StruSoft offers a Revit Structure Add-In that enables an export of a Revit model together with its properties (material, profile, end conditions) into FEM-Design.
Revit Structure Add-In is a powerful tool that is well applicable in the BIM concept, providing a proper work flow between the pre-design of the building and structural analysis. For instance, an architectural model can be made in Revit Architecture and then linked to Revit Structure, where the analytical model should be separated and adjusted. Afterwards, the analytical model can be easily exported into FEM-Design, where one can proceed with structural analysis and design of the structure.
If the Revit Structure Add-In is installed, all the commands related to FEM-Design connection can be found in the StruSoft FEM-Design panel in the Analyze tab.
With the Revit Add-in, the following elements and properties can be exported to FEM-Design:
- Structural Wall,
- Structural Floor,
- Structural Column,
- Structural Framing,
- Truss,
- Brace,
- Beam System,
- Boundary Conditions (Point, Line, Area),
- Release conditions,
- Material.
There are two export options:
- Export to file: upon running this command, the model will be exported to an external file (*r2f) that can be open in FEM-Design afterwards.
- Export and launch FEM-Design: upon running this command, FEM-Design will be launched and the Revit Structure project will be automatically imported.
Let's look at the example:
An example of physical and analytical model of the same building made in Revit Structure is shown below.
An analytical model is simply a representation of all the structural elements included in the project. The analytical model is created automatically while building physical model however, it can be adjusted separately from its physical representation. In case of more complex structures, the analytical model usually has to be adjusted, as only a consistent model will benefit when exported to any finite element program.
Before exporting the Revit model to FEM-Design, you must first map all the materials and sections included in the Revit project to those in FEM-Design. You can do that by running the Mapping command (in the StruSoft FEM-Design panel) and then the Revit to FEM-Design: Material and Profile Mapping dialog box will appear.
Once this dialog is opened, it automatically loads any previous mapping from FEM-Design. By clicking on Load from Project you load all the materials and profiles that have been used in your project. Any items that have not been mapped yet are displayed in red.
You should select each material and section loaded from Revit model that are displayed in red, and type the code for the corresponding name in FEM-Design.
Hint:
In order to find the corresponding name in FEM-Design, open Default settings dialog box of a column or a beam, and browse for a specific name in the Material or Sections tab.
Remember to perform mapping every time you want to export a Revit model to FEM-Design. Otherwise, it may not be correctly imported.
Choose an Export to file option from the
StruSoft FEM-Design panel. As a result an Export Results dialog box will appear. In our case 101 out of 101 elements have been successfully exported to FEM-Design without any error or warning.
However, if there would be any error or warning, it will be displayed in the Export Result dialog box. By selecting the element that failed, you will receive information about the Id, Category and Type of the element, as well as the description of the problem
Finally, exported model in FEM-Design:
