Effectivity of BIM transfer of structural models between programs for engineers

Abstract

The paper ­describes the verification of the quality of the data transfer between selected software dedicated to generation of building models and for their analysis using the finite element method. For comparison, models of two typical structures are constructed: a steel truss hall and a multi-storey reinforced concrete building. Both models are created simultaneously in two programs: Autodesk Revit and Tekla Structures. Next, these models are exported to computational packages: Autodesk Robot, Dlubal RFEM and SCIA Engineer. Different options of data transfer are considered, in particular: a direct link between programs as well as via open formats. The scope and limitations of the data exchange are determined in each case. Juxtaposition of the effectiveness of different transfer methods for such typical building models are helpful at the stage of cooperation between the architect and the structural designer. In addition, pilot results of a finite element static analysis for the steel hall model are also compared.