Revit Integration with MasterFrame – Full Round-Trip BIM Workflow 2019

Posted on September 5th, 2019 in Drafting & BIM

Summary

This video demonstrates the bi-directional integration between MasterSeries structural engineering software and Autodesk Revit Structure, highlighting how structural models can be seamlessly exchanged and updated between the two platforms. The process begins with exporting a model from Revit to MasterSeries, allowing engineers to make design changes such as modifying member properties, adjusting geometry, or adding new elements within MasterSeries. Crucially, these modifications are then sent back to Revit, where the software intelligently manages conflicts and updates the original model while also creating custom Revit families to accurately represent complex structural elements like haunched sections, which are not natively supported in Revit. This round-trip capability ensures a continuous and efficient workflow for structural design and analysis.

Key Concepts

• Revit Integration
• Model Exchange
• Structural Change
• Conflict Management
• View filter

Description

This video demonstrates the bi-directional integration between Revit Structure and MasterSeries structural engineering software, allowing for a complete model exchange and change management.

Key aspects of this integration include:

• Initiation of the Link:

    ◦ The link can be started from either Revit or MasterSeries.

    ◦ Users can create a unidirectional one-time exchange (where the relationship ends after the initial transfer) or a bi-directional link for continuous information exchange.

    ◦ A central managed link file controls the exchange of information from both ends.

    ◦ Users can submit all structural elements or selected elements to the link.

• Importing from Revit to MasterSeries:

    ◦ Analytical information such as member, release, and support conditions are transferred.

    ◦ Options exist for how elements are modeled: for instance, a concrete floor slab can be imported as an area loading surface (default) or a finite element surface, while shear walls can be modeled as finite elements.

    ◦ The y-coordinate in Revit is synced to the y-coordinate in MasterSeries.

    ◦ The MasterSeries model displays the structure with all sections (cellular beams, plates, UBs, RHS) and the finite element walls and composite floor slab with correct span orientation.

• Making Changes in MasterSeries:

    ◦ The demonstration shows various modifications within MasterSeries, including:

        ▪ Section changes: For example, changing a UB to a built-up asymmetrical section (e.g., a 450 deep section with a 10mm web and a 300x15mm bottom flange), adding a plate to the bottom of a UB, or changing an RHS to a lighter RHS.

        ▪ Haunched sections: Converting rafter members to portalized double haunched sections with specified haunch lengths and depths.

        ▪ Geometry changes: Shifting the positions of nodes in the Z-direction.

        ▪ Introducing new members: Adding new bracing members (e.g., CHS sections) defined as props tension-only and released at the ends. These new members can be grouped to be recognized as proper brace types in Revit.

• Submitting Changes Back to Revit:

    ◦ The link manager interface is similar in both applications, making the exchange simple.

    ◦ Changes are submitted to the link from MasterSeries.

    ◦ In Revit, the link manager indicates that MasterSeries revisions are awaiting import.

• Updating and Managing Conflicts in Revit:

    ◦ Revit lists all expected changes, including new members to be created, and details of section and geometry modifications.

    ◦ The system handles conflicts, where an element has been changed in both MasterSeries and Revit. Users can choose to accept changes coming from MasterSeries (e.g., accepting a 250 RHS from MasterSeries over a PFC changed in Revit).

    ◦ Revit then automatically applies these changes to the existing model, creating new elements, deleting elements, moving elements, and changing cross-section rotations.

• Enhanced Revit Families for Complex Sections:

    ◦ MasterSeries' 2014 version introduced 34 new Revit families to address the lack of native Revit families for complex sections.

    ◦ This allows MasterSeries to represent haunched sections and plated sections within Revit in a controlled and editable manner, which would otherwise require manual cutting and splicing in Revit.

    ◦ New bracing elements and built-up sections also come through correctly.

• Visualizing Changes in Revit:

    ◦ MasterSeries adds extra properties to members in Revit, including a "status" indicating if geometry or properties have changed.

    ◦ Users can create a custom 3D view template with filters to visually identify changes:

        ▪ Members with changed properties or geometry can be colored green.

        ▪ New members can be colored red.

        ▪ This provides a summarized and clear view of all modifications.

• Round-Trip Integration:

    ◦ The process is bi-directional, allowing users to make further changes in Revit (e.g., simple section changes) and submit them back to MasterSeries, completing the round-trip integration.

This integration streamlines the design workflow, making the exchange of complex structural models and managing design iterations between Revit and MasterSeries efficient and reliable.