Autodesk Revit BIM link for connection design (AISC)

Comment activer le lien

• Téléchargez et installez la dernière version de IDEA StatiCa
• Vérifiez que vous utilisez une version autorisée de votre solution MEF/BIM 

IDEA StatiCa intègre les liens BIM dans vos solutions MEF/BIM lors de l'installation. Vous pouvez voir le statut et activer autres liens BIM pour des logiciels installés aussi plus tard dans l'outil d'installation des liens BIM.

Veuillez noter qu'il faut des étapes supplémentaires pour activer des liens BIM de quelques solutions MEF avec IDEA StatiCa.

Ouvrez IDEA StatiCa et allez à l'onglet BIM et ouvrez l'outil d'installation des liens BIM (Activation du lien BIM...).

Une notification avec le texte « Voulez-vous autoriser cette application à apporter des modifications à votre appareil ? » peut apparaître. Dans ce cas, veuillez confirmer avec le bouton Oui.

Le lien BIM pour le logiciel sélectionné (si trouvé) sera installé. L'écran vous montrera aussi le statut d'autres liens BIM qui peuvent être déjà installés.

How to use the link

Autodesk Revit (Revit) has a feature that is not currently found in other BIM applications in that it can also host results from a suitable finite element analysis solution.  To that end we have created such a model for you to use with this tutorial using Revit 2023. The results have been obtained using Robot Structural Analysis 2023.  Revit 2023 introduces a new approach to analytical modeling and has moved away from automation to a more engineering centric approach.

Open the model in Revit - note this tutorial requires version 2023 or higher.

There are two Analytical 3D views that have been created to verify the loads and results.

Here are the loads that have been defined (partly in Revit and more in Robot):

The code combinations were defined in Robot as this was much easier to do and you could argue that this is the correct place to define them.  Another observation here is that the model in Revit is fairly code/country agnostic until this stage - as the loads could be applied to any national annex to generate a 'local' solution.

Although the view is 'Locked' the results still need to be loaded.  To do this go to the Analyze tab and select Results Explorer.

In the next window choose a suitable ULS load case combination, My for example and finally Apply.

If you expand the view (remembering to unlock it first) you will also see the legend.  The text size is affected by the overall view scale so this can also be adjusted.

The results show the My values for a ULS load case combination that was defined in Robot.

Different results can be visualized using the Results Explorer functionality from the Analyze tab.

Return back to the 3D Steelwork view.  The steel connections shown have been modeled from within Revit.  They  can only be seen if the Detail Level is set to Fine.

The BIM link should be automatically integrated. You can find it in the top ribbon under IDEA StatiCa -> Checkbot. This will open the Checkbot application.

Select the New option with project type Steel and design code USA/ASD (AISC 360-16). Then select Create project.

The new Checkbot project is ready to import connections from Autodesk Revit.

We are going to examine the baseplate and brace connection at the bottom of one of the internal columns.

This connection is actually two connections.  One for the baseplate and one for the brace.  The exception though is that the baseplate connection has been broken (exploded) into its component parts.  This is due to current limitations of the connection interaction.

In Checkbot, select One from the Import panel.

The focus is switched back to Revit and you are asked to select a connection - select the brace connection.

You are then asked to select connection objects (these are the members and other items that make up the whole connection) - using a crossing window select the objects as shown.

Finally select Finish in the top right of the ribbon area in Revit.

The last message box that appears asks if you want to import the recommended welds - respond Yes.

You may have to map materials and/or bolt grades.  Go ahead and map these and press OK.

The members and connection placeholder are then imported into Checkbot.

Please see our tutorials about Checkbot and other BIM Links for more information about the Checkbot interface.

Geometry

In Checkbot either select Open from the right hand panel

or right mouse click on the connection box and select Open

or right mouse click on the connection item and select Open.

If everything has been selected as shown you should have a view that looks like this:

This is where the combined geometrical and analytical approach is ideal as it creates an instantly useable connection in IDEA StatiCa.  With previous tutorials based on either FEA or BIM solutions there is always one part that is missing.

However, we do have some editing to do before we can calculate.  Although the brace is modeled, we still need to assign the correct Model Type - N-Vy-Vz.  This is because there is a single bolt in use.  The connection, as it stands, will still produce a mechanism because there is a single bolt passing through the sandwich and fin plates.  To get over this we can either introduce more bolts (which makes the connection bigger and more costly) or use a small weld on the trailing edge.

Add a weld to each sandwich plate bottom edge as it touches the fin plate:

It is also incumbent on ourselves to point out some known limitations that there is when working with Revit.

1. As a result of this connection export from Revit an extra plate is generated in Revit after the connection appears in Checkbot.  This should obviously be deleted.  Check back here for future updates!
2. The tubular brace is cut by a negative volume and finally welded.  However, there is a better way of doing this that gives better results: cut the brace by the plate and automatically weld one to the other.  Turn off NVOL 1; adjust Cut Beam by Beam 1 to the following and finally turn off Weld 6.
3. If you rotate the model you will see that two welds have come over as single sided fillet when they should be double sided.  For Weld 1 and Weld 5 make them double sided.
4. Edit the Anchors 1 operation so that the Shear is taken by the anchors and not by friction.

Given that the IDEA connection model originated from the Revit model there is an argument that the host information should be corrected first and then synchronized with IDEA (to keep the single-source-of-truth just that).

Now the model is ready to be calculated, press Calculate from the top ribbon:

After a few moments the initial 'traffic-light' results will appear.

PROBLEM WITH VAULES IN REVIT

HERE NOW

Before we go, we would also like to highlight the use of a generic connection in Revit.  A generic connection is used as a placeholder - 'a connection goes here but I don't know what it looks like' or the actual connection is too complicated for Revit!

Switching to wireframe mode you can clearly see a green connection holder on top of a column with multiple beams framing in and out.  Using a similar workflow to the baseplate and brace example this connection can be imported into Checkbot and edited with the Operations in IDEA StatiCa.  The benefit of this workflow is not as big as with the previous example but it is a way to import the members and their results.

There will be times when modifications to the Revit model are required.  The preferred workflow would be to make the desired geometrical changes in Revit, send the model for analysis, analyse and design for those changes before sending back any differences.  Checkbot can then look for those changes.

Synchronisation du modèle

De temps en temps, il y a des modifications de votre modèle MEF/BIM, par exemple une taille différente de section d'un élément ou des charges différentes. Il est possible de les synchroniser entre Checkbot et le modèle MEF/BIM.

Il y a deux alternatives :

• Synchroniser l'Élément actuel (si un ou plusieurs assemblages sont sélectionnés)
• Synchroniser le Modèle structural importé entier

Pour vérifier cette fonction, vous pouvez changer la taille ou forme de section d'un élément dans votre application BIM/MEF ou modifier un cas ou combinaison de charge, etc. : changez les poteaux pour une section plus petite. N'oubliez pas de réanalyser le modèle MEF.

Dans Checkbot, sélectionnez les attaches conçues (il peut y avoir plus qu'une) et puis Synchronisation au panneau Élément actuel.

Le projet dans Checkbot sera actualisé, la conception d'attache sera enregistrée mais les résultats ne seront plus valides. Vous pouvez voir que le poteau est actualisé – avec le même changement qu'au modèle MEF.

Il faut seulement vérifier les attaches en surbrillance encore une fois en sélectionnant Calculer au panneau Élément actuel. Veuillez noter que des changements plus significatifs du modèle peuvent exiger des étapes de validation supplémentaires pour les attaches affectées (comme ci-dessus).

Si les attaches ne donnent pas de résultats désirés, vous pouvez les rouvrir pour optimiser la conception (renforcer-les si elles échouent la vérification ou alléger si l'utilisation est trop basse).

You have successfully linked Autodesk Revit with IDEA StatiCa Connection via Checkbot.  You have even explored features that allow the Revit workflow to extend beyond known, published connection types.