Your structural

Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps

 SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design
Structural analysis and member design of buildings in Autodesk® Revit®.

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as well as for integrated detailing software based on Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Creating the analytical model 01
2 General settings 02
2.1 Graphics 02
2.2 Visability and inspection of the model 03
2.3 Tolerance 06
3 Analytical objects 07
3.1 Objects that produce analytical elements 07
3.2 Objects that do not produce analytical elements 07
3.3 Walls and floor slabs over surfaces 08
3.4 Convert surface elements 09
3.5 Creating Analytical Elements without Revit objects 10
4 Hints for building modeling 12
4.1 Curved slabs 12
4.2 Columns and profile walls 12
4.3 Openings in slabs 13
4.4 Ceiling break-throughts and connections to walls 13
4.5 Up- and down-stand beams 14
5 How to adjust the analytical model 14
5.1 How to transform architectural objects into analytical objects 14
5.2 Adjustin the analytical model via „Projection“ 15
5.3 Advanced allignment of analytical models via manual editing 17
5.3.1 Visibility of analytical nodes 17
5.3.2 Adjusting analytical nodes 18
5.3.3 Adjusting walls 19
5.3.4 Linking analytical nodes 20
5.3.5 In-/exclude openings in the analytical model 20
5.3.6 Resetting changes 20
6 Defining loads in Revit 21
7 Defining support, boundary and connection conditions 22
8 Check for errors with SOFiSTiK 22
9 Settings for calculation in SOFiSTiK 23
10 Perform the calculation in SOFiSTiK 23
 Creating the analytical model

While the user sets up a physical model (top left), Revit already generates a first proposal for an
analytical model. It consists of surface, beam and point elements (top right). Both models are saved
in one data set. The analytical model is primarily invisible in the background. The analytical model is
created, based on the formwork information of the physical model. We therefore recommend
checking the analytical model regularly during the modelling process in order to avoid unwanted
results and to detect inconsistencies.
Not every Revit object creates an analytical element. The non-load-bearing objects from the
“Architecture”-tab generally do not automatically generate them. This sometimes results in additional
adaptation work for implementing a project. Close attention to proper implementation of BIM-projects
must be paid, if no modelling guideline was defined up ahead.
Please be aware that an analytical element only exists, if there is formwork information in the physical
object (from the “Structure“-tab). Revit only generates analytical elements if it detects formwork
elements!
For models not created in Revit (e.g. imported IFC files) we recommend checking for an included
analytical model. If there is no analytical model available (often the case) the physical model needs
to be remodelled in Revit to receive a working calculation model.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 1

 General Settings

2.1 Graphics
For the sake of completeness, we show where to find the options to change the appearance of
analytic elements (Line Color, Line Pattern, etc.).
Go to „Analytical Model Objects“
“Manage”-tab > “Settings”-panel > “Object Styles”-tab

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2.2 Visibility and inspection of the model
As mentioned, we recommend to continuously check the analytical model while modelling. By
increasing the transparency setting of the physical model, parts of the analytic model become
visible. (otherwise they are concealed by the physical structure)

Increased transparency renders the analytical model visible (here: cyan and brown).

Depending on the starting situation, transparency can be activated in two ways. If you are using
the “BIM Architektur und Ingenieurbau.rte“-template, supplied by Autodesk Revit for DACH
countries, please proceed with Variant 1, otherwise use Variant 2.

Variant 1: based on the “BIM Architektur und Ingenieurbau.rte”-template

Open View „3D/Berechnungsmodell“ (= 3D / Berechnungsmodell) in the Project Browser. In this
view all necessary settings (visibility and filters) are already predefined.

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Variant 2: Transparency settings using other Revit templates

If you are using other Revit templates, you can manually adjust the visibility of the analytical model.
First activate a 3D view. Open the “Visibility/Graphics”-window using the keyboard shortcut “VV”
or View tab > Visibility/Graphics. Activate all analytical categories in the „Analytical Model
Categories“-tab.

Now define a new filter showing all model categories (ideally excluding all analytical categories).
Set the transparency of the filter to a value between 50 and 100%. This way the formwork model
becomes transparent and the analytical model becomes visible.

An easy way to achieve similar results is to activate the “Wireframe”-model within the view
settings.

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Additionally, we can either set the line color of the formwork model to a lighter color (e.g. a light
grey), or activate the „Halftone“-option to better distinguish analytical elements. We recommend
the latter for 3D-views.

Hide the physical model (formwork model):

If you set filters for all the component categories, you can hide the whole physical model with one
click, by unselecting the “Visibility”-button.

Optionally, you can show/hide the analytical model by using the “Hide Analytical Model / Show
Analytical Model”-button in the view settings.

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2.3 Tolerance
Parallel to you modelling, Revit automatically sets up the analytical model by creating and
connecting analytical elements. A consistent structural model is required to do that.
In the “Structural Settings”- menu (Manage”-tab > “Settings”-panel > “Structural
Settings” > “Analytical Model Settings”-tab) you have the option to change the maximum
spacing between analytical elements for them to be automatically connected. We recommend not
to change the default settings, as they normally lead to desirable results.

The default settings allow Revit to automatically connect most of the analytical elements (left figure
below). If the default tolernaces are exceeded (e.g. the slab is thicker than the tolernace setting)
the elements will not be connected (right figure below).

In this example the automatic positioning of the analytic elements is set to the middle axis of the
wall and the top plane of the slab. The positioning of analytic elements defines how the model is
going to be computed. If needed, you can manually change the position of the analytic elements
(more in chapter 5.2.).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 6

 Analytical objects

Not all objects automatically generate an analytical model. This is especially true for the non-load-
bearing objects from the “Architecture” - tab. In contrast to that, the load bearing structural
objects from the “Structure” -Tab basically always generate analytic elements.

3.1 Objects that generate analytical elements

Structural Column

Wall: structural
Floor slab: structural

Beam

Structural Foundation: Isolated

Structural Foundation: Wall

Structural Foundation: Slab

3.2 Objects that do not generate analytical elements

Column: architectural*

Floor slab: architectural**

Wall: architectural**

Roof (all kinds)

Stairs***

Ramp***
* Architectural columns can be changed to structural columns by changing their family
Please modify the family and change the category to “Structural Columns” – see chapter 5.1.

** Some architectural objects can be added easily through their “properties”-tab – see chapter 5.1.

*** These elements can be accounted as “profile wall“ (see explanation chapter 3.5) in the analytic model.

To exclude a structural object from the computing process, select the object and deactivate the
“Enable Analytical Model” - option.

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3.3 Walls and floor slabs over surfaces

From an architectural to an analytical model

One method to create walls and floor slabs is with a “Mass-Model“. Here the architect designs a 3D
body without structural objects for preliminary design. Based on the surfaces of this 3D body walls
and floor slabs can be added.
Starting with a rather simple preliminary model you can swiftly extract a formwork model. All
commands can be found in “Massing & Site”, or “Architecture“, but not in “Structure“.

The shown objects are hard to use as formwork and analytical element.

With „Wall by Face“ and „Floor by Face“ we do get a physical

model (formwork) but not an analytical element.

Some of these objects can be modified retrospectively in the property-

tab (see chapter 5.1). Others can only be used as analytical object by
using the specific SOFiSTiK workflow (see chapter 3.5).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 8

3.4 Convert surface elements

Selecting the option “Enable Analytical Model“ in the “Properties” - menu allows you to
retrospectively add analytical objects based on all vertical, non-inclined walls (all walls that are
perpendicular to the floor slab). The same procedure applies to floor slabs.

This workflow does not work for inclined walls, as Revit does not offer the necessary
parameters.
SOFiSTiK has developed a special workflow to enable assignment of analytical objects to
inclined walls for FEA Analysis. More about this topic in the next section.

Inclined walls (here as floor slab and external wall) cannot be converted into an analytical
object. Left side: normal properties menu of a wall. Right side: properties menu of a “Wall
by Face“, the “Enable Analytical Model”-parameter is missing.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 9

3.5 Creating analytical elements without Revit objects
SOFiSTiK offers a unique method to compute analytical objects that Revit does not automatically
generate. The special feature is that it does not require typical Revit-objects. It can be used with
imported IFC-models (that do not contain analytical elements), as well as with Revit objects that do
not generate an analytical model.

Before starting, please make sure that you installed SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design (you can
install it with the SOFiSTiK Application Manager or via the Autodesk App Store). Now
restart Revit and access all functionalities of Analysis + Design directly in the new Ribbon
“SOFiSTiK Analysis”.

The workflow:
Create a new family with the “Model In-Place“-function (“Structure”-tab > “Model”-panel)
and chose a category that supports the analytical model.
.

Area elements (analytical model):

In the “Family Category and Parameters“-
tool (“Create”-tab > “Properties”-panel)
select either “Floors”, “Foundations“ or „Walls“
to create analytical elements for computing in
SOFiSTiK (in this case Slab/Wall).

Now sketch the boundary lines with the “Model Lines”- tool . Assign the lines either to the
“Analytical Model [projection]“, or “Analytical Model [cut]“ subcategory (both options are
possible). Do that via the dropdown menu of the subcategories (left picture below) or the
“Properties” - menu (right picture below).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 10

After completing the project families, additional adjustments can be done in the “SOFiSTiK:
Structural Properties”-menu*. It is important to assign a thickness property to the elements at this
point, for trouble-free computing.

You can adjust the hinge conditions of edges with the “Edit…” -tab.

* If this menu is not displayed, you can manually activate it like this:
“SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Manage”-panel> User Interface > Structural Properties“

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 11

 Hints for building modelling
4.1 Curved slabs
You must not adjust the geometry of floor slabs with the “Modify Sub Elements“- function . If
you do, the analytical object (orange) stays unchanged, which results in incorrect computing.
We suggest using the “Slope Arrow“-Function for modifying your floor slabs.

4.2 Columns and profile walls

Inclined columns generate an inclined analytical model. If you change the geometry of a wall with
the “Edit Profile“ - function , the analytical model will be adjusted automatically.

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4.3 Openings in slabs
Please be aware that “breakthroughs” (1) and “cut outs” at the surface (2) are generally
considered. “Cut outs” at the bottom of a slab (3) are not considered (No matter the position of the
cut-out, or the way it is created by the user).

1 2 3

4.4 Ceiling breakthroughs and connections to walls

Revit offers various tools to define openings. We suggest using the “Edit Boundary“-tool for
openings in slabs.
This variant (2) will consider a connection between the analytical slab and the neighboring walls
(as an automatic connection or a projection). This is especially useful for subsequent changes in
the formwork model.
In contrast to that, the breakthrough-family (1) and shaft (3) do not produce connected analytical
elements.

1 2
3
1 2 3

More about connections of analytical elements in chapter 5.2 and 5.3.

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4.5 Up- and down-stand beams
These objects should always be modelled completely embedded in the slab.

More information about analysis of up- and down-stand beams in chapter 7.

How to adjust the analytical model

5.1 How to transform architectural objects into analytical objects
Revit-Models coming from architects often contain a big number of non-analytical objects. By
activating the “Structural” and “Enable Analytical Model” buttons several architectural objects
can be transformed into analytical objects. These buttons can be found in the property menu of the
objects. This applies to walls and floor slabs, but not to columns.

The “Properties” - menu of architectural columns does not offer the “Structural”-button. That is
why an architectural column cannot be directly migrated into an analytical model. To do that, the
family category of the column must be changed. You can do that in the “Family Category and
Parameters”-tab .

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 14

5.2 Adjusting the analytical model via „Projection“

As already mentioned, Revit creates a basic analytical model automatically. By using

“projections” we can comfortably adjust the position of analytical elements.
To check if a physical object contains an analytical object, open the “Properties”-tab and look at
the “Property Filter” (If there is an analytical object, it should be shown in the dropdown-menu).

Revit presets the alignment method of analytical objects to “Auto-Detect”. This way the alignment
is done automatically in consideration of certain tolerances (see chapter 2.3).

To adjust the alignment of the analytical object, switch from “Auto-Detect” to “Projection”.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 15

Revit offers various options (depending on the selected object) to align analytical objects. You can
access them via “z Projection” in the “Properties” - menu. Horizontal objects (e.g. floor slabs)
have different alignment options compared to vertical objects (e.g. walls and columns).

A wall offers the following options:

1 2 3 4 5 6

1) Center of the object

2) Center of Core (load-bearing layer)
3) Exterior Face of Element
4) Interior Face of Element
5) Grid (all available Grids within the active view)
6) Reference Plane (all named Reference Planes within the active view)

A simple way to align analytical elements is with the “Reference Planes” - function
(“Structure”-tab > “Work Plane”). But do not forget to name them properly!

To reset changes (e.g. the position of an analytical element), use the “Reset”-function
(“Analyze”-tab > “Analytical Model Tools”-panel).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 16

5.3 Advanced alignment of analytical models via manual editing

You should use this method only as a last resort. Only use it, if the method described in
chapter 5.2 failed.

You can “fine tune” your analytical model by using the “Adjust”-function (“Analyze”-tab >
“Analytical Model Tools”-panel). The advantage of this method is to freely move analytical
nodes. We can call this a “quick-and-dirty“ method. Modifications to the analytical model can be
done quickly and easily, but subsequent changes to the physical model lead to unwanted behavior
of the modified elements. We recommend using this method only at the very end of the modelling
process.

5.3.1 Visibility of analytical nodes

Before using this method please check whether all analytical nodes are set to visible in the
“Visibility/Graphic“- menu (press “VG“ or “VV” in a project).

You can easily check if two nodes are connected by using filters. In the “Visibility/Graphic“-menu
(press “VG“ or “VV” in a project) select the “Filters”-menu and press the “Edit/New”-button.
Now you can define filer rules, that allow you to check various boundary conditions (e.g.
connection status).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 17

In this example we used two filters to paint all nodes that were not automatically connected by
Revit red and all automatically connected nodes green (Filter Rules: “Connection Status“ “does
not equal“ “Connected“ and “Connection Status“ “equals“ “Connected“).To show the filters
in red or green you have to change the line color in the “Visibility/Graphic“-menu (press “VG“ or
“VV” in a project). This allows for fast revisions of steel structures, skeleton constructions and
frameworks.

5.3.2 Adjusting analytical nodes

Launch the “Adjust“-function (“Analyze”-tab). Now you can select and freely move analytical
nodes. This excludes nodes of walls, they have individual commands.
Use spacebar to toggle between the global coordinate system (left figure below) and the local
coordinate system (right figure below). This is especially useful for truss elements.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 18

For surface elements (like slabs and walls) use the tab-key to switch your selection from nodes to
edges.
Confirm your changes by clicking “Finish“ or “cancel“ .

Once analytical nodes are adjusted manually, you must avoid changes in the physical
model. This can result in unpredictable behavior of the nodes. Manually adjusted nodes can
be identified by their Connection Status in the “Property”-menu (e.g. “Connected -
Manual“)

5.3.3 Adjusting walls

Use the “Wall Adjustment“-function (“Analyze”-tab > “Adjust“-function ) to adjust the
analytical model of a wall.

You can now move the vertical elements of the analytical wall object (picture below).

The edges of analytical walls can be aligned to other vertical walls (merging analytical wall).
Already existing connections between analytical walls can be trimmed. This function not only
allows you to trim an extend an analytical wall, but also allows you to connect it to other objects like
columns, beams, foundations, etc.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 19

5.3.4 Linking analytical nodes

The “Analytical Link”-function allows you to create a physical connection between two analytical
nodes. You can adjust the translation and rotation properties of the link using the “Edit Type”-
function (in the “Properties”-menu).
This function can be used as a workaround to modify the load transfer model of a construction.

5.3.5 In-/exclude openings in the analytical model

Using the “Openings”-function allows you to in-/exclude openings (e.g. windows, breakthroughs)
in the computing process (by clicking the boxes that appear in openings – figure below).

5.3.6 Resetting changes

In order to reset adjustments use “Reset“-function (“Analyze”-tab > “Analytical Model
Tools”-panel). Using “Reset” reverses all manual and projection (see chapter 5.2) adjustments to
the selected analytical object (it resets it to “Auto-Connect”).

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 20

 Defining loads in Revit

SOFiSTiK adopts loads created in Revit (point, line and area loads).
Loads (“Analyze”-tab > “Analytical Model”-panel) must be placed onto the analytical object
without any distance to be computed properly.

Using the “Reference point“-tool (Area Loads > (Edit Boundaries) > “Tools”-panel) allows
you to create variable loads (e.g. earth pressure).

You can manually adjust line loads via their “property”-menu. To do so, deselect the “Uniform
Load”-checkbox. Revit will then expand the menu with further options to define loads. This allows
you to set two different values for the start and the end of a line-load.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 21

 Defining support, boundary and connection
conditions

A basic Revit feature is defining support conditions via the “Boundary Conditions”-function
(“Analyze”-tab > “Analytical Model”-panel).
As the options for boundary and connection conditions are very limited in Revit, we advise to adjust
them in the “SOFiSTiK: Structural Properties”-panel. This SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design panel
allows you to define the necessary conditions for the FEA analysis with SOFiSTiK, for example line
hinges between slabs and walls. Additionally, we can assign an effective width to an up- or down-
stand beam, which is then recognized as a T-beam in the analytical model.
To activate the “SOFiSTiK: Structural Properties”-panel follow the following steps:
“SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Manage”-panel > “User Interface“

Check for errors with SOFiSTiK

We recommend doing an automated check for errors prior to computing in SOFiSTiK. This can be
done with the “Analytical Check“-function (”SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Analysis”-panel).
SOFiSTiK gives you an output with warnings and/or errors. You can select a warning/error and use
the “Show”-function to locate it in the project. You can find the warnings and errors via the
“Warnings”-function (”SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Analysis”-panel).

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 Settings or calculating in SOFiSTiK
Firstly, set the design code (“SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Analysis”-panel > “Analysis
Settings”-function). Secondly, check how SOFiSTiK interpreted materials and cross sections
(“SOFiSTiK Analysis-tab” > “Mapping” > “Materials”, or “Sections”)

Perform the calculation in SOFiSTiK

Analyze the system (“SOFiSTiK Analysis”-tab > “Analysis”-panel > “Analyze”-function).
Make sure to activate the “Analyse Load Cases”-checkbox.

Your structural Autodesk® Revit® model in 10 steps 23

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