Calculation of Skin/Component Area

Use the Skin/Component Area field to calculate the area of any components of basic, composite or profiled elements.

Note: Morphs and basic non-veneer columns are an exception: skin area cannot be calculated for these elements.

Both Skin/Component Volume and Area are available as GDL Requests for use in listing and property objects. Skin/Component Volume and Area, however, cannot be displayed as parameters in placeable elements such as Labels.

Skin Areas of Basic and Composite Elements

For most elements, the calculated area is that of the projection onto the virtual plane that runs through the center of the skin/component.

The following table gives more details about area calculation for each element type.

Basic or Composite Element

Which Plane is used to Calculate Skin/
Component Area?

Regular Straight Wall

The vertical plane that runs through the center of the skin.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/01_Straight_Wall.png 

Slanted Wall

The slanted plane that runs through the center of the skin.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/02_Slanted_Wall.png 

Curved Wall

The plane of the vertical cylinder that runs through the center of the skin.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/03_Curved_Wall.png 

Curved Slanted Wall

The plane of the cone that runs through the center of the skin.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/04_Curved_Slanted_Wall.png 

Double Slanted Wall

The plane of the variable-thickness skin that is closest to the wall’s reference line.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/05_Double_Slanted_Wall.png 

Trapezoid Wall

The plane of the variable-thickness skin that is closest to the wall’s reference line.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/06_Trapezoid_Wall.png 

Polygon Wall

The plane(s) of the vertical polygon(s) defined by the reference edge(s).

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/07_Polygon_Wall.png 

Roof

Plane of the roof.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/09_Roof.png 

Slab

Plane of the slab.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/08_Slab.png 

Shell

The plane of the skin that is closer to the Shell reference plane

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/10_Shell.png 

Mesh

The Mesh reference plane

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/11_Mesh.png 

Straight Beam

The Beam’s vertical plane

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/12_Straight_Beam.png 

Column without Veneer

No skin/component area is calculated.

Column with Veneer (circular)

Circular column with veneer: The plane of the centerline of the veneer component.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/13_Column_02.png 

Column with Veneer (rectangular)

The program calculates the veneer as if it were divided into four parts as shown, and the vertical plane of each is used.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/13_Column.png 

Morph

No skin/component area is calculated

Component Areas of Complex Profiles

For complex profiles, the area of each component can be calculated.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/14_Complex_Profile_Wall.png     //helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/14_Complex_Beam_02.png

When listing these areas for a profile element, you can control:

which components should be included in component area listing

for each component, which plane should be used as the basis for area calculation

These features are described below.

Choose Profile Components for Area Listing

1.In the Profile Editor window, select a component.

2.In the Profile Manager (Options > Complex Profiles > Profile Manager), activate the List Component Area checkbox for each component whose area you want to list.

In this example, we are editing the Brick Wall w Footing element. The veneer’s checkbox is on, and its area will be included in the schedule. The footing area, however, is not relevant and its checkbox is off.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/ComponentAreaPM_1.png     //helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/ComponentAreaPM_2.png

List Component Area: On for Veneer, Off for Footing

3.Click Store Profile to save changes.

4.The area of the concrete footing component is not included in the schedule.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/FootingAreaList.png 

Adjust Calculated Area of Profile Components

To adjust how the component’s area is calculated, you can graphically edit its Base Line or Base Circle in the Profile Editor, if needed.

Use the Base Line to calculate the component area as projected onto the flat surface represented by the line. By default, the base line is located along the longest segment of the profile.

Use the Base Circle to calculate the area as projected onto an arched component.

Note: To keep all the Base Lines visible in Profile Editor, regardless of component selection, make sure you have turned on View > On-Screen View Options > Component Area Base Line/Circle.

In this example, you need the area of the Generic Column on its horizontal surface.

1.In Profile Editor, select the component.

2.Activate the List Component Area checkbox.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/ComponentAreaPM_3.png 

3.The component’s base line is vertical, which is not the area you need. In the Profile Editor window, select the base line and rotate it to a horizontal position.

//helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/ComponentAreaPM_4.png     //helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/ac22_help/060-elementparameters/ComponentAreaPM_5.png

4.Click Store Profile to save changes.

5.The horizontal area of the column is included in the schedule.

For general information on editing in the Profile Manager, see Profile Manager.

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