CI9971

Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy

Class Overview
Joe Wright
Graitec Limited

Learning Objectives
Learn how to design a retaining wall surface and add it to your finished surface model
Discover the principles of targeting in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Learn how to use Subassembly Composer to design a custom assembly to create a variable height
retaining wall
Use Subassembly Composer to vary footing widths dependent upon wall height
Create a solid model of a variable height retaining wall and export it to Autodesk Inventor

Description
This class will show simple and effective methods for easily creating variable-height retaining walls using
tools in AutoCAD Civil 3D software, and it will be of interest to anyone wishing to work on retaining wall
design. The class will cover concepts that are often misconstrued as complex, and we will deliver these
topics in an easy-to-understand and occasionally entertaining style. The delegate will see ways in which
to represent a retaining wall as a surface, as well as construct a full solid model of the design. We will
introduce Subassembly Composer software to offer intelligence to the creation of the solid model. We
will discuss workflows into Revit software, and we will present an unconventional workflow into
Inventor software. The course handout notes will also include material to enable the attendees to
present their own classes on this topic to peers. A screencast presentation of the full instructional
demonstration will be made available after the course.

Your AU Expert Joe Wright

Joe Wright graduated with a degree in cybernetics in 1988, after which he co-founded MicroCAD, a U.K.
based Autodesk Gold Partner. Last year he sold his controlling stake in the company to GRAITEC Ltd.,
with whom he now works as a consultant. Joe has more than 25 years of AutoCAD software experience,
and he has worked with civil engineers for the last 7 years, helping them to get the most out of
AutoCAD Civil 3D software, and frequently picking up projects that were considered to be difficult. As an
educator, Joe is skilled in delivering complex topics, often making them easy to understand in a simple
and engaging fashion. His broad spectrum of knowledge regarding a wide range of software products,
along with his involvement in data management and solid modeling packages, has led him to introduce
processes to a wide variety of industrial sectors.
 Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy

Class Overview
This class in divided into three parts:
Creating a surface model of a retaining wall in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Creating a solid model of a retaining wall in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Modifying a solid model in Autodesk Inventor
Each part contains documentation to allow an individual to repeat the class in his own time. AutoCAD
Civil 3D is a requirement throughout, whilst part III requires Autodesk Inventor.
The supporting AutoCAD drawing files for each part are also included for download.
The documentation for parts I and II are also designed to be used in a class room environment. Each will
take approximately one hour for a classroom delegate to complete the tasks. Whilst the documentation
covers the principles in detail, trainers are encouraged to introduce the topics prior to setting each
classroom task.
The class was designed using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 and Autodesk Inventor 2016. Using other variants
of AutoCAD Civil 3D and Autodesk Inventor may result in alterations to the step-by-step procedures in
the documentation.
The full slide deck and complete Screencast presentations of each part will be uploaded after the
presentation has been delivered at Autodesk University.
Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy Part I
Task: Create a surface model of a retaining wall in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Learning Objectives
Learn how to design a retaining wall surface and add it to your finished surface model
Discover the principles of targeting in AutoCAD Civil 3D

FIGURE 1: THE COMPLETED CIVIL 3D SURFACE OF A RETAINING WALL

Supporting Documentation (see: CI9917- Retaining Walls Made Easy - Supporting Documentation and Files.zip)
AU2015-RetainingWallsMadeEasy(SurfaceModel)-PartI.PDF
CREATE_TIN_SURFACE-NCS.dwg
Screencast Presentation
http://autode.sk/1IpG3GP

2
 Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy

Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy Part II

Task: Create a solid model of a retaining wall in AutoCAD Civil 3D
Learning Objectives
Learn how to use Subassembly Composer to design a custom assembly to create a variable height
retaining wall
Use Subassembly Composer to vary footing widths dependent upon wall height
Create a solid model of a variable height retaining wall

FIGURE 2: (LEFT) - THE COMPLETED SUB-ASSEMBLY DESIGNED IN SUB-ASSEMBLY COMPOSER, (RIGHT) - THE COMPLETED
MODEL IN AUTOCAD CIVIL 3D SHOWING STEPPED VARIABLE WIDTH FOOTINGS

FIGURE 3: THE COMPLETED SOLID MODEL

Supporting Documentation (see: CI9917- Retaining Walls Made Easy - Supporting Documentation and Files.zip)
AU2015-RetainingWallsMadeEasy(SolidModel)-PartII.PDF
CREATE_SOLID_MODEL-NCS.dwg
Screencast Presentation
http://autode.sk/1PtCkQu

3
 Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy

Retaining Walls in AutoCAD Civil 3DMade Easy Part III

Task: Modifying a solid model in Autodesk Inventor
Learning Objectives
Export a solid model to Autodesk Inventor or Autodesk Revit
Use Autodesk Inventor to improve the model

FIGURE 4: IMPROVING THE SOLID MODEL WITH AUTODESK INVENTOR ADDING BUTTRESSES, ANCHORS AND REBAR
Supporting Documentation (see: CI9917- Retaining Walls Made Easy - Supporting Documentation and Files.zip)
AU2015-RetainingWallsMadeEasy(Inventor)-PartIII.PDF
AU-INVENTOR-IN-OUT-NCS.dwg, AU-BACK-IN-FROM-INVENTOR.sat

Screencast Presentation
http://autode.sk/1Q7Gopw