 | Nemetschek and SCIA develop integrated software solution for structural engineering
Today, engineers expect to be able to complete their tasks as quickly as possible with the help of their software tools. This relates not only to the tasks to be carried out within an application, but also the most effective integration of the system as a whole.
Up to now, individual programs were tailored to suit specific tasks, and the exchange of information between them was only possible with limitations. In practice, this meant that engineers first had to manually implement or at the very least modify the data provided by the architects. In a subsequent step, structural design and analysis were carried out on the basis of this data. A large portion of the information required here has to be input again in the CAE software. The results of the calculation then formed the basis for the design and detailing, e.g. of formwork and reinforcement. The smooth exchange of data between the planning partners and the applications involved was often impossible. This meant additional work, even though the actual work processes are very closely related to each other. Nemetschek and SCIA have therefore developed an integrated solution that seamlessly merges the CAD system Allplan Engineering and the CAE software SCIA.ESA PT. This new solution is known as Round-Trip Engineering.
Fig. 1: The design process usually starts with the conception of the architectural and structural model
in Allplan Architecture and Allplan Engineering.
Fig. 2: The structural model is transferred to SCIA.ESA PT, where the analytical model can be derived automatically.
Perfect interplay between CAD and CAE software
In Round-Trip Engineering, data is synchronized between the CAD and CAE software, meaning that time-consuming and error-prone multiple data entry is a thing of the past. In the first step, the load-bearing components are selected in Allplan and transferred to SCIA.ESA PT. A dimension-reduced structural system then needs to be generated from the three-dimensional components. That may sound simple, but requires a great deal of experience and was previously only possible with lengthy manual work. Now, though, the structural system can be derived for the most part automatically. For this, the components are first reduced to their centerlines and midplanes. The lines and planes are then linked with each other in such a way that a valid structural system is produced. The structural engineer only needs to determine whether the automatically generated proposal meets expectations or whether changes and further idealizations need to be carried out. Once the material properties, support conditions and loads have been defined in the usual way, the calculation can begin. As a rule, the structural analysis is not a one-time operation but must be continually adjusted in line with design modifications.
Fig. 3: Differences between the current and former model are visualized in SCIA.ESA PT.
Fig. 4: Design and detailing of formwork and reinforcement is carried out in Allplan Engineering.
Greater efficiency in day-to-day work
Previously, changes to the design had to be laboriously implemented by hand in the CAD and CAE software. In the case of major changes, users were sometimes forced to abandon the data already entered and carry out completely new calculations. The new update mechanism greatly improves efficiency. If a change is made to the architectural or structural model, the load-bearing components are simply transferred again from Allplan Engineering to SCIA.ESA PT. The CAE software contains a graphical display of the points at which changes have been made to the previous status. The structural engineer merely decides whether to adopt or ignore each change. Where necessary, the structural system is modified accordingly. As the remaining analysis information is still available, the calculation can be performed again immediately.
Round-Trip Engineering significantly increases the efficiency of structural engineering workflow. It makes it possible to deliver high-quality results sooner than before, and to work quickly and profitably despite frequent changes to the design. To use the new working method, users need the current versions of Allplan 2006.2 Engineering and SCIA.ESA PT 2007.
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