Tapered Hardscape Help

[jpccrodrigues]

Hi all,

I’m trying to model a Hardscape with drainage slopes where the top surface is variable (to follow drainage) but the bottom stays flat at a constant elevation.

I’m using a Tapered Slab with Slab Drainage, and in the Components, one layer is set as Variable Thickness.

However, when I edit the drainage, sometimes the whole slab moves instead of keeping the base flat.

 

My goal:

Top surface follows slopes (drainage)

Bottom surface stays flat

Variable layer adjusts automatically

 

Has anyone found the right setup or workflow for this?
Thanks!

TAP_HARDSCAPE.vwx

[Tom W.]

I'm not entirely clear what your desired end result is. I opened the file but the Hardscape had no drains applied to it. Can you provide a bit more info as to what you want to see? Your Hardscape has 8 components + the tick in the 'Tapered' column determines how many components you want to be sloping as you pass down through the Hardscape from top to bottom. If you have no tick at all, all components will be sloping.

[jpccrodrigues]

2 hours ago, Tom W. said:

I'm not entirely clear what your desired end result is. I opened the file but the Hardscape had no drains applied to it. Can you provide a bit more info as to what you want to see? Your Hardscape has 8 components + the tick in the 'Tapered' column determines how many components you want to be sloping as you pass down through the Hardscape from top to bottom. If you have no tick at all, all components will be sloping.

Hi Tom, 

 

I'll try to make my target more clear. 

 

I attach a quick sketch showing what I’m trying to do with a Hardscape:

The bottom of the slab should stay flat at a fixed elevation.

The top surface should slope for drainage.

One component layer in between should have variable thickness (tapered) to adjust between those two levels.

So basically, I’d like the Hardscape to show a constant base and a sloped top, with the variable component handling the thickness change.

 

Is it something doable? 

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Tom W.]

4 minutes ago, jpccrodrigues said:

Hi Tom, 

 

I'll try to make my target more clear. 

 

I attach a quick sketch showing what I’m trying to do with a Hardscape:

The bottom of the slab should stay flat at a fixed elevation.

The top surface should slope for drainage.

One component layer in between should have variable thickness (tapered) to adjust between those two levels.

So basically, I’d like the Hardscape to show a constant base and a sloped top, with the variable component handling the thickness change.

 

Is it something doable? 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Great sketch thank you! So in you're showing the top of the Hardscape as curved as if draped over the terrain, rather than angled which is what you get with Slab Drainage, which makes me wonder whether Slab Drainage is actually what you're using...? You can do this kind of thing with Slab Drainage...

 

 

 

... but I'm not sure if that's what you want. When you set Site Model Interaction to 'Slab Drainage' it means you can use this tool on the Hardscape:

 

[jpccrodrigues]

2 hours ago, Tom W. said:

 

Great sketch thank you! So in you're showing the top of the Hardscape as curved as if draped over the terrain, rather than angled which is what you get with Slab Drainage, which makes me wonder whether Slab Drainage is actually what you're using...? You can do this kind of thing with Slab Drainage...

 

 

 

... but I'm not sure if that's what you want. When you set Site Model Interaction to 'Slab Drainage' it means you can use this tool on the Hardscape:

 

 

It is my first approach to a similar case, a layer with different thickness, a"shaped" surface and a flat bottom, like a terrain rather than a regular slab drainage (probably my lack of knowledge misguided me...). To better explain this, we are talking about a green roof over a slab with its different layers and the variable layer is the soil to be filled up. 

What would be your way to go? 

 

[Tom W.]

7 hours ago, jpccrodrigues said:

 

It is my first approach to a similar case, a layer with different thickness, a"shaped" surface and a flat bottom, like a terrain rather than a regular slab drainage (probably my lack of knowledge misguided me...). To better explain this, we are talking about a green roof over a slab with its different layers and the variable layer is the soil to be filled up. 

What would be your way to go? 

 

 

Have you tried a Site Model with Components? They can be tapered. I haven't had any experience myself.

[jpccrodrigues]

Hi, good morning,

 

Tried to do it, the result wasn't different, I'm not able to get variation in the middle layer. Attach the test file.

 

Can you share the file so I can try to replicate this process, please?

 

Thanks and regards!!

TAP_SM.vwx

[Tom W.]

16 minutes ago, jpccrodrigues said:

Hi, good morning,

 

Tried to do it, the result wasn't different, I'm not able to get variation in the middle layer. Attach the test file.

 

Can you share the file so I can try to replicate this process, please?

 

Thanks and regards!!

TAP_SM.vwx 92.64 kB · 0 downloads

 

What version are you using? VW2021 as per your signature...?

[jpccrodrigues]

56 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

 

What version are you using? VW2021 as per your signature...?

Definitely need to review my signature 😂 2025

[Tom W.]

Ok I've just looked at your file + can see that you've gone down the Site Model route. In your post you attached my screenshot of the Hardscape so I assumed that was what you were trying to achieve. Attached is a file with the Hardscape from the screenshot.

 

If you'd rather do it with a Site Model because you need a more intricately shaped top surface you know as much as me about it as like I said I haven't used Site Model Components before! I think to get tapered components you need to apply Geological Survey Points but I only tried this once when the feature came out a couple of years ago + don't remember the experience being particularly successful... I'm sure someone else knows more than me + can help.

 

Good luck!

 

Slab Drainage Hardscape v2025.vwx