Integrating Revit Structure with Analysis

Softwares. (Best Practice)

When Revit Structure first came out in the mid-2000s it was pitched as a
design and documentation tool. But, even at this early stage of its
development, Autodesk recognized the importance of linking to structural
analysis softwares.
When it comes to analytical software there are numerous options in which
software to use, and how exactly to utilize that software with a Revit model.
This article will cover when Revit models should be exported to analytical
packages, how best to prepare a Revit model for use in analysis software and
will be a comprehensive overview of the famous two analytical software
options, Robot and ETABS. We will compare the different software packages
and look at benefits, drawbacks, similarities and differences among them. This
session will be a balanced look at these software packages from the perspective
of the end user.
Overview
Autodesk supports linking through the open Revit API, which enables thirdparty structural analysis software developers to create workflows both to and
from Revit. The process relies on Revits analytical model, which is
automatically created alongside the physical model.
Once the analytical model has been brought across the analysis application
can be used to perform all types of structural analysis including nonlinear,
dynamic and seismic. Most analysis applications also perform code checks and

any changes to member sizes can then be fed back in to Revit Structure so the
whole design stays in sync. It can be a highly iterative process so the workflow
is incredibly important.
Revit Structure also has a visualization framework, which allows users to
view analysis results inside Revit itself. This could be things like moments,
forces or displacement diagrams and can help engineers quantify sizes of
structural components.
How to prepare a Revit Structure Model for Analysis
There are specific best practices for each software package, but the following
are good things to keep in mind when creating a Revit model that is intended
to be exported to analytical software:

Pay attention to analytical lines

Make sure analytical lines intersect properly

Try to model on levels, not arbitrary distances away, i.e.

perhaps create a T.O. Steel level, or many levels for varying framing
levels. However, keep in mind that sloped levels, such as roofs, may
require specific attention and considerations

Model between levels, avoid unconnected heights

Consult the specifics of the intended software regarding how to

handle multi-span or multi-level elements

Use the approximate curve option for curved beams

Consider only updating sizes if updating geometry is not

required

Floors, slabs and roofs generally are not well updated, so

consider only sending them one direction, one time

Only export what needs to be analyzed, mark everything else

as not for analysis, create visibility filters, or use some other
appropriate process

Understand that the process is not perfect and some amount of

clean up will be required regardless of what analytical software is
used.
Revit to Analytical or Analytical to Revit?
Most, but not all, analytical software companies suggest starting the model in
Revit. However there are certainly viable reasons to begin a model in analysis
software:

Analysis was required prior to starting the Revit model

(receiving the Architectural model)

The engineer is far more efficient/comfortable in the analysis

software

Any specific feature, benefit, or limitation to the interface of

the analytical software and Revit Structure such that it is more
efficient to begin the model in the analysis software.

While there are exceptions, my opinion is that the models should generally
begin in Revit Structure. As time goes on engineers are becoming more and
more comfortable with Revit and Revits analytical features advance every
year, making this workflow more reasonable. Also, Revit is consistently the 3D
modeling software utilized, and preferred analytical software may change
often. But furthermore, as engineers, our deliverable is (usually) a set of 2D
documents. Revit is the software used to create the geometry that ultimately is
used to create the 2D drawings. Therefore, I believe it is important that the
geometry is correct. Although there are other reasons that support starting in
Revit, I believe this reason alone is enough to suggest beginning in Revit.
Analysis Software Overview
Two widely used analysis programs will be discussed. These article will cover
more specific best practices of each. The following elements were supported
for exchanging between each software and Revit Structure.
1.0 ETABS
Computers & Structures, Inc. specializes in software programs for structural
and earthquake engineering. ETABS was specifically developed for multi-story
structures. CSi has several other design software packages such as SAP2000,
PERFORM-3D, SAFE, and more. One item of note is that the CSixRevit link
is not free, as is the case with the other software packages, and the latest best
practice documentation is intended for Revit versions.
ETABS: Elements/Properties supported for exchange

Grids (once only) Levels

Beams Curved beams (only if curve is approximated)

Steel Joists (come through as beams) Columns

Walls Floor Slabs

Isolated Footings Braces (vertical only)

Openings: wall, shaft and by face

Loads, load cases and load combinations (some limitations)

Reactions Material Properties (limited, once only)

Section/size properties End fixity/releases

ETABS: Elements/Properties unsupported for exchange

Openings: profile/boundary

Diaphragms

Horizontal Braces

Trusses (come through as unrecognized frame sections)

Beam Systems (come through as unrecognized frame sections)

Wall Footings

Phasing

Rebar/hosted Rebar

ETABS: Best Practices

Diaphragms will have to be defined once in ETABS

Import/export dialog boxes appear providing mapping editing

opportunities during the import/export process. If a parametric
family has an unrecognized type, ETABS will create a corresponding
shape

Software setup: users must run as administrator (ETABS,

ETABSIO and Revit.exe). If Revit is not run as administrator then
there is a possibility that CSIxRevit will not be able to open .log file.
In this case CSIxRevit will not be able to write any warning in the log
file and all warning messages will be displayed on the screen time to
time. Directly sending data to ETABS may not work if Revit is not run
as admin.

End release updates are occasionally buggy

Z-justification and start and end offset parameters dont

always translate properly

Material updates of walls, decks and slabs are not transferred

from ETABS to Revit. Workaround is to create new elements in ETABS
and the old will be deleted and replaced with the new in Revit.

Only openings completely inside a wall or floor will be

transferred

In-place families are imported into ETABS as frame members

Elements can be deleted upon importing/exporting, but only if

the entire model is exchanged

Load combinations can be exchanged once, but cannot be later

updated. They can, however, be deleted and replaced

2.0 Robot
Robot Structural Analysis Professional software is Autodesk analytical
software provides engineers with advanced BIM-integrated analysis and
design tools to understand the behavior of any structure type and verify code
compliance. Robot Structural Analysis Professional structural software helps
engineers more quickly perform simulation, slabs/walls meshing, analysis,
and code-based design for any type of structure.
Robot: Elements/Properties supported for exchange

Grids Levels

Beams

Beam Systems (members only) Columns

Braces (vertical only) Trusses (members only)

Steel Joists Floor slabs

Slab edges Walls

Curved beams

Isolated footings Wall footings

Pier/Pile caps Loads, Load cases, Load combinations

Reactions Material Properties

Section/size properties Section rotation

End fixity/releases Rebar/hosted rebar

Robot: Elements/Properties unsupported for exchange

Openings Foundation slabs (turn into floors)

Horizontal braces Phasing

Drilled pier foundations Structural Usage

Robot: Best Practices

Static analysis only. Analysis is limited by the capabilities of

Robot Structural Analysis and some analyses may require the
enhanced capabilities of Robot Structural Analysis Professional

Consider differentiating between the start and end of analytical

lines perhaps make them different colors using visibility/Graphic
overrides

The same person will model both the Revit and Analytical
model, so staff appropriately

Multi-span members will be split into separate members once

in Robot

Use hosted area loads whenever possible

Send and update Revit/Robot models from Analyze tab within

Revit

Upon updating the Revit model, there is an option to keep

updated elements selected

Robot will analyze and exchange some connections: end plate

and column flange connections

Sloped planes/framing are supported, so only one level and

then element offsets are all that are required

Duplicate nodes will be created if analytical lines are not

modeled properly (such that their ends intersect, etc.)

Conclusion
With its roots in documentation Revit Structure may have originally found
favour with CAD technicians, but interest from engineers is starting to grow.
This is not only down to the links with analysis software improving but
workflows between architects, engineers, contractors and owners becoming
more important for Revit and BIM in general.

Linking Revit Structure to analysis can help engineers think about the
specifics of the design much earlier on, enabling them to try out different
options long before things get too expensive to fix.
This article provided a large amount of information on famous analytical
programs with hopes of clarifying the benefits and limitations when
integrating the use of these products with Revit Structure Models. Although
the analytical software themselves are different, and intended for different
types of analysis, this article also compared and contrasted each of them in
relation to their ability to interface with Revit. This article hopes to have not
only offer the information to help make the decision of which analytical
software is most appropriate, but also to provide enough information to know
what to expect when beginning to use the software in conjunction with Revit
Structure.