Normal

Represents a physical material with common physical properties (e.g., timber, concrete, brick, glass). In other words, it cannot change its thermal/optical properties based on its internal state (e.g., it cannot change its specific heat based on temperature, like Gas or Phase Change Materials).

Examples

`.spl`

Substance {
    type: "Normal",
    name: "the substance", 
    thermal_conductivity: 12,
}

`.json`

{
    "type": "Normal",
    "name": "the substance", 
    "thermal_conductivity": 12.0 
}

Full Specification

Normal {
   name : string,
   thermal_conductivity : number, // optional,
   specific_heat_capacity : number, // optional,
   density : number, // optional,
   front_solar_absorbtance : number, // optional,
   back_solar_absorbtance : number, // optional,
   solar_transmittance : number, // optional,
   front_visible_reflectance : number, // optional,
   back_visible_reflectance : number, // optional,
   visible_transmissivity : number, // optional,
   front_thermal_absorbtance : number, // optional,
   back_thermal_absorbtance : number, // optional,
}

name

The name of the Substance. Should be unique for each Substance in the Model object

thermal_conductivity (optional)

The thermal conductivity of the substance in W/m.K

specific_heat_capacity (optional)

The specific heat capacity of the substance in J/kg.K

density (optional)

The density of the substance in kg/m3

front_solar_absorbtance (optional)

Solar absorbtance (from 0 to 1) at the front side (Front being the side closer to the first material in a construction)

Absorbtance is used instead of reflectance (which is used in visible radiation properties) to maintain coherence with EnergyPlus

back_solar_absorbtance (optional)

Solar absorbtance (from 0 to 1) at the front side (Back being the side closer to the last material in a construction)

Absorbtance is used instead of reflectance (which is used in visible radiation properties) to maintain coherence with EnergyPlus... because in Thermal calculation we mostly care about how much is absorbed; in lighting we care mainly about how much is reflected.

solar_transmittance (optional)

The front solar transmittance at normal incidence (from 0 to 1)

Please note that, contrary to all other properties, this property does depend on the thickness of the substance. So, in order to build a coherent Glazing, you'll need to match this Substance with an appropriate Material

Transmittance is used instead of transmissivity (which is used in visible radiation properties) to maintain coherence with EnergyPlus... because in Thermal calculation we mostly care about how much is absorbed; in lighting we care mainly about how much is reflected.

SIMPLE Simulation Official Documentation