Hi,
This is more of a general question.
Does anyone have any experience dealing with rebar in ABD? I know that using STAAD it’s possible to draw the rebar in ABD, but I’m using FEM programs outside of bentley. So far I didn’t find any way of drawing the rebar in ABD, is this possible? I've also looked at Power Rebar, but it doesn’t work very good with the Dynamic Views so I have to drop them to a normal drawing and lose the interactive part of it.
Any ideas?
Hi Pedro,
ABD (and Structural Modeler before it) were not designed with Rebar as a requirement. And to be honest, in the years I've been at Bentley, actual 3D modeling of Rebar has pretty much been a non-factor. That's why it was designated as a detailing feature instead when originally introduced a few years back. However, it will read Rebar data when importing from analysis packages where it is a requirement.
FWIW, the Structural side of ABD goes beyond being an expansion of Architecture: Structural data properties, analysis and design parameters, shared MDB section databases (from STAAD.Pro), ISM, non-analysis translations such as CIS/2 and SDNF, Spreadsheet reporting, Structural Drawing Rules, etc. All of these have no real counterpart on the Architectural side, nor should they! :)
Hopefully, whatever app you use will have the mods to deal with the local code / drawing standard and will not require the users or volunteer groups to 'localise' the package.
On London Bridge Station, one of our subcontractors are using tekla for the main columns and pile cap. They seem pretty happy with going 3d.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8X-v0R3oXk
In fact, our main steelwork and precast façade contractor are also Tekla users.
Productivity:
Probably very difficult to quantify. Here is Bentley's tentative estimates of the gains... to tempt existing 2d users to switch.
http://louisianacivilengineeringconference.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Alex_Mabrich_Advantages_of_Using_3D_Models.26885427.pdf
A lot of large engineering firms have outsourced rebar detailing to their offshore offices in India et al. I see a lot of small and medium sized firms having to go 3d in the hopes of reducing costs long term.
I think that as the rest of the BIM model goes 3d, I can't see rebar being left behind. https://youtu.be/9phajBQp_-U?t=270 At some point, installers will want to coordinate inserts, cast in ducts/pipes with the reinforcement.... even for small to medium sized jobs.
Allplan's take on the advantages:
https://youtu.be/iTPBV7BvHYI?t=1690
Surely, one of the biggest factors affecting productivity will be the analysis <> design connection. How would you transfer the load/stress information? It seems that something like ISM will be needed whether you use Tekla or whatever. I suppose Allplan has its connection to SCIA.
IFC: does IFC transfer load\stress information?
The other aspect that users will be worried about is transferring and using their detail libraries. Not sure but I don't get the impression that there are many available libraries online but this will change.
Automated drawing extraction. yea, I think this would be a big worry. A lot of switchers will take a lot of time finding out how to get what they want out of the system you adopt. Localisation will be key.