[IFC] What is IfcDimensionalExponents?

M by Martin156131 on 29 Oct 2023, edited 30 Oct 2023 #

In IfcSIUnit there is the comment with "1* Dimensions IfcDimensionalExponents This attribute is formally derived. "

I don't understand for what purpose the IfcDimensionalExponents exists.

A by Andrej730 on 30 Oct 2023 #

It's needed to define more complex units. Perhaps an example could help:

M by Martin156131 on 30 Oct 2023, edited 30 Oct 2023 #

If I want to define specific heat capacity (Joule / kg Kelvin) for example, I don't need IfcDimensionalExponents. IfcDerivedUnitElement is used for the exponent part.

#1=IFCPROJECT('abcdefghijklmnopqrst09', #100, '', $, $, $, $, (#101), #2);

#2=IFCUNITASSIGNMENT((#3));

#3=IFCDERIVEDUNIT((#5, #6, #4), .SPECIFICHEATCAPACITYUNIT., $);

#4=IFCDERIVEDUNITELEMENT(#7, 1);

#5=IFCDERIVEDUNITELEMENT(#8, -1);

#6=IFCDERIVEDUNITELEMENT(#9, -1);

#7=IFCSIUNIT(*, .ENERGYUNIT., $, .JOULE.);

#8=IFCSIUNIT(*, .MASSUNIT., .KILO., .GRAM.);

#9=IFCSIUNIT(*, .THERMODYNAMICTEMPERATUREUNIT., $, .KELVIN.);

Example from section 3.3.2.3 Derived units as global units from IFC2x Edition 3 Model Implementation Guide, Version 2.0, T. Liebich, 2009/05

Is there some helper function in IfcOpenShell to get all unit defined in an IFC file?

M by Moult on 30 Oct 2023, edited 30 Oct 2023 #

You can get all assigned units by doing model.by_type('IfcUnitAssignment')[0].

Dimensional exponents are used when defining conversion based units (e.g. imperial) or context dependent units.

The ability for it to be auto-derived for SI units and derived units is useful: this allows us to display values in the users preferred unit. Note that we don't yet have a simple util function for this yet though.