An Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) Web-Based Approach and Platform for Bi-Drectional Conversion of Structural Analysis Models

Zhang, Xiao Yang; Hu, Zhen-Zhong; Wang, Heng Wei; Kassem, Mohamad

doi:10.1061/9780784413616.049

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Despite the availability of BIM, IPD -and Common Data Environment (CDE) -the gap among architects and structural engineers remains a problem to be addressed [28]. The solution, as Merschbrock and Munkvold [33] and Kassem et al [34] argue, relies on developing data exchange frameworks and tools.…”

Section: Research On Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards intelligent structural design of buildings: A BIM-based solution

Hamidavi

Abrishami

Hosseini

2020

Journal of Building Engineering

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Despite the unprecedented permeation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and collaboration platforms, architects and structural engineers, for the most part, act as separate entities. That is, linking architectural models with that of structural engineers remains labour-intensive and cumbersome; structural engineers can generate few alternatives for any given architectural model. This paper is an attempt to address these problems. It provides an automated procedure, computational details and the configuration of toolsets in the form of a proof of concept (PoC) prototype that: binds architectural models with structural ones for tall buildings; automatically generates and updates alternatives for structural models, based on the input extracted from the architectural model; and provides engineers with an optimum design that fulfils the set criteria. The prototype is developed based on an initial need assessment study -to determine the requirements of practitioners. The practicality of the solution is assessed in a case project. The paper contributes to the field by presenting ones of the first solutions capable of automated generation of optimised structural design based on architectural models. Designed for tall buildings to incorporate immense complexity, the solution acts as a blueprint in developing similar systems for simpler buildings.

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Section: Research On Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards intelligent structural design of buildings: A BIM-based solution

Hamidavi

Abrishami

Hosseini

2020

Journal of Building Engineering

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“…Qin et al (2011) improve the exchange using a similar approach to Deng and Chang (2006); that is, describing the IFC building model as an architectural physical model and creating a complex system that prepares it as an XML-based unified finite element method (FEM) model, and can then further prepare the information for several structural analysis tools. Zhang et al (2014) also deal with the conversion of IFC models to multiple structural analysis formats. They additionally propose a bidirectional conversion as well as the conversion between structural analysis models on their web-based platform.…”

Section: Data Exchange Between Architectural Design and Structural Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpreted open data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis models

Sibenik¹,

Kovačić²

2021

ITcon

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The heterogeneity of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry reflects on digital building models, which differ across domains and planning phases. Data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis models poses a particular challenge because of dramatically different representations of building elements. Existing software tools and standards have not been able to deal with these differences. The research on inter-domain building information modelling (BIM) frameworks does not consider the geometry interpretations for data exchange. Analysis of geometry interpretations is mostly project-specific and is seldom reflected in general data exchange frameworks. By defining a data exchange framework that engages with varying requirements and representations of architectural design and structural analysis in terms of geometry, which is open to other domains, we aim to close the identified gap. Existing classification systems in software tools and standards were reviewed in order to understand architectural design and structural analysis representations and to identify the relationships between them. Following the analysis, a novel data management framework based on classification, interpretation and automation was proposed, implemented and tested. Classification is a model specification including domain-specific terms and relationships between them. Interpretations consist of inter-domain procedures necessary to generate domain-specific models from a provided model. Automation represents the connection between open domain-specific models and proprietary models in software tools. Practical implementation with a test case demonstrated a possible realization of the proposed framework. The innovative contribution of the research is a novel framework based on the system of open domain-specific classifications and procedures for the inter-domain interpretation, which can prepare domain-specific models on central storage. The main benefit is a centrally prepared domain-specific model, relieving software developers from so-far-unsuccessful implementation of complex inter-domain interpretations in each software tool, and providing end users with control over the data exchange. Although the framework is based on the exchange between architectural design and structural analysis, the proposed central data management framework can be used for other exchange processes involving different model representations.

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“…Basic CDF application (VB.Net) bidirectionally communicates between parametric design and structural analysis tool through proprietary file-format [21] Geometry: wall, slab, beam, column, brace; material; thickness; section; node modification; filtering based on geometry and material IFC and other file formats can be exchanged and edited through unified information model on server (JSON-based) which uses OpenGL and WebGL for graphical representation [25] Interpretations of non-geometrical information and filtering Multiple domain-specific SketchUp models communicating through central storage (XML-based with X3D and XPath) [22] Geometry: beam, column, wall, slab, opening; section property; material; node modification Revit directly connected with YJK software tool, which further communicates with structural analysis tools [19] Geometry: beam, column, wall, slab; section profile; material; data extraction, no interpretation of geometry IFC export converted to unified finite element model (XML-based) on IFC-structure model server and imported to structural tools [20,26] Geometry: beam, column, member, slab, wall; material; reducing dimensionality; material properties editing; connectivity adjustment IFC physical to IFC analytical model with the help interpretation platform in C++ [27] Geometry: wall, columns, openings, floors, roofs, stairs; material; material interpretation; geometry simplification mentioned, not explained in detail IFC export is extended with additional material information for structural analysis [28] Geometry: plates, beams, columns, slabs; geometry discretization without reducing dimensionality IFC with ACIS geometry kernel; no import to FEM tools [29] Geometry: beam, column, wall, slab; material; section properties; joints; reducing dimensionality…”

Section: Structural Requirements and Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation of Open Data Exchange between Architectural Design and Structural Analysis Models

et al. 2021

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Building information modelling promises model-based collaboration between stakeholders in the project design stage. However, data exchange between physical and analytical building models used for architectural design and structural analysis respectively rarely takes place due to numerous differences in building element representation, especially the representation of geometry. This paper presents the realization of a novel data exchange framework between architectural design and structural analysis building models, based on open interpretations on central storage. The exchange is achieved with a new system architecture, where the program redDim was developed to perform the interpretations, including the most challenging transformations of geometry. We deliver a proof of concept for the novel framework with a prototype building model and verify it on two further building models. Results show that structural-analysis models can be correctly automatically created by reducing dimensionality and reconnecting building elements. The proposed data exchange provides a base for missing standardization of interpretations, which facilitates the non-proprietary automated conversion between physical and analytical models. This research fills the gap in the existing model-based communication that could lead to a seamless data exchange.

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An Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) Web-Based Approach and Platform for Bi-Drectional Conversion of Structural Analysis Models

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

Towards intelligent structural design of buildings: A BIM-based solution

Towards intelligent structural design of buildings: A BIM-based solution

Interpreted open data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis models

Implementation of Open Data Exchange between Architectural Design and Structural Analysis Models

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