AAB Insulated Concrete Forms

[PatriciaLe_o]

Has anyone there worked with this construction system? I'm in a project that's built with it and I'm in doubt on HOW should I construct it... The system works like a Lego, where blocks are joined and then filled with concrete. (For those who want to know what I'm talking about see www.euromac2.com or http://oikos.com/esb/40/AAB-icf.html)
I don't know if I just should use composite walls or if there is another better way....

[Brad Elliott]

I have used this system and even this manufacturer. While tempting to try to model the blocks I have found it easiest to create a composite wall and then keep my lengths and heights modular based on the system. This way if a wall needs to be modified it is much quicker than working with multiple pieces.

[PatriciaLe_o]

Thanks Brad! That's what I'm trying to do, although the joints of walls and slabs are still not very good for me... I also think it strange to give dimensions based on the internal part of the wall (I made composite walls with the system and the different internal and external finishes)... The structure dimensions are made in 5 cm tolerance but the final measures... but that's part of the construction system, not an archicad problem!

[PatriciaLe_o]

how could you make the juctions look like this?

[Brad Elliott]

Patricia,
I'm not completely sure what I am looking at here, but it looks like two different composite slabs with a concrete curb under the wall above. I would model it that way. As long as the concrete fill is the same in every composite it should clean up for you. The only issue is it looks like you have a finish ceiling on the bottom of the slab. That I can't help you with, maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

[PatriciaLe_o]

Thanks again Brad. This image was just part of one of the houses we're doing execution project. This was made on my boss's former office, in AC7 (but don't ask me why, we only have the 2D!!!! so we have to construct all models again!) and now we (the new office) have to continue the projects of the other houses models, but with almost the same specifications... I have to try a little harder, spend more hours trying different ways... or maybe wait for more advises.

[Anonymous]

PatriciaLeão wrote:
how could you make the juctions look like this?

This looks like a no brainer...in AC10.

For a, you simply build a small brick wall, intersecting with the main wall.
For b, you have a composite wall wich does not quite intersect the main wall.
The trick is putting this wall on a different layer, with a different priority intersection value, defining the background color as white (and not transparent) and bringing it to the front in plan representation. This way it won't intersect with the main wall, it will represent itself on top of it.
As for c, I would use the brand new profile columns. They are easy to manage, and will create the desired hole in the composite wall, automatically.

[PatriciaLe_o]

Yeah I know... I have to improve my layers/priorities choices...
But I guess you thought it was a plan drawing... In fact it's a section, but thanks for your tips anyway Miguel.

[Anonymous]

PatriciaLeão wrote:
But I guess you thought it was a plan drawing... In fact it's a section.

Story of my life
In secction this would be even easier, beeing:
a) a wall, with extrude upward SEO on the slab
b) a wall
c) a beam, will open a hole in the wall.

[PatriciaLe_o]

This will be a hell to construct joining pieces of walls with just the structural thickness, pieces of slabs, hiding this, showing that etc etc... but I'm tuff, I'll survive!