Within the Robot Structural Analysis extensions is a very useful tool called Load Takedown. This module allows you to perform a simulation to determine the vertical forces or stress within your Revit Structure model. To obtain the correct results it is important to make sure you have a valid analytical model. You can use the tools on the Analytical tab to make sure you have connectivity within the analysis model or verify the structure within the Load Take down tool. The module is then able to pass the results back into Revit Structure so you can tag the loading on the foundations.

Start the Load Take down command from the Add-Ins ribbon as shown below.

The Load Takedown tool will then ask you to specify the load case that includes the self weight of the structure.

You will then see the dialog box below. The first thing to do is verify the structure.

Next you are given the opportunity to model in supports.

The supports are taken from Revit Structure but you can add or remove additional supports from this dialog box and control if the support is pinned or fixed.

On the Loads tab you can review and check the loading added to the Revit Structure model.

Next you are able to choose the load case, in this example DL1, and then click the Calculate command.

I have also selected just the first floor to be displayed. You are then able to see the tributary areas.

With the check boxes in the lower window you are able to review other information such as the axial forces shown below.

I have then been able to pass the foundation loading back to Revit Structure and tag the results as shown below.

These are added as Internal Point Loads.

A fairly handy tool.

Lawrence

Autodesk have just released update 1 for Revit Structure 2010 and Revit Structure Suite 2010. It has a few improvements, especially for those of you linking to analysis software and using Cellular beams. I have tested a few of the updated features. You can download the update from the following link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=12856705

Linking in place families for Analysis

It is now possible to transfer the analytical model from an in place family to your analysis software. This will just bring the line work through but previously this did not bring anything across. Below you can see the in-place family of a slab in Revit Structure.

Here is the same geometry in Robot Structural Analysis.

Cell Beams

The Cell and Castellated Beam families have a several new parameters to control the section and independent setting out for the start and end cell positions. This is taken from the gridline as shown below.

You will need to notch the beam back to the column using the notch tool.

For a full list of updates and fixes you can download the enhancement update list from the below link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=12856705

Enjoy,

Lawrence

Revit Structure subscription customer? Yes? then you can benefit from Revit Extensions, an additional productivity toolset to enhance the features of Revit Structure.

Robot Structural Analysis subscription customer? Yes? then you get to benefit from even more Revit Extension tools as well as Robot Extensions, a productivity toolset to enhance the model generation and post processing capabilities of Robot based in MS Excel.

So here’s the deal.

With the 2010 release of Structural software, Autodesk have linked some of the Revit Extensions to the subscriprion of Robot Structural Analysis, or to give it its manageable, shortened title, RSA.  This is a great benefit to both Revit Structure and RSA users, which offers functionality that none of the 3rd party analysis partners can offer.

It is clear to see that, although Autodesk are keeping an agnostic approach with the analysis partners for Revit Structure, they are starting to offer more benefit for their own solution than for others, delivering a compelling argument for customers to start using both Revit Structure and RSA.

The additional extensions available to RSA customers are highlighted in the screen grab below, but are essentially the Analysis Integrator for RSA, Composite Design, Load Takedown and Reinforcement Design.

We will look at all of these in some additional posts, including Robot Extensions, but will start off with the one that takes my interest most of all and that’s Load Take Down.  For those die hard Robot fans of the past you will know a product that we developed at Robobat called CBS Pro, well this is CBS Pro within Revit Structure.  So now you can analyse your structure in Revit with a view to producing foundations loads sooner in the design process.

More on that to come shortly..

nr

Here at Excitech we are approaching the engineering solution from Autodesk in a different way to other resellers in the market. We have set up a dedicated business unit of experienced personnel to look after Robot Structural analysis and Revit Structure and badged it up Excitech Structural Solutions, or E.S.S. This is just the starting point for this business unit, in the future we will be expanding our product offering and levels of support. We are well positioned today to offer support and training for all products including Robot, Revit and Autocad Structural Detailing and we look forward to steering you through this solution and helping you get the best out of your investment.

I will keep you posted on the activities of E.S.S. over the coming months, should you have anything you would like to discuss then please let me know, send any correspondence through to nigel.rees@excitech.co.uk.