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001328
2025-01-23

Thermal Optimization and Natural Ventilation at Musée d'Orsay, France

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris has commissioned a consortium led by Marie-Suzanne de Ponthaud, Chief Architect of Historic Monuments in France, with Nemo-K engineering office (structures and coverings), to carry out a design project to improve the thermal behavior of the building's envelope structures.
Model 005510 | Thermal Analysis and Natural Ventilation of Musée d'Orsay, France
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Thermal Optimization of Musée d'Orsay

Project Presentation and Implementation Proposals

In particular, the study included:

  • Diagnosis of all envelope structures (facades, skylights, roofing)
  • Proposals for new, high-performance envelope systems, in close relation with the structures, which also had to be analyzed.

The glass roof covering the main nave of the museum building consists of two glass surfaces separated by a glass vault at a height of 4 to 5 m (13.1 to 16.4 ft).

In particular, NeMo-K proposed complete renovation of the skylight, including replacement of the exterior glass panes with new aluminum frames and low-factor solar glazing, complying with the latest known restoration from 1987, when the Orsay station (dating from 1900) was transformed into a 19th-century museum.

The glass roof structure is exposed to a significant greenhouse effect due to the effects of incident solar radiation on this building in summer, with the longitudinal axis roughly oriented on an east-west axis, exposing a complete south-facing side without any shadow.

NeMo-K proposed to analyze the natural ventilation potential of this structure, in particular by testing different positions of openings on the windward and leeward sides of the external roof layer.

Structural Analysis

For the natural ventilation analysis, NeMo-K modeled the main structural systems of the building in Rhino3D, then imported the geometry into RWIND.

Subsequent simulations were performed to determine the optimum locations of the openings required for natural ventilation and for wind directions, which were predominantly oriented to the north.

The project also led to the definition of the wind loads on the museum’s entrance canopy, located on Bellechasse Square at the foot of the large western facade, which is currently being studied for total renovation by the same project management team. The structural design checks were carried out using RFEM 6. The latter will be the subject of a future presentation.

Location Musée d'Orsay
Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
62 rue de Lille
75007 Paris
France

Project Specifications

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Defining 2 FE Mesh Layers for One Gas Solid

The stiffness of gas given by the ideal gas law pV = nRT can be considered in the nonlinear dynamic analysis.

The calculation of gas is available for accelerograms and time diagrams for both the explicit analysis and the nonlinear implicit Newmark analysis. To determine the gas behavior correctly, at least two FE layers for gas solids should be defined.

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RF-/DYNAM Pro - Nonlinear Time History is integrated in the structure of RF‑/DYNAM Pro - Forced Vibrations and extended by two nonlinear analysis methods (one nonlinear analysis in RSTAB).

Force-time diagrams can be entered as transient, periodic, or as a function of time. Dynamic load cases combine the time diagrams with the static load cases, which provides high flexibility. Furthermore, it is possible to define time steps for the calculation, structural damping, and export options in the dynamic load cases.

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  • Nonlinear member types, such as tension and compression members or cables
  • Member nonlinearities, such as failure, tearing, yielding under tension or compression
  • Support nonlinearities, such as failure, friction, diagram, and partial activity
  • Release nonlinearities, such as friction, partial activity, diagram, and fixed if positive or negative internal forces
RF-/DYNAM Pro - Nonlinear Time History Add-on Module for RFEM/RSTAB | Nonlinear Time History Analysis
  • User-defined time diagrams as a function of time, in tabular form, or as harmonic loads
  • Combination of the time diagrams with RFEM/RSTAB load cases or combinations (enables definition of nodal, member, and surface loads, as well as free and generated loads varying over time)
  • Combination of several independent excitation functions
  • Nonlinear time history analysis with the implicit Newmark analysis (RFEM only) or the explicit analysis
  • Structural damping using Rayleigh damping coefficients or Lehr's damping
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  • Stiffness modifications as initial conditions; for example, axial force effect, deactivated members (RSTAB only)
  • Graphical display of results in a time history diagram
  • Export of results in user-defined time steps or as an envelope
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I display the results of the RF‑/DYNAM Pro add-on module in the printout report?
In the RF-/DYNAM Pro, there is the Rayleigh damping. How do I determine these coefficients, and how are they used?
In RF‑/DYNAM Pro, the "From self-weight of structure" option is available in a mass case. Is it always necessary to activate this option in order to consider the self-weight of the structure?
Which time step should I select for calculation of the time history analysis in the RF‑/DYNAM Pro add‑on module?
After running a time history analysis, I am not able to see all results on surfaces. Is there a possibility to show them?
Is it possible to perform a dynamic analysis of the initial deflection of a structural component in RFEM or RSTAB?
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