Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication Doug Evans Michelle McCarthy This class will focus on: – Manufacturing’s role in.

Transcript Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication Doug Evans Michelle McCarthy This class will focus on: – Manufacturing’s role in.

Slide 1

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 2

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 3

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 4

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 5

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 6

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 7

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 8

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 9

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 10

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 11

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 12

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 13

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 14

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 15

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 16

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 17

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 18

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 19

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 20

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 21

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 22

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 23

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 24

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 25

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 26

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 27

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 28

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 29

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 30

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 31

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 32

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 33

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 34

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 35

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 36

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 37

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 38

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 39

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 40

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 41

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 42

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 43

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 44

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 45

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 46

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 47

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 48

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 49

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 50

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 51

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 52

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 53

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 54

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Slide 55

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit®
Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

This class will focus on:
– Manufacturing’s role in the BIM process
– The basics of operating SDS/2 Connect
– The code-based joint analysis involved in designing connections
– Demonstrating how the Autodesk® Revit® Structure model can be sent
downstream for detailing.
– Addressing audience questions and FAQ’s asked by newer users

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

•

•

Manufacturing concerns impact a structure throughout the construction
cycle, not just during actual fabrication
– Bidding, Pre-construction, Design, Scheduling, Shipping, Construction
Most are currently communicating with BIM models at a design level
– Engineer to Fabricator
– Using a BIM with LOD 200 at best
If you’re interested in connection design inside Revit Structure, you’re
interested in at least LOD 300

What is Level of Development ?
•

•
•
•
•
•

Level of Development (LOD) is a description of the steps through which a
BIM element can logically progress from the lowest level of conceptual
approximation to the highest level of representational precision.
LOD 100
– Conceptual
LOD 200
– Approximate geometry
LOD 300
– Precise geometry
LOD 400
– Fabrication
LOD 500
– As-built

http://www.aia.org/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab078868.pdf

Manufacturing’s Impact on BIM
•

LOD 400 information can enhance the BIM in various areas
– Target Value Design (TVD) or Target Costing
• A Lean Construction principle
• Cost is a consideration in design and requires rapid cost feedback
– Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
– Improve Model based estimating
• Ties in with TVD
• Detailed manufacturing info = more accurate estimates
• Can perform cost comparisons
– Clash detection
– Scheduling

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•

•

Data loss and
misinterpretation
Inefficient use of
time recreating
information
Difficult to quickly
compare
alternatives
Cost prohibitive

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Communicating with Manufacturers
•
•

•
•
•

Quicker turnaround
Take advantage of
all available
information
Design can be
more fluid
80/20 Rule
Easier for
manufacturers to
react and perform

http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html

Using Revit to Communicate with
Manufacturing Tools
•

•
•

Manufacturers use many different tools in their day-to-day operation
– MRP
– CNC
– Field
– Clash detection
– Scheduling
– In-house
Design models and manufacturing models are DIFFERENT
How do you bridge the gap?

What is SDS/2 Connect?
•
•
•
•

Add-in to Revit Structure developed by Autodesk Partner, Design Data
SDS/2 connection design, complete with longhand calculation
Includes model roundtripping with the Revit Structure model
Overview Video

The Value of Connections in Revit
•
•
•
•

Quick access to connection design calculations
Value Engineering in Revit
– Quickly test connection scenarios
Full joint analysis
An API based model transfer between Revit and SDS/2 for BIM.
– Structural & connections
– Works better than IFC or CIS2 for connections and structural
components

SDS/2 Connect Tour

SDS/2 Connect: Help Menus
•
•

•

Includes a connection guide
In-depth explanation for how
connections are designed in SDS/2
Connect
Topics > Connections > Connection
Design

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Options
– Setup
– Family & Material options
– Revit Optimization
Import CXL loads
– Imports loads from CSC Fastrak
– Settings for moment and shear loads
– For Revit loads, SDS/2 Connect can use the stored in Revit Structure

Example of Setup screen for connection design

Video of CSC Import

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Edit
– Edit a single connection through a user interface
– Select nodes or connection materials to access interface
Report
– Generate calculations to verify connections
– Expanded calculations with “show our work”

Example of expanded design calculation

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

AutoStd
– Applies connections to selected members
– Can be changed to various connection types
Design All
– Will design all connections on a project
– This can be limited to design only pre-designed connections

SDS/2 Connect: Tools

•

•

Export
– Exports the Revit Structure model to SDS/2 Detailing
– Several options provide fullest control over export
Import
– Populates a new structure
– Updates an existing model
– Imports connections from detailer

Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Design
•
•
•
•
•

Framing Conditions
Connection Specifications
Loads
“Intelligent Connection Design”
User Connections

Framing Conditions
•

•

•

Auto Standard Connections
– Based on Setup
– Connection type is determined by
software
Specified Connections
– Chosen by user
– System can override if necessary
due to erectability or clashing
http://youtu.be/VFRfEabwH9A

Loads
•
•
•
•

Loads can be input or automatically set
Loads can be imported from CSC Fastrak
If loads are stored in Revit Structure they can be used
– Revit currently only stores shear loads
Changing loads may affect:
– Bolt Diameters
– Plate thickness & size
– Weld design
– Number of bolts

•

http://youtu.be/FEjd_f4Kjps

Connection Specifications
•

•

Gives users added control over:
– Safety Connections
– Attachment methods
– Near/Far side attachments
– Many other connection variations
http://youtu.be/hF3FKQHSE1w

Intelligent Connection
Design
•

•

•

Considers fit-up and constructability
as a part of connection design
– System will help redesign
connection when possible
Changes in framing condition cause
connections to update automatically
http://youtu.be/qGjIxbH9I7M

User Connections
•
•
•

•

Override system designed
connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update
items related to the original change
http://youtu.be/21RCcUUIaHY

User connection fields become editable with check box

Examples of more complicated connections

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•
•

•

Initialization of the SDS/2 Connect Add-in will modify Revit Structure families
– Enables material operations necessary for connections, like copes
– Post-initialization, the file can be saved as a template, saving time on
future projects.
Custom Families are not addressed during initialization
– Usually have to be manually mapped
Check Project
– Find undesignable members
– Searches out and identifies any material that hasn’t been mapped
Custom Families are mapped by the user via the Material file Mapping tool

SDS/2 automatically modifies families during initialization. Users have
access to map materials for some families manually.

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect modifies these families:
– Wide Flange
– L-Angle
– LL-Angle
– W-Tee
– Channel
– HSS Rectangular
– Pipe
– HSS Round
Modifications include adding the ability to add copes and other
connection related material operations

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

•

SDS/2 Connect adds these families:
– Plate
– Angle
– RoundPlate
– Bolt
– StandardBolt
– StandardBolt Array
– BentPlate
Specifically related to connection materials

SDS/2 Connect:
Technical Details
•

Tips for improving Revit Structure performance:
– Avoid fine grain views
– Skip generating bolts
• Connections are still designed with bolts, simply not shown to speed
up the model
– Holes and welds are not shown in Revit Structure
• Connections are still designed to include this information and will
be visible once sent to SDS/2 Detailing

Welds are not shown in Revit, but are
included in connection design

Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

Connection Sketches
•

•
•

Sketch Tool
– Quickly generate
connection sketches
– Design calculations are
automatically provided
– Tags for some connection
materials are available
Create sketches from the
actual model
Create sketches from
modeled framing conditions

Connection Scenarios
•

•

Create connection scenarios
– Quickly access
calculations
– Test various configurations
– Choose best connections
– Perform target value
costing/design
In this usage of SDS/2
Connect is simply a
connection design aid

Workflows
•

Three “Paths” for Model-Based Connection Design
– SDS/2 Connect can perform a one time model transfer like IFC or CIS/2
• Currently only includes major structural members and connections
– Export model as a starting point for Detailer/Fabricator (D/F) to design
connections and be imported back to Revit Structure
– Engineer designs specific connections that will appear in D/F model
upon import
• Could be 10% of connections or 100% in the structure

Round-Tripping
•

•

•

Round-tripping provides
opportunity for communication
through the model
– Better way to maintain model
integrity
– Improves communication
through models
Integrates manufacturing-level
information in the Revit Model
– Brings you closer to LOD 400
http://youtu.be/2wdbLCjT1fs

Connection Optimization for Design
•

•

Aesthetic vs. Structural considerations
– Union Pacific building in Omaha, NE
• Expansive glass façade
• Oversized Gussets required by design
block natural light
• Can be avoided with early connection
design and optimized connections
Vital in TVD or Target Costing
– Cost savings on smaller section sizes may
be lost when it comes time for connections
• Doublers, stiffeners and welds add up!
– Video example

Optimizing Connections for
Manufacturing
•

•

Material choices matter!
– Bolted vs. welded
– Stock materials
• Example: Design calls for some shear connections to be 3/8” thick
and some ½” thick. The fabricator may have surplus ½” thick bar
stock and request that all shear connections are ½” thick. While
they may be a little overdesigned, they can be manufactured at a
lower cost.
Engineering software may design structures choosing a variety of section
sizes that may not be optimal for ordering.
– Choosing same depth sections when possible to optimize mill order
– SDS/2 links to MRP products that look at inventory schedules and can
see what steel is readily available and what requires a mill order
– This can also help shorten timelines

Optimizing Connecitons for
Manufacturing
•

•

The Rise of Shop Technology
– Becoming more like the auto industry
– CNC equipment & Robots
The influence of new technology vs. old
– Example: WTee Shear connections
• Hole locations vary based on beam
web thickness
• 5 1/2” Gauge is constant, but hole
locations shift side to side
• CNC technology enables these
connections to be efficient
o These connections would slow
down shops that do not have CNC

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Engineer exports design model via SDS/2 Connect to Detailer/Fabricator’s
SDS/2 model.
– Once imported to SDS/2, advance BOM’s can be obtained in minutes
– Connections are immediately designed, revealing opportunities for
value engineering
– Changes to the structural model can be made and updated anytime,
allowing for a quicker response

Pre-Construction Bids
and BIM
•

Communication between pre-construction and as-manufactured models
impacts:
– Accuracy of material take-offs
– Elimination of duplicate information
– Shorter turnaround from design to fabrication
– Value engineering starts earlier in the process
– Detailing can start earlier in the process (Early Steel Detailing)
– Immediate feedback with connection calculations
– Reduces steps required to obtain shop drawings

SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s
•
•
•
•

Difficulty applying and designing connections
– 3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Beam or column is not recognized as a connectable member
– Structural usage is not set correctly
– To verify this, use “Check Project” command to locate undesignable
members
– Correct structural usages
• Beams: Girder, Joist or Other
• Vertical braces: Vertical Bracing
• Horizontal braces: Horizontal Bracing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Families may have been incorrectly modified
– Common when using custom families
• May not have been recognized during initialization
– This is corrected through the Material File Mapping window in setup
• Select custom family
• Choose section type
• Material file source
• Sections to be mapped
• Select “Modify this Family” check box

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Designing Connections
•

Structural failure
– SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
• The desired connection isn’t physically possible
o Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter
can come into play here
o High loads require more rows of bolts than the beam can hold
• The connection can’t be erected
• A connection is not yet supported
– This can be overridden to some extent in SDS/2 Connect and fully in
SDS/2 Detailing

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

“Project name is current against this file”
– User has exported the model twice containing no changes between
the two exports
• Exports generated without importing an update between them
• Update was imported, but contained no changes
– More commonly, Libraries are set up incorrectly
• This issue is common in Revit Structure 2012

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Export Warnings
•

Open Options in Revit, select the File Locations tab, and choose Places
– Library names should be:
• Imperial Library
• Metric Library

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Revit Loads
•
•

SDS/2 Connect can import member end and moment loads from CSC’s
Fastrak Building Designer
SDS/2 Connect can read member end reactions stored in Revit Structure
– Newer feature to SDS/2 Connect
– Shear loads for beams are the only load that Revit Structure stores
currently

SDS/2 Connect FAQ:
Tagging
•

•

Users can tag plate descriptions and angle sizes only
– Done via a unique family created by Design Data
– 2013 version will include the tag families by default
– 2013 version will also add simple bolt descriptions
– Currently you can email [email protected] to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2
Detailing

SDS/2 Connect: 2013 Enhancements
•

•
•

WTee and Channel are added as connection materials
– Channel column splices
– Smaller Vbrace connections
– WTee shear connections
Connection Find tool
– Searches & filters connections according to certain parameters
Bolts can be created individually

Questions?

Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication Doug Evans Michelle McCarthy This class will focus on: – Manufacturing’s role in.

Transcript Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication Doug Evans Michelle McCarthy This class will focus on: – Manufacturing’s role in.

Directory