BIM & BEAM

Structural framing underneath a warped slab

Some users have asked me what is the best and quick way to place a beam or beam system to a warped slab (Figure 1)?

(Figure 1)

Currently, a slab cannot host a beam or beam system. However, if users have already added the columns, they can then attach the columns to the underside of the slab (Figure 2).

(Figure 2)

Then in the Plan or {3D} view, users can use the regular Beam tool with "3D Snapping" option checked in order to layout quickly the perimeter girder beams (Figure 3).

(Figure 3)

Finally in the Plan view, user can add the Beam System with "3D" option checked in order to populate the joists to achieve the desired goal (Figure 4).

   

(Figure 4)

Students and Faculty: Download Revit Structure 2008 for FREE!

Join the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community - a networking site for students and faculty, where you can download Revit Structure and other Autodesk 3D products for FREE*.

Visit www.students.autodesk.com to register!

Faculty can take advantage of the Faculty Lounge area to access learning resources, curriculum materials, and hold faculty-only forums.

Advance your skills outside of the classroom with a free Student Edition of Revit Structure, easy-to-use online tutorials and resources, industry articles, product tips, job listings, Q&A forums, and more!

• Register to join the Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community today at: www.students.autodesk.com
• Visit the Software Download section to download a free Student Edition of Revit Structure: http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=m_downloads
• Visit the Learning and Tutorials section to access Revit Structure interactive learning modules:

  http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=m_learning

• Download the "Student's Guide to Getting Started with Revit Structure" to start on the road to BIM: http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=m_learning&product_type_id=9

Nicolas

* FREE products subject to the terms and conditions of the end user license agreement that accompanies download of the software.

New 2008 e-Learning Lessons Available

 

Senior Marketing Communications Manager,Sarah O'Rourke reports that new 2008 e-Learning lessons are available. e-Learning features self-paced, interactive lessons for select Autodesk products. All registered members of the Subscription Center have access to the e-Learning that is available under their contract terms. Subscription customers who want to get up to speed quickly on Autodesk 2008 products will find these recently released courses of interest:

• Autodesk Inventor 2008: Working with Sheet Metal
• Autodesk Inventor 2008: Working with Frames
• Autodesk Inventor 2008: DWG TrueConnect
• AutoCAD 2008: Introduction to 3D Modeling Part 2
• AutoCAD 2008 Transitioning from AutoCAD 2007
• AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008: Creating an Intersection: Peer Roads
• AutoCAD Map 3D 2008: Working with Source Drawings
• AutoCAD 2008: Customizing the Interface Part 2
• AutoCAD Mechanical 2008
• AutoCAD 2008: Essentials of Customizing Part 1
• AutoCAD Mechanical 2008: AutoCAD Mechanical Basics Part 1
• AutoCAD Map 3D: Using Source Drawing Queries
• Productstream 2008: Working with Productstream
• Vault 2008: Managing Vault
• Revit Architecture 2008: Detailing & Drafting Techniques
• Revit Architecture 2008: Presenting the Building Model
• Revit Structure 2008: Starting Your First Revit Structure Project
• Revit Architecture 2008: Creating Construction Documentation
• Revit Architecture 2008: Starting Your First Project

e-Learning Lessons are great resources that some subscription customers inadvertently overlook. These courses are available exclusively to Autodesk Subscription customers. To access them, sign in to the Subscription Center at:

http://www.autodesk.com/subscriptionlogin 

Check it out.

New Build of Revit Structure 2008 is available for download

We would like to inform you that the new English build of Revit Structure 2008 (20070607_1700) was released today in the Autodesk website for customers to download under the RST2008 English product download page: www.autodesk.com/revitstructure-downloads. This new build has fixed several platform and structural specific issues which are documented in the product download page.

Nicolas

New structural families available for subscription customers

If you are on subscription for Revit Structure, we have uploaded some newly created families in the Subscription Center: www.autodesk.com/subscription.

Once logged in, you can go to Product Information & Downloads > Building Solutions: Product Modules & Add-Ons > Structural Engineering Solutions to download the content. The new .rfa content includes some Light Gauge Steel, Precast Concrete Column with Corbels, Concrete Column with Drop Caps, 2D/3D Gusset Plates, 2D/3D Column Base Plates, Slab Step symbol, etc.

Nicolas

Structural Engineering Transition to 3D Digital Design Is Toughest for Small Firms

There is an interesting article located at:

http://enr.construction.com/news/buildings/archives/070523.asp

any comment?

Nicolas

Adjusting beam elevation based on slab thickness

When using the Beam tool to layout the framing on plan, by default the current Level has already been selected by Revit as the Work Plane. Therefore, if user draws the beams, they will be referenced to the Level itself only (Figure 1).

(Figure 1)

Also, user has to manually adjust the beams Properties Start Level Offset and End Level Offset so that the position of beams will match the thickness of Slab. By consequent, if the thickness of Slab changes, the beams will not follow or auto-adjust with the Slab (Figure 2).

(Figure 2)

Currently, Revit Structure doesn't have a direct feature to "attach" beams to slab. However, there is a solution to quickly draw beams that will associate with the Slab instead of the Level which is to use the 3D Snapping option when drawing the beams on plan (Figure 3). This option allows Revit to select automatically the underside face of the Slab geometry as Work Plane and places the beams underneath it. As a result, if the thickness of Slab changes, the beams will follow and auto-adjust with the Slab (Figure 4)

(Figure 3)

(Figure 4)

P.S. I know that some customers use the method of drawing the Ref. Plane by assigning it as the Work Plane, then aligning and locking it to the bottom of Slab. This method would work fine as long as the Slab is horizontally flat, but if user decides to make it sloped then the constraint will break and the beams will no longer follow the Slab.