1. Designing Connections in Autodesk® Revit® Structure to Drive BIM Models to Fabrication
Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Communicating with Manufacturers
Data loss and misinterpretation
Inefficient use of time recreating information
Difficult to quickly compare alternatives
Cost prohibitive

7. 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
Manufacturers are becoming part of the project team
Can react and propose ideas for construction that may enhance the project. i.e. modular erection

8. 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?
MRP-StruMIS, Fabtrol, Fabsuite
CNC- Machinery, plate nesting

9. 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

10. 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

11. SDS/2 Connect Tour

12. 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

13. 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

14. Example of Setup screen for connection design

15. Video of CSC Import

16. 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”

17. Example of expanded design calculation

18. 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

19. 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

20. Connection Design with SDS/2 Connect

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Connection Specifications
Gives users added control over:
Safety Connections
Attachment methods
Near/Far side attachments
Many other connection variations

25. 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

26. User Connections Override system designed connections
Meet specific design requirements
Cross-dependent entry fields update items related to the original change

27. User connection fields become editable with check box

28. Examples of more complicated connections

29. 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

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

31. 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

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

33. 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

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

35. Potential Workflows with SDS/2 Connect

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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
These connections would slow down shops that do not have CNC

43. 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

44. 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

45. SDS/2 Connect Frequently Asked Questions

46. SDS/2 Connect: FAQ’s Difficulty applying and designing connections
3 common causes / solutions
Export Warnings
Revit Loads
Tagging

47. 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

48. 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

49. SDS/2 Connect FAQ: Designing Connections
Structural failure
SDS/2 Connect will not design connections when:
The desired connection isn’t physically possible
Setup options like maximum plate thickness, max bolt diameter can come into play here
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

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

53. 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 to get the family
For more detailed drawings of connections, the model can be sent to SDS/2 Detailing

54. 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

55. Doug Evans
Michelle McCarthy