Building Information Modelling – Role of BIM in Structural Analysis

BIM in Structural Analysis

Almost all people see BIM (Building Information Modelling) as a technological advancement based on CAD (Computer Added Design) that offer significant advantages for the architecture, construction, and industrial (AEC) sector. BIM is influencing structural engineering; with BIM, any continuous modification in the model can be made without affecting its integrity to help engineers make informed decisions.

The need for BIM has transformed the development, implementation, and management of construction projects fully. The key element behind the excessive usage of BIM in the construction sector is the better coordination of various fields for a project. By enabling several team members to work on one model, BIM helps in cooperation among designers, architects and engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing technicians.

Many structural engineers are now thriving in employing modern software programs. They often search for innovative methods to improve efficiency, manage and optimize problems visualizations and simulation, and address them to catch up with present economic terms.

BIM models

BIM models are coded with 3D geometrically, with time (4D), and cost details (5D) applied to them in various proprietary formats. BIM’s basic layout is based on creating the object-oriented visualizations of structures as information frameworks for design, construction, and operational uses and on allowing simulation and visualization of those systems.

BIM has now become a standard commodity in many countries since the early 21st century, in existing building projects, particularly in Europe but also in Brazil, Canada, the USA, Chile, etc.

The structural builds that are entirely reliant on planning and schematic design benefit greatly through BIM because archetypes can be continuously modified, employing any modification in the model to ensure the exactness of all details.

To improve sturdy building elements, avoid defects, and build cohesion among participants and associations to enhance the storage and the construction, BIM can more effectively coordinate materials such as steel and concrete block.

The idea of starting a design for input into the structural analysis software is much more productive, as all information can be transmitted directly from the design process. The model files are saved in the building information model, readily accessible for the documenting phase.

Structural engineering includes a high level of expertise and skills and knowledge related to all forms of construction stability of different designs. For example, such programs require the reinforcement of smaller slopes and maybe even large-scale arrangements of high buildings.

Structural engineers have positions and duties to monitor on-site development activities and contact with supply chain partners to tackle development issues. The sophistication of the activities, the requisite combo of various skills, and the multichannel coordination require an efficient medium for sharing information.

To preserve the standards of a finished article, techniques are required to maintain construction professionals to track and validate the authenticity of the results submitted by the specifications of the system being built.

Structural Design 

The structural design is a systematic analysis of the compatible stiffness and the resilience of the plan. The structural design usually refers to the architecture of fixed structures such as houses, bridges, or moving objects with a rigid form. The leading phase of structural analysis is planning. It requires consideration of the different functions and strategies to improve the design layout and proportions and results in selecting one or maybe more new kinds of models.

The main goal of structural analysis and design is to design a system capable of resisting all the force acting during its life without errors. It incorporates the recommendation of which type of building components and material are used for installation in order to support the strain in such a safe manner.

Structural Design Processes

In general, a structural pattern, such as for a design of the building, begins with architecturally and anatomically technical compositions. Engineers could start drawing up conceptual models for initial assessments, considering the client’s project specifications, the design theme, and various structural standards.

Evaluations require self-checking and viability checks to ensure that concept views are compatible; the comprehensive architectural simulation phase begins when the concepts are considered practicable. The architectural model results indicate schematic and visual characteristics, which are often viewed as structural design and illustrations with conceptual recommendations. The empirical analysis then supports the design activity.

In the architectural model, the designer will have to optimize designs or diagrams only under their structural importance, like that of the arrangement of the beam truss in steel frame cases.

Across the engineering system, the transformed templates are being studied for their integrity, and system adaptation in the optimization phase can further boost the results. The development of improved solutions or choices of modifications, typically professional and qualified project managers make.

By up-to-the-minute structural emulation standards, recursive operations cease until the architectural goals have been achieved. To further development and improvement stages, architecturally tailored models and designs should therefore be introduced. The durable, protective, and some other features testing of the built model structure are usually often carried out in the sense of integration. They typically engage in later development phases and are considered to help structural performance improvements.

After planning to execute, the structural analysis model may often lead to adjustments due to production and supply implementation of schemes. For the architecture and structural assessments on the existing format, proposals for redesign can be forwarded, and appropriate changes recommended.

Variation instruction applications are expected during the ongoing building process. Many aspects, including the identification of confrontation, prefabrication, and stability problems, can result in the change and highlight that structural analysis adaptability is vital during the lifespan of development and therefore that special consideration must be given to it.

BENEFITS OF USING BIM IN STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Efficiency

Growing efficiency is the biggest strength of BIM for architects. Sacks & Barak in 2007 said that the manufacture of building records in 2D is by far the most time-consuming part of structural engineering. Through BIM, this phase is fully automated. The BIM model automatically creates segments such as strengthening, counting, and rebar schedules. This makes the work easier, saves time, and thereby boosts performance.

Coordinating tasks

BIM from various subjects formulates a coordinated approach. This concept is used in all construction processes, like layout, analysis, execution, and reporting. Therefore this conjunction tends to increase communication between the findings of structural design as well as the entire project layout, thus making the procedure more uniform.

The BIM technology is also an essential tool for communicating the schematic diagram and also the implications of modeling in such a context that all interested parties can understand and perceive. It also tracks the progress and maintains the project details in one location.

Interoperativeness

The IFC format in BIM information sharing halts all the hindrances among model systems and framework information exchange. Considering the alternative of creating separate templates or selecting one program to fulfill the demands, this information transfer is necessary.

Modeling and Representation

BIM offers the builders a medium for detaching and screening any particular area of interest or features of the design and displaying them in 3-dimensional, enabling everyone a deeper view of the project, which helps maximize the performance by looking at design options in the design process.

It helps to evaluate and to gain a sound and sustainable design by assessing different work dynamics. The assessment module allows a digital examination of the building’s performance before it has been implemented. Before further operation can be initiated, simulations of model conflicts, implementation problems, and systems integration are addressed, which significantly boost construction activities and execution effectiveness.

The measure of the rate of investment ( ROI)

Kudos to both the application and BIM system compatibility and conflict detection techniques, time-saving is undoubtedly one of several virtues of the immediate use of a BIM model. This allows the illustration to be personally handled paper for dozens, maybe even millions of hours to be spared. And in the building world, the saving in time, particularly economically, is known.

Formulation of the BIM methodology to the program of an architectural analysis:

EdiLus has been  interpreted as a realistic, geometric, modified, and well-supported program

The alignment with the usBIM interactive framework for the shared and inclusive design is a core pillar of this current BIM version of the program, and this approach helps:

• import BIM prototypes from the web into IFC format, structural or software setup, and project 3D layout as per other developers;
• Send a Bim data in IFC format, simulations of the design and project plans routed to the web, which allows you to select a directory where you can save your data and share them with the participants
• The integrated BIM Technology allows for a transparent, ongoing conversation, as architects, operators, management entities, facilities, consumers, and others with each shareholder performing / working in the construction process

Features that a Structural Analysis BIM program needs

The IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) code for architectural simulation BIM technology ought to be capable, for the creation of a 3D structure as developed by the engineering team, to migrated the digital model of an architectural project using any BIM software applications (Edificius, Revit, Allplan, ArchiCAD, VectorWorks, etc.).

Autodesk Revit can support digital visualization typically used by architects and engineers. Tekla Structures enables users to configure link nodes’ position on their elements and the number of iteration. It also has objected to model structural loads and load cases.

Author’s Bio:

Maria Riffat is involved in the geospatial systems since 2012 and has been actively contributing in the tasks of geographical information systems (GIS) and geography. She also contributed in the technology of spatial planning and development of the spatial data infrastructure. She has Masters in Infrastructure Planning from University of Stuttgart, Germany and currently doing her Ph.D. in Landscape planning.