New version of StruXML Revit Add-In

A new version of StruXML Revit Add-In 1.1.003 has just been released. As always, you can find it in the StruSoft Installer.

The new version is primarily adjusted to work with FEM-Design 14 however, we have also fixed three minor bugs and added two new features: 

- 'Search GUID' command, that allows to find a Revit object by his GUID number,

- mapping list is now filtered to selected elements at export.

FEM-Design 14 - What's new?

FEM-Design 14 is officially released. 

All our customers with valid subscription can now upgrade the program. As usually, all the new features and changes in existing functionality are described in details in the "New features guide" document available in the program (Help --> New features). 

Here is a list of the most important features and changes that have been introduced in FEM-Design 14:

Revit analytical model - part 2.

In the first part of this article, I tried to gather some ideas and tips on how to adjust and check the Revit analytical model before exporting it to FEM-Design.

This time I gathered some video tutorials that I came across while browsing the Internet. I think they are really useful for someone who wish to master the Revit analytical model.

• A few videos explaining the essential skills are available in the playlist 'Revit for Structure Getting Started' at the Autodesk Building Solutions YouTube channel.
• Video explaining the analytical model visibility.
• Video showing and example of analytical columns and analytical walls adjustment.
• Video showing and example of analytical floor adjustment.
• Video showing and example of filtering unconnected analytical nodes.

New version of Tekla StruXML Add-In is available

A new version of Tekla StruXML Add-In 1.1.1.0 is now available to download from our download center or your StruSoft Installer.

The new version allows to transfer models saved in the Tekla Structures 20 and 20.1. Furthermore, some minor bug related to openings creation was fixed.

Training videos for Tekla to FEM-Design connection are available here.

Revit analytical model - part 1.

StruSoft StruXML Revit enables two - directional communication between Autodesk Revit and StruSoft FEM-Design. It is a powerful, but at the same time easy to use, tool that transfers the analytical model along with its properties between the two programs. 

One can fully benefit from the link, when the analytical model in Revit is well prepared and contains all the necessary information. And this part - preparation of the analytical model, appears to be a rather common problem. 

The majority of support issues that I receive from our users does not apply to our Add-In itself (for which we provide a full customer support), but to the analytical model issues (which in theory is not really StruSoft's area of expertize). Anyway, I am always trying to advise the customer and at least, give some hints about the possible issues with the model. I will also try to collect some ideas in this article.
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Second part of this article is available here.

Exporting pile foundations from Revit to FEM-Design

How to export pile foundations from Revit to FEM-Design?

In the current version of Revit StruXML Add-In (1.1.002) and FEM-Design (13.1.003) we do not support exporting piles or pile caps. It is simply because we can not handle analyzing or designing piles in FEM-Design yet. 

If it comes to foundations, we can only export foot pads, wall foundations and foundation slabs from Revit to FEM-Design (as those can be analyzed in FD). Here is some information of what we can do instead:

FEM-Design 3D Structure - Basic course

We have just released a new FEM-Design 3D Structure - Basic course videos on our Youtube channel. The playlist will soon be supplemented with new videos.

For those interested in FEM-Design Plate, we recommend to download the course material.

New version of StruXML Revit Add-In is available

A new version of StruXML Revit Add-In 1.1.002 is now available to download from a StruSoft Installer or our download center.

The new service version brings a lot of new features in the Export StruXML and Import StruXML mechanism.

Training videos for Tekla to FEM-Design connection

Below you will find links to four new videos that demonstrate how to use the connection between Tekla and FEM-Design:

• Introduction video - part 1 explaining how to create analytical model in Tekla.
• Introduction video - part 2 explaining how to export a Tekla analytical model to struxml.
• Introduction video - part 3 explaining how to open struxml file in FEM-Design.
• Introduction video - part 4 explaining how to update imported Tekla model in FEM-Design.

PRE-Stress course - Part 3: Topping

A new tutorial video for PRE-Stress is now available at our PRE-Stress YouTube channel. 

PRE-Stress is our advanced software for calculations of prestressed concrete elements. Find more about PRE-Stress here.

In this video we are showing the structural topping of prestressed concrete precast element carried out in PRE-Stress 6.4. This video material is intended to be used along with a course material that can be downloaded from here.

PRE-Stress course - Part 2: Fire

A new tutorial video for PRE-Stress is now available at our PRE-Stress YouTube channel. 

PRE-Stress is our advanced software for calculations of prestressed concrete elements. Find more about PRE-Stress here.

In this video we are showing the fire design of a prestressed concrete precast element carried out in PRE-Stress 6.4. This video material is intended to be used along with a course material that can be downloaded from here.

This is the second part of the training material. The third video tutorial along with the course material will be published soon.

PRE-Stress course - Part 1: TT Beam

A new tutorial video for PRE-Stress is now available at our PRE-Stress YouTube channel. 

PRE-Stress is our advanced software for calculations of prestressed concrete elements. Find more about PRE-Stress here.

In this video we are showing the analysis and design of a prestressed concrete precast element carried out in PRE-Stress 6.4. This video material is intended to be used along with a course material that can be downloaded from here.

This is the first part of the training material. The second video tutorial along with the course material will be published soon.

How do I add fire in PRE-Stress

Starting a calculation you get a set of load combinations generated from the startup-wizard.

Problems with the graphics in FEM-Design

I have some graphic problems when running FEM-Design. How can I solve it?

If you are experiencing some graphic related problems there are some things we advice to do:

• make sure you have the latest drivers for your graphic card, if not - update it, 
• if the latest driver does not help, switch to another graphic engine in FEM-Design (for instance from OpenGL to DirectX or oposite),
• if the last action did not help, switch to one of the safe modes: OpenGL - safe mode ot DirectX - safe mode, 
• if none of the actions helped, select to Disable all hardware acceleration.

Student license for FEM-Design

How to get a student license for FEM-Design?

In order to receive a free FEM-Design Educational license you have to first fill the form at our website. After registration you will receive an e-mail with the link to download the program and instruction of installation.

FEM-Design educational version information:

• It can only be used for educational purpose; any commercial use of this version is prohibited.
• It is a full right product without any limitation.
• It is compatible with "FD Student" versions, but is not compatible with the commercial FD versions' files.
• A watermark „Educational version” is displayed at background of printing page.

Wrong kind of material parameter when exporting from Revit to FEM-Design

I have a structural material assigned to an element but I cannot export it due to Lack of structural material assign to an element.

UPDATE: September 10th 2014
When using Revit StruXML Add-In in version 1.1.002, structural material for Beams, Columns, Isolated foundations can be both Instance and Type parameter.
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The reason user may receive the warning about a missing material, even though the element has a material assigned to it, is a wrong kind of Structural Material parameter. 

Structural material has to be an Instance parameter in case of:

• Beams,
• Columns,
• Isolated foundations,

and a Type parameter in case of:

• Floors,
• Walls,
• Wall foundations
• and Foundation Slabs. 

Errors when xporting elements from Revit to FEM-Design

Why some elements are not exported from Revit to FEM-Design?

There are two main reasons why some elements are not exported from Revit to FEM-Design:

• lack of structural material assigned to the element,
• analytical model is not enabled for the element.

If some elements are not exported, user will be notified about it along with the information of element type and reason why the export failed. In the export dialog user can see a list of all errors. To see the detailed report of exported / not exported elements, one can choose to see the Export Report. Both are shown in the example below:

Visibility of labels in FEM-Design

Why can't I see my reinforcement / thickness / material / section /loads / etc. labels in my FEM-Design model?

The visibility of the labels in FEM-Design is dependent on the current view mode applied to the model. Any kind of label can only be visible in the Wireframe mode.

Printing from documentation in FEM-Design

How to change the default printer in Documentation module in FEM-Design? 

Default printer is associated with the Section. If you wish to change the default printer, select the section --> go to Properties --> choose Printer setup... button --> Select the desired printer from the drop down list --> Ok.

Be aware that if you have more than one section in your documentation, you need to set the default printer for each section separately.

PRE-Stress 6.4

PRE-Stress 6.4 is now available in StruSoft Installer

• PRE-Stress now support fire design in terms of control according to EN1992-1-2 and EN1168.
• Re-worked the structure and added more information to the help file which allows for faster introduction into mastering PRE-Stress. Also added context help (F1) to the most essential dialog windows.
• The recently added 'overview report' now borrows enhanced graphical representation of slab perimeter and loads when executed from IMPACT Precast.

This version of PRE-Stress connects to IMPACT Precast 12.1.014 and 13.0.004 or later.
PRE-Stress 6.4 is now exclusive for Eurocode and requires a new license, make sure to update your license file. Read more about the new version on StruSoft's homepage

GRAPHISOFT Releases EcoDesigner STAR

BUDAPEST, January 21, 2014 – GRAPHISOFT®, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) architectural software developer, has announced the launch of EcoDesigner STAR, the first software that places standard-compliant energy analysis in the heart of the architect’s familiar BIM work environment. EcoDesigner STAR enables architects to design the most energy-efficient buildings, by themselves or working together with engineers or specialist consultants.

http://www.graphisoft.com/info/news/press_releases/ecodesigner_star_release.html

FEM-Design version 13

FEM-Design 13 has been just released.

What is new?

• Multiple point support (group) generation.
• Rearrangement of load groups and load combinations dialogs.
• Automatic load combination generation from load groups.
• Load case, load combinations and load group export/import.
• Improved rectangle definition.
• Improved eigenfrequency and seismic calculation.
• Turkish seismic code including Performance based design.
• FEM-Design 3D Soil