s05 designing connections within revit structure to drive bim models to fabrication-doug...

8/17/2019 S05 Designing Connections Within Revit Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication-Doug Evans_Handout

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Session 5

Designing Connections within Autodesk®Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to

Fabrication Doug Evans & Michelle McCarthy, Design Data

Class Description

Model accuracy is vital to BIM projects and connections are a critical

component of making the model accurate. The ability to create as-manufactured model data for fabrication inside Autodesk® Revit®

Structure is within reach — down to the connections. This class will focus on

the code-based connection design in Revit Structure using SDS/2

Connect. Revit Users can communicate the engineer's detailed design

information downstream, driving the BIM model to fabrication.

This class will focus on:

• A "tour" of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in, familiarizing attendees with

commands and setup

• Explaining the code-based full joint analysis that takes place during the

design of connections

• Showing how Revit Structure models, including connections, can be sent

downstream for fabrication

• Demonstrating the various uses for SDS/2 Connect based on the user's

role in a project

• Addressing most common issues reported by new users.

Brought to you by Autodesk Partner, Design Data, SDS/2 Connect can

significantly improve the quality of design in your structure. Whether it is

simply used as a sketch and analysis tool or as a full BIM Round-tripping

tool with Revit Structure, your projects will benefit from a more accurate

model complete with connection design information.


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Designing Connections within Revit Structure

Doug Evans & Michelle McCarthy, Design Data

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About the Speakers:

Doug Evans Design Data's vice president of sales, has been with the

company for over 20 years. Throughout his two decades in the steel

fabrication industry, He has been a part of many technology initiatives

and panels. Evans was involved with the design and delivery of some of

the first CNC interfaces between CAD systems and fabrication equipment

in the early 1990s. Evans also has served on the Intergraph Structural

Committee and continues to serve on AISC advisory boards that are

involved in maintaining industry file transfer standards and presentingindustry awards. He has helped concept many products for Design Data

over the years, with the latest being the rebranding effort that is seen

today from Design Data. Before joining Design Data, Evans spent five

years as the director of marketing for the Gallup organization. Doug has a

bachelor's degree in business administration from Nebraska Wesleyan

University, with a minor in computer science.

Michelle McCarthy is strategic sales manager at Design Data, makers of

SDS/2 software solutions for connection design, fabrication, and detailingsectors. McCarthy presents and sells SDS/2 software products which

produce as-built models that provide automatic detailing, engineering

information, fabrication data and much more, reducing the time required

to design, detail, fabricate and erect structures. Additionally, McCarthy

has influenced several new additions to the SDS/2 product line as a part

of the company rebranding. McCarthy received her bachelor’s degree

from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her master's degree in

management from Doane College.


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What is SDS/2 Connect?

SDS/2 Connect is a Revit Structure add-in that makes it possible for Revit

Structure users to automatically design steel connections inside of their

Revit Structure model. These steel connections and members in the Revit

Structure model will transfer downstream to and from SDS/2 Detailing

software. Once in the SDS/2 Detailing model, these connections and the

steel materials may be updated and any changes sent back to Revit

Structure for seamless updates of the structural model.

SDS/2 Connect Overview Video

Understanding SDS/2 Connect

SDS/2 Connect provides users with the ability to design and display

connections inside Revit Structure. There are some basic principles of

connection design tool that, once understood, will improve your

productivity with creating and communicating data.

This first section will introduce help menus, commands, and setup

options — information necessary for maximizing results from both RevitStructure and SDS/2 Connect.

SDS/2 Connect Help Menu

The SDS/2 Connect help menus are built to match Revit Structure help

menus and navigate in a similar manner. In our help menus, you can find

our connection guide, outlining the connections that can be designed by

SDS/2.

The help menus for SDS/2 Connect are accessible in the upper left hand

corner of the setup screen or in the lower left hand corner of the

connection edit screen. Information regarding installation details and

deeper explanation of the setup screens, along with other pertinent

details, are available to users from the help menus.

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The help menus include numerous images and instructions to help you get

your desired connections. They also include a more detailed explanation

of how connections are designed by SDS/2 Connect. This information can

be found in the help menu by selecting

TopicsConnectionsConnection Design. This outlines the steps that are

taken in designing the connections.

Commands in SDS/2 Connect

There are currently eight major commands in the SDS/2 Connect add-in

(from left to right in image below: Options, Import Fastrak Forces, Edit,

Report, Connection Type (Auto Std, selectively designs connections),

Design All, Export from Revit to SDS/2, and Import to Revit from SDS/2.

SDS/2 Connect basic toolbar ribbon

Accessing the various commands is intuitive. Any command on the SDS/2

Connect toolbar with an arrow below it has multiple options for the user to

choose from. Clicking on the arrow will provide access to setup menus

and design preferences for SDS/2 Connect.

Options

This setup area is primarily designed for use when models are being

transferred between Revit Structure and SDS/2. Choosing to design

established connections will only allow Revit Structure to make

adjustments to connections that have already been designed by Revit,

and it will leave all un-designed areas alone. Designating the whole

structure will work on every joint in the model. These options allow users to

selectively design connections and also save processing time.


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Materials

The materials setup area is the interface through which SDS/2 Connect

maps Revit Structure families to a form that is recognizable by SDS/2

Detailing software.

Setup

The default setup can be used “out-of-the-box”; however, knowing your

way around setup can help you achieve your desired results more quickly.

These setup options match many options regarding connections in SDS/2

Detailing. Most of the setup options in the menu affect connection design.

The ones listed below will have brief descriptions that aid in understanding

the way connections are designed by SDS/2 Connect.

Auto Standard Connections

o Automates connection design by letting users pre-determine

connections that will be designed based on framing

conditions that occur in the model.

o Due to full erectibility checks, certain framing conditions will

override the auto standard connection.

Schedule of Minimums

o Allow users to override connection design and simply apply a

chosen number of rows of bolts based on member size. Design Criteria

o Engineers may select from any available design codes.

o Includes settings for applying automatic loads to beam and

bracing connections, selecting steel grades for connection

materials and more.

Check Project

Users have two options here: to find orphaned connection material and

to find undesignable members. These tools are available to identify such

situations in the model so that they may be rectified.


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Library

In this area, users map to their Revit Structure families. Currently, SDS/2

Connect works best with the Imperial library. NEED EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS

MIGHT BE USED.

Import Fastrak Forces

Importing a CXL file allows users to transfer load information from CSC's

Fastrak Building Designer into the SDS/2 Connect add-in. As part of this

process, the user will answer a few questions on moment loaded

connections, which will allow them more control over the design of those

connections. This will apply loads automatically to connections in theproject and eliminates the need to input loads by hand into SDS/2

Connect.

Edit

The Edit command will allow users to edit an existing connection, or

create a new connection. All the options found in the connection edit

window are linked to the same options that exist in SDS/2 Detailing —

allowing for this information to be exchanged and updated during the

round tripping process.

Through this command, users can edit connection types, loads, plate

thicknesses and even weld information.

Report

Users can access connection design reactions, force checks and long-

hand calculations through the Report command. Simply select the

member or members you require a report for, and click the Report buttonon the toolbar to view a condensed version of the report. This can be

expanded in a browser window to access the long hand calculations.

Connections

The Connection command will be populated with the connection

type most recently used — Auto Std will be the default upon opening


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Revit Structure. The various types of connections that SDS/2

Connect can design for are:

Auto Standard Connections

o These are any one of the below connection types, but are

system determined, based on framing conditions.

Plain End

o Does not design a connection, but allows users to keep the

system from placing a connection on the member end.

Clip Angle

o Single or double angles.

o Moment and safety connections can be applied.

Bent Plate

o

Single or double bent plates. End Plate

o Moments, safety notches or offsets are supported.

User Base/Cap Plate

o Draws from a user-defined plate set up.

Auto Base/Cap Plate

o Will automatically detect steel and add base or cap plates to

a column that is meeting a beam.

Shear

o

Single plate shear connections.

o Moments, thru-plates, multiple columns of bolts can be

applied.

Seated

Splice

Vertical Brace

o Handles L, LL, WT, HSS, WF and pipe.

Horizontal Brace

o

Handles L, LL, WT, HSS, WF and pipe.

Export to SDS/2

For the “Export Revit to SDS/2” command, the user has five export options.

Based on the choice for export, there will be different results in the

information transferred. From the different options, users can either export

all structural elements, modified structural elements only, or a selection of


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structural elements. This provides users the highest level of control over the

information to be transferred between Revit Structure and SDS/2.

Whichever method of export is chosen, the Revit model can be exported

from Revit Structure to SDS/2 Detailing with OR WITHOUT having the

connections designed.

Import from SDS/2

Importing a model from SDS/2 is as simple as clicking the import button

and browsing to the file that is ready for import. This can populate a new

Revit Structure project, or it can be an update to an existing model.

It is important to note that if an engineer chooses not to design

connections on the project, they can still use SDS/2 Connect to import

connections back into the Revit Structure model for clash prevention or

detection. If the engineer has SDS/2 Connect, they can export a model

that will allow detailers with SDS/2 to design connections AND detail steel,

then send a file that will enable most connections to be shown in the Revit

Structure model.

How Connection Design Works in SDS/2 Connect

Many connection design software programs simply calculate loads and

member sizes to design connections, but there are so many more factors

that affect connection design on a project. All SDS/2 connection design

products will automatically design connections considering loads,

member sizes, steel grades, bolt types, framing conditions, entire joint

analysis, fabricator's stock and equipment capbilities, and even fit-up and

constructibility in the field. With all these manufacturing standards as a

built-in part of the connection design, the overall design of the structure is

better and more cost effective.

The following sections will walk through several of these factors to show

areas where users have more control and demonstrate how connections

are developed by SDS/2 Connect.


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Framing Conditions and Auto Standard Connections

Framing conditions play an important role in SDS/2 Connect’s methods of

connection design, particularly when using an Auto Standard

Connection. Auto Standard Connections are connections that can

automatically be applied and will “self-determine” the connection type

to be applied, based on the Auto Standard Connection area in Setup.

With these setup options, the user can automate the connection design

process even further, allowing the system to do much of the work for them

on simple connections. There is full control over the type of connection

that can be selected for numerous framing conditions.

Using Auto Standard Connections, companies can mold SDS/2 Connect

to automatically create preferred standard connections for a project,

and can significantly impact the time spent designing connections.

Click here for YouTube video demonstrating framing conditions and auto

standard connections.

Loads

SDS/2 Connect can design connections for a specific end reaction. Loadsfor designing connections are either input at each node or automatically

set by the Automatic Design Load in the Design Criteria section of Setup.

The default is set for 50% uniform allowable load or maximum web shear,

but can be changed to suit the user’s needs. If loads are present in the

model from analysis done by an engineering software product, SDS/2

Connect can import that information to supersede the automatic design

load.

When you manually change loads, SDS/2 Connect quickly shows results of

this change in the newly designed connection based on the specific

load. It may cause increases in bolt diameters, weld sizes (though welds

aren’t shown in Revit Structure), plate thicknesses and the number of rows

of bolts. Loads can also cause SDS/2 Connect to fail, or not design a

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connection because with the given parameters, one of the members

may not be capable of supporting the connection.

Click here for YouTube video demonstrating the effect of loads in SDS/2

Connect.

Connection Specifications

SDS/2 Connect users gain further control over the connections inside Revit

Structure through connection specifications. These areas allow you to

make common adjustments to the connections, such as selecting steel

near side or far side for a shear plate, setting up safety connections and

choosing attachment methods like welded or bolted.

Click here for YouTube video demonstrating changes in connection

specifications.

"Intelligent" Connection Design

SDS/2 Connect considers the entire framing situation when designing a

connection. That means that during the connection design process, it

takes into account opposing members, fit up and constructability in

addition to the load. The best example of this is shown in this video.

Click here for YouTube video showing intelligent connection design in

SDS/2 Connect.

Framing conditions also play into the intelligent connection design found

in SDS/2 Connect. To speed up the connection design process, this add-in

will read the framing condition and can change the connection

automatically. Whether it is the rotation of a column as seen in the video

or interference from other members, the system can automaticallychoose another connection that will work, if the chosen connection fails.

Going even further, connections that require consideration for the

erector, like copes for bolt clearances or equipment, are automatically

incorporated in the design. The ability to include this kind of

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manufacturing knowledge in the connection design process results in

better information and fewer Requests For Information or change orders

later in the project.

User Connections

User connections allow users to override the system-designed connection

and manipulate the connection to meet specific requirements. For each

Connection Edit screen, there is a check box in the upper right hand

corner that, when checked, allows users full editing capabilities over the

design detail and end prep settings. The fields shown are all of the

engineering dimensions in a connection. Whether changing plate or

angle sizes, numbers of bolts, or materials used, the user has full control

over the connection.

An additional feature of this modification is the cross dependency of

each field. As you enter into a field, for example rows of bolts, SDS/2

Connect will show arrows indicating that other fields, such as length of

plate, will update and need verification.

This provides added control over the connection. If a particular

connection cannot be obtained automatically, the user can simply make

edits to connection materials to manipulate it into the desired

connection.

Click here for YouTube video showing user connections in SDS/2 Connect.

Technical Information on SDS/2 Connect and Revit

Learning a little more about the technical side of the interaction between

SDS/2 Connect and Revit Structure will be helpful as you start designing

your own connections. With a basic understanding, it will enable you totrouble-shoot any issues and better manipulate the materials and

connections in the Revit Structure model.

For SDS/2 Connect to design connections inside of Revit Structure and

transfer the information to and from SDS/2 Detailing, some data had to be

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added to Revit Structure. The first major modification done by SDS/2

Connect is to modify some of the Revit Structure families. Upon the

initialization of the SDS/2 Connect add-in on your project, Revit Structure

families are modified with more detailed information, which enables

connection design.

The following families are modified by SDS/2 Connect:


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Wide Flange

L-Angle

LL-Angle

W-Tee

Channel

HSS Rectangular

Pipe

HSS Round

SDS/2 Connect adds the following families during initialization:

Plate

Angle

RoundPlate

Bolt

StandardBolt

StandardBoltArray

BentPlate

These are very simple implementations of these materials and are not

intended to be modified by hand once installed. Since SDS/2 and Revit

Structure don't have all the same functionality, there will be instances

where members may not transfer properly. For example, on a single or

double angle vertical brace, SDS/2 Connect “shifts” the material of the

angle so that the work line is on the material gauge line. That “shift” is

something SDS/2 Connect adds to Revit Structure's families.

Memory limitations can be a concern with the Revit Structure model.

The number of elements required to display connections inside RevitStructure pushes its memory limitations for larger structures. This does

impact performance of Revit Structure. During the development of

SDS/2 Connect, steps were taken to get the best performance

possible. Below are some tips that can improve performance on larger

models:

Avoid fine grain views when not viewing connections

Set up SDS/2 Connect to skip generating bolts

Holes and welds are not generated inside Revit Structure but will

appear once transferred to SDS/2 Detailing

These small modifications result in a big performance boost for your

model, and the tradeoff is simply being unable to see the bolts and

holes. It is possible to turn the bolts back on to view them later or just in

small view ports.

Design Data and Autodesk are working together on the future

development of this technology. This mutually beneficial partnershipallows the Revit Structure model to be more manufacturing-friendly

and leads to SDS/2 being included earlier in the BIM concept and


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design phase. Work on both SDS/2 Connect and future Revit Structure

versions continues. Revit Structure 2012 has advanced features for

cutting and coping due to this add-in and SDS/2 is adding changes to

work more seamlessly with the Revit Structure model.

Potential Workflows

SDS/2 Connect offers both connection design capabilities and BIM

functionality in the form of model round-tripping. There are several real-

world applications for SDS/2 Connect, based on the user’s role in the

construction process. Improvements to the work process for

fabricators/detailers, general contractors, architects and engineers

can be achieved in a variety of ways with SDS/2 Connect.

The way that SDS/2 Connect designs connections with considerations

for the needs of engineers, fabricators and erectors makes it a perfect

tool for aiding in value engineering. Value engineering can save as

much as 20 percent in steel costs on a project, when you consider how

it can reduce the cost of materials used, welding necessary, man-hours

and time that is spent in fabricating the steel. With the ability to quickly

generate connections, SDS/2 Connect can help engineers analyze

and compare several connection configurations and design reactions

in a few minutes.

Being able to access this type of connection information inside the

Revit Structure model brings it one step closer to the accuracy needed

for manufacturing structures. SDS/2 Connect also enables engineers to

send a more accurate model to detailers and fabricators and drives

information more quickly to the manufacturing level.

SDS/2 Connect has several implementations for an engineer. Any way

you use it, SDS/2 Connect helps value engineer a structure — it can act

as a simple connection design and sketch-generating tool, aid in

round-tripping functionality to attain better pre-construction models, or

simply eliminate wasted time and lost information through other BIM file

transfer methods. The following sections will discuss these uses for SDS/2

Connect.


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Connection Design and Sketch Tool

As a simple connection design tool, SDS/2 Connect can drastically

save time for engineers. It eliminates a significant amount of time spent

creating standard connection sketches from Revit Structure by

automating the design process and adding connection materials all in

one step. Once you have the connection in sketch form, users can

add any additional information necessary, such as dimensions or

callouts.

An engineer using SDS/2 Connect to help determine the best

connection to use in a given situation can simulate various connection

types and the accompanying design calcuations in only a fewseconds per connection. This method can help engineers quickly test

and determine the preferred connections, and automates calcuations

that were previously done by hand or spreadsheet.

This would be done mostly by engineers who choose to generate

connection tables and sketches that are to be sent downstream to the

fabricators and detailers producing the manufacturing models.

Model-Based Connection Design

Model-based connection design can be facilitated in two ways by

SDS/2 Connect. The first method follows the work flow that many

projects currently use, which is to allow the fabricator/detailer to design

the connections, subject to approval by the engineer. A second option

is that engineers can use SDS/2 Connect to design the critical

connections in the design model and provide generic sketches for the

rest of the project. We will discuss both options.

There are several methods of approving connections designed by

fabricator/detailers. SDS/2 Connect can help expedite the connection

design and the approval process. Using the SDS/2 Connect add-in,

engineers can export their design model (prior to any connection

design) to the manufacturer, who will import it into SDS/2 Detailing.

Once imported, the fabricator/detailer can design connections on the

model and roundtrip the model, with connections, back to the Revit

Structure model for the engineer to view and approve. Because of thetight integration achieved through SDS/2 Connect, all the connection


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information (connection materials, copes and calculations) is available

for review in the design model.

So without adding connection design to the work of the engineer,SDS/2 Connect can facilitate the communication of connection

geometry and information necessary for approval. With these

connections in place, an added benefit for BIM projects, is that clash

detection and prevention for gusset connections can be performed

earlier.

The second work flow example of model-based connection design

powered by SDS/2 Connect is the ability for engineers to design their

own connections in their Revit Structure design model. In this example

work process, the engineer may choose to utilize SDS/2 Connect to

design only the critical connections, say about 10 percent of the

connections on the project. Connection tables and sketches can

communicate the rest of the basic information downstream for the

fabricator/detailer to provide.

By designing and representing these critical connections in the model

earlier, engineers can make better informed decisions on the project.Access to this type of connection information earlier in the project

allows proactive clash prevention to be performed between gussets

and the piping in the structure, instead of reacting to clashes later in

the process or as they happen in the field. Simple connections can be

handled by the detailer in SDS/2 and imported back into Revit

Structure via SDS/2 Connect, if necessary.

Pre-Construction Bids & BIM

Whether or not engineers are designing connections within the Revit

Structure model, the round-tripping functionality of SDS/2 Connect can

be utilized by engineers to create a more accurate BIM model. Often

as a part of the bidding process, detailers and fabricators receive the

Revit Structure model and use it for the basis of their bids.

Think about how this can affect costs and turnaround time if you allow

that model to be utilized to its fullest potential. A fabricator/detailer

with SDS/2 can import a model exported via SDS/2 Connect to get

more accurate material take-offs and advance bills of material


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allowing for users to resolve any connection or design issues before

they reach the manufacturing stage and incur more cost. This also

results in more immediate and reliable material take-offs, accurate

fabrication drawings, and cuts down on the time needed to fabricatethe structure. Depending on the completeness of the pre-construction

model, they could also eliminate the need to re-input major structural

members and start the detailing process more immediately after the

bid is won.

Looking further into this workflow, after the bid is won, suppose an

engineer sends a detailer/fabricator their more complete design

model from Revit Structure, using SDS/2 Connect to facilitate the

export. The detailer would begin by making some simple checks for

accuracy and then use SDS/2 to design any connections not already

designed in Revit, input miscellaneous steel like handrails, stairs, etc.,

and create drawings and reports. Any time throughout this process,

changes to the structural model can be sent to Revit Structure, bringing

the pre-construction model closer to the as-manufactured model.

Communication between pre-construction models and as-

manufactured models has the most positive effect on: Accuracy of material take-offs result in better model-based

estimates

Elimination of duplicate information

Shorter turnaround time from design model to fabrication model

Connection design/approval in native environments

Design decisions can be influenced by fabrication needs earlier

on, resulting in a structure that is less expensive to manufacture

Generation of connection calculations is almost immediate

Reduces number of steps necessary to get to shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect FAQs

One of the goals of this presentation and handout is that attendees

can leave with enough knowledge to download, use and evaluate a

trial of SDS/2 Connect. With that in mind, the next section covers a few

of the questions most frequently asked of SDS/2 Connect Support.


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Connections are Not Being Designed

There are three main causes for connections failing to be designed

when using SDS/2 Connect.

At times, new users may have trouble simply applying connections or

editing existing connections. Often in this situation, SDS/2 Connect is

not recognizing the beam or column as a connectable member. This is

usually because the Structural Usage is not set correctly. To see if this is

the case, users can invoke the "Check Project" command and click on

"Find undesignable members." This will identify the members in the

project that have their structural usage set incorrectly for connection

design. The correct structural usage for a beam is either Girder, Joist, orOther. Don't get confused here, because SDS/2 Connect doesn't

actually design bar joist connections inside Revit Structure yet. In the

case of vertical brace connections, the structural usage must be set to

Vertical Bracing and for horizontal brace connections it must be set to

Horizontal Bracing.

The other cause for undesignable members is that the families may not

have been modified correctly. This is particularly common for

companies that are not using default families or have developed

custom, in-house families. During the initialization process of SDS/2

Connect, these custom families may not be recognized and will not be

modified to accept connections.


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In most cases, this can easily be corrected by mapping the custom

families correctly in the Material File Mapping window, found in the

SDS/2 Connect setup options. To manually map custom families

correctly, users will select the custom family from the left hand column,

then choose the section type, material file source, the sections to be

mapped, and click OK. It is very important to note that the check box

"Modify this family" must be selected as well.

The W-I-sections are not from the default families and cannot automatically be

mapped in SDS/2 Connect. This is what you will see if you have a custom family.


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The final reason that connections can't be designed is due to structural

failure SDS/2 Connect will purposefully not design connections that are

not physically possible, or are not yet included as a supported

connection type. If a connection fails for this reason, users will find a

warning on the bottom of the connection edit window that offers an

explanation for the failure. For example, a very high load on a beam

with a shear plate connection may cause it to fail because the beam isnot deep enough for the number of rows of bolts required for the

connection with the load applied.

Export Warning

Another common question asked by users is related to a warning that

pops up upon export. It will come up when a user is attempting to

export the model from Revit Structure, and a message that states

"Project name is current against this file" will appear.

When mapping custom families, Users can select Section type, Material file and even

make changes to any of the variable fields if necessary.


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This has two potential causes. The first, most simple explanation is that

the user has exported the model twice without detecting any change

between the export. The two exports may have occurred without

importing an update between the instances of generating the exports,or an update was imported, but contained no changes. Either way, it is

indicating that the project is actually current and up to date.

More often, the problem is that Libraries are not set up correctly. This is

corrected by going to the Revit logo in the upper left corner and

selecting Options. Once in the Options dialogue, go to the File

Locations tab and finally select Places. In the Places window, the

correct setup should be a Library Name of Imperial Library for imperial

jobs and Metric Library for metric jobs, as shown in the screenshot. The

Library Path on your

own computer may not

match this path

exactly, but should

point to the location

where the families are

stored on your network.

The path shown in thescreenshot should be

where these are

installed by default.

This library mapping

issue has come up

commonly for

customers on new

license installs of Revit

Structure 2012.

Revit Loads

Many SDS/2 Connect users have asked if SDS/2 Connect can use loads

imported from other analysis programs such as RAM and RISA. In

currently available versions, SDS/2 Connect can already import

member end and moment loads from CSC's Fastrak Building Designer.

Correctly map Libraries by clicking on the Places

button in the Options dialogue box.


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In the next release of SDS/2 Connect, it will also read member end

reactions stored in Revit Structure. This is a newer feature that will allow

users to take advantage of loads sent to Revit Structure by analysis

programs like RAM and RISA. Currently, the only member end load thatRevit Structure stores in its database is shear loads for beams. This

limitation in turn limits SDS/2 Connect to only reading shear loads as

that is the only information available.

Tagging

Material tagging has become a common request for SDS/2 Connect.

Currently, it is possible for users to tag plate descriptions and angle sizes

only, for connections designed with SDS/2 Connect. This is done via a

unique family created by Design Data, that allows this specific

information to be pulled from the connection material. Users interested

in accessing this information can contact SDS/2 Connect support and

request this family. In later releases, it may be integrated into the

installation of SDS/2 Connect.

SDS/2 Connect is a connection design tool, made to improve the

connection design process by integrating manufacturing knowledge in

the Revit Structure model and providing engineers a quicker way to

get design reactions and connection validation. SDS/2 Connect is not

a detailing tool, because Revit Structure is not a detailing tool.

For users that are looking for a highly detailed as-fabricated model, or

a model that is prepared for fabrication, with information like cope

lengths, bolt diameters, bolt counts, and weld sizes, you are looking for

a steel detailing product, not a design model authoring tool. SDS/2

Connect allows users to send the design model informationdownstream to SDS/2 Detailing and other SDS/2 products, where that

information is easily and quickly obtained. That is not a function of

SDS/2 Connect, nor of Revit Structure.

Revit Structure is clearly a superior authoring tool for the pre-

construction model, but is not designed to contain the detail down to

the level necessary for manufacturing. SDS/2 Connect helps Revit

Structure get closer as it can include some of that manufacturing

information. However, its strongest point is that SDS/2 Connect helps

Revit Structure communicate with the manufacturing model in SDS/2


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Detailing, tying together the pre-construction model with the as-

manufactured model.

For More Information About SDS/2 Connect

To learn more about the SDS/2 Connect add-in for Revit Structure and

download your own free trial, please visit www.sds2connect.com.

s05 designing connections within revit structure to drive bim models to fabrication-doug...

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