar radiation reflected between two buildings. This is the model for my simulation.



By varying the reflectivity on the external walls on the two buildings, I am trying to find out how the radiation incident on different sections of the external walls vary. However, no matter how I vary the reflectivity of the external walls, the results are always the same. Is it a software limitation or can anyone help me with my problem?

Thanks in advance!

What are you changing in the external wall construction?

The following is from section 7.8 of the ApacheSim Calculation Methods documentation which you can find in Help >> User Guides.

“If the receiving surface is transparent, ApacheSim calculates the transmission and absorption of the beam. The attenuated transmitted beam is then tracked through successive interactions with building surfaces, following the tree-like data structure recorded on the shading file. Any radiation falling on an opaque element is partially absorbed and partially reflected, using an assumed solar absorptance of 0.55. Beam radiation falling on a transparent element is transmitted, absorbed and reflected in accordance with the element’s properties”

The opaque surface solar absorptance figure of 0.55 is a default value and can be edited.