Revit^® Structure Interface

The latest versions of SPACE GASS now support 64-bit Revit 2011 and 2012. Click here to upgrade.

Autodesk’s Revit Structure is now fully integrated with SPACE GASS, making the job of keeping your CAD and Structural Engineering models synchronized even easier. Revit Structure provides the tools for generating the model and the structural drawings, while SPACE GASS provides the tools for performing the structural analysis and design.

The Physical Model
Starting with Revit Structure, you can set up a complete physical model of your building. This includes all of the structural elements such as beams, columns, braces, cables, trusses, struts, ties, walls, slabs and connections. The physical model can also include the elements from other disciplines such as architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.

This means that you can model and view the structure exactly as it will be built.

One advantage of this is that accurate structural drawings can be produced at any time because the physical model is always kept up-to-date.

The Analytical Model
Revit Structure also maintains an analytical model that is fully associated with the physical model. The analytical model contains information such as support conditions, member end releases, offsets, section and material properties, loads and load combinations.

If you make a change to the physical model then the analytical model will be automatically adjusted to suit. Similarly, if you modify the analytical model such as changing a section property, the physical model will be automatically altered to reflect that change.

The SPACE GASS Model
Revit Structure can instantly generate a SPACE GASS model at any time based on the physical and analytical models. The SPACE GASS model is complete and contains all of the structural and load data required to perform a structural analysis.

Revit Structure can then read the analysed SPACE GASS model and update the Revit physical and analytical models for any section size changes made in SPACE GASS.

As project changes occur and the Revit Structure model is amended, the structure can be instantly sent to SPACE GASS for analysis and then the Revit Structure model and the drawings generated from it can be updated accordingly. This bi-directional link is one of the most time saving features of the whole system.

The Process
To create a complete SPACE GASS model from Revit Structure, just click the “Send Model to SPACE GASS” item from the Revit Structure Tools menu.

When exporting to SPACE GASS, you have full control over units, connections between beams and columns, loads, member offsets, specification of tension-only members, section names, etc.

If the names of sections in your Revit Structure model are different to the names used in the SPACE GASS section libraries, you can set up a custom map file that correlates the Revit Structure names with the SPACE GASS names.

When the SPACE GASS analysis and/or design is complete, you can update the Revit Structure model by just clicking the “Update Model from SPACE GASS” item from the Revit Structure Tools menu.

When importing from SPACE GASS you can elect to incorporate steel design data into the Revit Structure model. This is then retained in Revit Structure and returned to SPACE GASS the next time you export a model to SPACE GASS from Revit Structure.

The ability to export the Revit Structure model to SPACE GASS greatly minimizes duplication of effort because you can use the same model to produce construction documents and perform structural analysis and design. It also lets all the people involved in the project stay coordinated throughout the design process.

Note that full bi-directional links (like the Revit link) between SPACE GASS and other programs such as Tekla Structures, Prosteel, Microstation and Strucad will also be available soon.

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