Stair Modeling

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Custodio Groves

unread,

Aug 3, 2024, 6:12:03 PM8/3/24

to vecpaukelcall

I really appreciate the information. I thought it would be good to explore the use of dynamic components and I still may do that but I think @Gully and @Geo are right. I have become fairly proficient at modeling specific components as needed including stairs, so I am going to continue doing it that way and be satisfied with making modifications to components when necessary.

I tested the 2 overlayed stairs and although the design is 99% accurate (missing the slanted borders), it's pretty time-consuming and would be a major waste if the stair design is modified at some point of the project development. And even if the design don't change, I'll have the extra work to hide the structural one in each and every floor view. I can rely on view templates for the job, but still adds another item at a to do list.

HelloI am new to OS trying to model my future house (residential).I was wondering how to model the opening of the stairs between the floors.Reading relevant posts I came to conclusion that I need to mark the place of the opening in the floor/ceiling as air wall, but since the air wall zone mixture measure is not suitable for floors I am not sure how to proceed.

If the first floor has a stairwell and the second floor has a stairwell right above that of the first floor, then I tend to model the first and second floors without their stairwells first, each at its own floor height. Then I add a single stairwell with a total height of the first and second floor combined. Surface matching should take care of the rest.

Thanks for pointing that out. I am assuming - perhaps falsely so - that each floor's area (minus its respective stairwell area) is added up to get the total area for the building, and then only one stairwell area is added to that? The same would apply to elevator shafts. Plus, these areas should only be added if the stair well (or elevator shaft) is conditioned? I would love to get an air flow network going, but have not been able to understand how to do that thus far. Presumably, this would take care of the possibly substantial thermal stack effect that could occur in such a stair well?

I suggest running a model with an air wall and a second run without. This will allow you see the relative impact of using the air wall assembly. My guess is that there would be more of an impact if you are using an airflow network than if you are not. Passive air circulation is going to be important to model in this small structure. It would be great to hear from somebody else about how well the air wall works in horizontal surfaces.Eric

an "Air Wall" in OpenStudio is mainly intended to allow daylight to pass through a zone boundary that doesn't represent a physical wall or floor when using Radiance for daylighting. When exported to EnergyPlus an "Air Wall" has thermal properties somewhat like a piece of plywood. It doesn't introduce any airflow between the two zones. There are a few measures that use air walls and interior operable windows, to add in zone mixing, but the one's I'm aware of are for very specific use cases.

I am trying to cut the top of this truncated cone using the stairs I modeled.
After which I can insert the second cone to form the center piece.
The image is what I modeled before in Archicad, the outer skin should be smooth, the inside cone should become perforated.

For the stairs and perforation that might be a good idea. Although the stairs seem to work out quite well now too?
I just wish I could combine the steps of the stair with the bottom half of the cone.

I am trying to use hardscape slabs and a stair to model an upper terrace and lower terrace joined with a flight of 5 stairs. The fall on the lower terrace has to be perpendicular to the stairs. How do I get the stairs or the hardscape to join or take account of the triangle of thin air this is creating?

Hi, Chickpea - Welcome to the forum! It's very helpful for troubleshooting if you create a signature in forum Account Settings to display your Vectorworks version and a brief description of your hardware. Similar to my signature.

The "sliver of air" might be solved by editing the slabs or walls or stairs, or by adding filler objects, or by surrounding the terraces & stair with a grade limits site modifier. Hard to tell without an image.

So, several things. If the upper slab and lower slab edges are not parallel because different slopes, then the stair will have to adjust, eg an uneven riser at bottom or sloping tread at top and/or some subtle adjustment at each tread. Much easier if the stair treads don't have to slope side to side!

Stair can be drawn as vwx stair object with standard blank guts. This will create generic sections. Then use 2d tools in detail/section viewports to describe & specify the various structure materials.

But - If detailed modeling (ya know, BIM) is desired so that sections can be pulled directly, I suggest using the stair tool to create a Solid Stair (construction tab) with correct tread/riser count and size. Then use that stair object in side view to draw/trace the profile of the treads & risers for extrusion and texture. Then delete the source stair object. Construction guts of the desired stair can be additional extrudes developed in side view from the tread arrangement. Class the various extrudes for data extraction, texture & attributes.

@Chickpea The other side of this is that you are modeling the real situation and in the field you would either have to warp the slab or have a riser with variable height. To account for this you may have to have two hardscapes to make the warp or at some future point VW should add grips to hardscapes, just like walls, that allow for the user to twist a hardscape. Good job for a newcomer.

The fundamental aspect found in buildings enabling access comes in different types of staircase designs and tastes. Some are a sight to behold. Others are as basic as their sole use, designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances known as steps. In the ancient days, stairs were made for several reasons, some were to protect the community from attacks made as a form of a burglar alarm.

Literally, as its name, it has no bends. It qualifies for a linear flight with no change in direction. A straight staircase is the most common and affordable type of staircases. The design does not need any support, an attachment at the bottom and the top is all it needs. The bonus point of this design is its ease of installation of staircase railings and handrails. It is easy to move on them and it is friendly for toddlers and the aged due to its non-steep nature. Its simple appearance makes it suitable for minimal designs.

However, it does not have to be boring. The addition of open risers, modern materials, and metallic railings can work the magic. Its drawbacks are it utilizes more linear space which, may affect the house design. It lacks privacy as compared to other types and straight staircases with more than 12 feet will require a landing. It has limited room for more designs and creativity.

A high-ceiling room or a staircase with more than 16 risers will require a staircase that is 12 feet high with a special landing. Its drawback is that it requires a larger space hence is applicable in commercial buildings than in private ones.

A shaped Staircase is basically a straight staircase with a turn or a bend. It can be either in the middle of a close end to another. The bend is usually 90 degrees, although it is not fixed to be 90 degrees. It is also known as a quarter-turn stair as its landing is either closer to the top or the bottom. An L-shaped staircase utilizes less space and is easier to navigate due to its wider landing. It is visually appealing and offers privacy due to the breaking barrier. It is safer as the central landing reduces the number of treads that one can fall.

The landing provides space to rest while ascending and it can be located at the corner of a room and restricted spaces. L-shaped stairs can also help with sound transmission if the stairs are contained within walls. However, building the stairs can be hectic, its handrails require more skill to construct and they are installed in segments, support is required for landing and where basements are used, the stairs tend to be stacked over each other for storage. Hence, it can be difficult to move items in and out of the basement.

The U-shaped Staircase is two parallel flights of stairs joined by a 180-degree turn landing. They are also known as the switchback stairs or the half-turn. U-shaped stairs are easier to fit in an architectural plan, the flat landing provides resting points when ascending, and are architecturally pleasant to view. They are the easiest to incorporate in a small space and are complex to build as compared to the other designs. U Shaped Staircase drawbacks are they are complex to measure and build and they require additional support structures for landing.

A spiral staircase is a grand staircase designed around a pole such that if one looks at it from an aerial view, it forms a perfect circle. It is a no-go zone for the clumsy. It is compact but difficult to navigate. They are perfect for minimal spaces such as beach houses and city dwellings. The center pole and landings provide structural support for the stairs as they do not need extra support. Its drawback is that only one person at a time can navigate it as the footing requires caution and the inner portion of each step is steep. The spiral staircase is also difficult to move items using stairs.

The Curved staircase is continuous forming a helical arc and acquiring an amazing architectural view. It has a larger radius but does not form a full circle. It adds elegance to a house thus, is always located at the entryway to make an impression. They are easy to navigate when they have a larger radius. However, they are the most difficult type to build. It is in fact a pinnacle of achievement for any builder or fabricator. The curved staircase obviously makes it the most expensive to build distinguishing it from the different types of staircases.