Towards BIM-based automation of the vertical load calculation

Abstract

The work processes of structural engineers have been changing over the last decades. Digitalisation and automation play an important role in this change. One of the major developments in this context has been the introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM). In a BIM model the geometry of the actual building is represented. To this geometry additional information regarding the design, construction, and maintenance of the building is attached. In current engineering practice, BIM software is only used for drawing purposes. This is unfortunate, as a lot of the information present in the model can be used for calculation purposes as well. At the same time, structural calculations still contain manual and time-consuming tasks. This also holds for the vertical load calculation (Dutch: Gewichtsberekening). An important calculation in the design of a building, as it is used to determine how the loads acting on the building are distributed to and carried by the foundation. The aim of this thesis is therefore to research and develop a method and tool that can be used to automate the manual processes in the vertical load calculation based upon a BIM model. The focus is specifically on multi-storey residential buildings. As a basis for the development of a method, the state-of-the-art in research and practice of the vertical load calculation and its automation has been investigated using interviews and a literature review. A framework is developed in which the different steps of the vertical load calculation are described using a number of flowcharts. Furthermore, responsibilities are assigned to the different persons involved. Adjustment scenarios are developed using which the structural engineer can correct the information that is retrieved from the BIM model. The practical applicability of the developed method is tested using Dynamo, a parametric engineering software connected to Revit. It is concluded that the vertical load calculation can be automated based on a BIM model. It is important to clearly specify the different steps of the process and to provide the structural engineer with the means to interfere with the outcomes of the calculation. The potential of BIM-based automation of structural calculations is demonstrated. Using the developed tool, schematisations could be quickly generated and directly calculated using the connected structural analysis software. By supporting the structural engineer in documenting design choices early, the introduction of errors and misunderstandings is prevented. In the end this results in time-saving, time that can be spend on the more detailed and complex parts of calculation processes.