For information on ISM and the ISM Revit Plugin, including download instructions, click here.

This wiki is intended to provide a quick start for transferring RAM Concept models into Revit for reinforcing documentation. In particular this wiki focuses on producing slab rebar drawings in Revit as shown in the image below.

Reinforcing that is transferred from RAM Concept into Revit can be updated without needing to recreate all reinforcing again, as opposed to RAM Concept's export dwg feature in which the entire drawing is recreated each time. This allows annotations that have been created in Revit to remain in place for all reinforcing that has not changed. A further advantage of the approach documented here is that a revision history of the project is stored in the ISM file and past revisions can be reviewed at any time.

Required Products

The exchange of reinforcing from RAM Concept into Revit is enabled by ISM Revit Plugin CONNECT Edition Update 1, which is currently under development. This wiki will be finalized once the release is available. For the best results with this workflow, we recommend the following versions of the required products:

• RAM Concept CONNECT Edition Update 3
• Structural Synchronizer CONNECT Edition Update 1
• Revit 2016 or 2017
• ISM Revit Plugin CONNECT Edition Update 1 (currently under development)

Slab Design in RAM Concept

The workflow described here starts with a RAM Concept model and proceeds with the creation of a Revit model from the RAM Concept results. Note that it is also possible to start with a Revit model and create a RAM Concept model.

Open a RAM Concept model and run the Run Calc All process. Go to the reinforcement plan. Select all the reinforcing objects and set the Designed By field to User (as opposed to Program). This step is necessary because RAM Concept includes only reinforcement set to User in the ISM workflow.

After doing this all reinforcement in the model should be colored orange.

Note: Only one type of reinforcing object (Concentrated, Area, Transverse, etc.) can be edited simultaneously in RAM Concept. To narrow the selection to one type of reinforcing after selecting all reinforcing, right click and select "Selection Filter".

Save the RAM Concept model. Go to File -> Sync ISM -> Create Repository.

Assign a name and elevation to the floor and then proceed with the export to ISM.

Note: When creating a new ISM repository from RAM Concept (as opposed to updating an existing ISM repository), it is usually easiest to leave “Open Structural Synchronizer” unchecked as there is rarely any need to review the model in ISM. However, if the model contains a large number of objects that are not needed in the workflow (such as loads), significant time can be saved by opening Structural Synchronizer and rejecting these specific objects so that they are not transferred to the repository.

Once the export is complete, verify that the ISM model (*.ism.dgn) exists in the folder to which it was written.

Import of Model into Revit

Launch Revit Structure and select the template to use in the startup dialog.

Go to the Bentley tab in the Revit Structure main menu and select New from Repository.

Note: If the Bentley tab is not visible in the Revit main menu, verify that both Structural Synchronizer and the ISM Revit Plugin have been installed.

 
Set the path to the ISM repository that was created in the previous step. Uncheck the option Open Structural Synchronizer as there is no need to view the model in Structural Synchronizer prior to reading into Revit for the first time. Note though that when updating an existing Revit model with changes, it is recommended to use this option as the user can then reject any revisions he/she does not wish to bring into Revit.

 Select Next to advance to the Load Case mappings. Select Match All so that the program maps the ISM loadings automatically to Revit loadings.

Repeat the same process for the Material and Sections mapping dialogs. Click Next and allow the import process to complete.

Select Finish in the dialog above. Open the 3D view in Revit.

In order to see the reinforcing in Revit, select the 3D Wireframe view:

Now that we have 3D reinforcement in Revit, our next step is to produce 2D views from this information.

Set up Views in Revit for Documentation

Note that upon completion of the import process, plan views of each story were created automatically. This is located under the Structural Plans group in Revit's Project Browser. We will set up the plan view as the basis for a slab rebar drawing. Create a copy of the structural plan view using Duplicate View command.

All imported structural reinforcing path objects from Ram Concept have its comments filled with one of the below text:

• Ram Concept Bottom Latitude Bars
• Ram Concept Bottom Longitude Bars
• Ram Concept Top Latitude Bars
• Ram Concept Top Longitude Bars

We will add view filters to better organize our views (Note that this is a one time process, once view filters have been added, save Project as Template to avoid repeating this step in the future).

Add 4 filters on Structural Path Reinforcement's comment property containing Top/Bottom AND Latitude/Longitude.

The filters are now created. We now add them in the Visibility/Graphics dialogue.

Better organize your reinforcement plans by selectively toggling visibility of the Structural Reinforcement Path Objects. For example, separate plans by Bar Face and Bar direction:"Floor1_Bottom_Latitude Reinforcement" etc.

In order to see reinforcing in the plan view, set the transparency of the Floor elements to 60% using the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog.

At this point the rebar should be visible in the plan view. This includes both the Path Reinforcement and Area Reinforcement objects (the outline of the rebar region) and the Structural Rebar objects (individual bars). These objects can be toggled on or off and their display settings can be adjusted to produce the best results for reinforcing drawings and details. Rebar callouts as of yet have not been placed. This will be the next step.

Annotate the Reinforcing

To place rebar annotations and callouts on the plan view we will make use of the Tag command in Revit. We will use one type of tag for the rebar symbol and another type of tag for the text callout of the bar. These callouts can be adjusted and customized once they are placed.

Select the Tag All command under the Annotate menu.

Highlight the two items relating to Structural Path Reinforcement:

This will place annotations for all Path Reinforcement in the floor, including the rebar symbol and callouts as shown in the image below.

Now that annotations have been placed, we will turn off the display of the Path Reinforcement and Structural Rebar objects in Revit, leaving only the annotations. This is done by using the Visibility/Graphics Overrides and toggling of these objects as shown in the image below.

We now wish to adjust the placement of the annotations. This is done by simply dragging the annotations with the cursor.

Customize the Revit Families for Annotation

At this point the view is very close to the final presentation, but the callout text does not contain the information we wish to display. We will customize the callout by editing the Revit family. Select the text callout in the plan view and right click. Select Edit Family in the popup menu.

In the ensuing Revit window, select the label and then select Edit in the Properties pane. 

In the Edit Label dialog, customize the callout as desired by adding or removing properties from the Label parameters list.

Select OK. In the Revit Modify ribbon, select Load into Project and Close. When prompted to save the Family, select Yes and save choose a new name for the family. The drawing will now be updated for the new callout text. The plan view now reflects the desired final state we desire for our rebar annotations. The new Revit family can now be used for subsequent tags and projects.

Release Date: Coming Soon

Version: ISM Revit Plugin CONNECT Edition

Version Number: 10.02.00.19

 
Download Instructions

The ISM Revit Plugin can be downloaded from Bentley Cloud Services here. After signing in to the CONNECTION Center, select Software Downloads under My Support. Once on the Software Fulfillment page, ISM Revit Plugin installers can be located by performing a search on "ISM Revit".

Special Notices

The installation of ISM Revit Plugin CONNECT Edition will automatically uninstall any previous versions that were installed. This version of ISM Revit Plugin can be run in Revit 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

ISM Revit Plugin requires ISM and Structural Synchronizer (both of which are installed with Structural Synchronizer). More information on ISM and Structural Synchronizer can be found here.
 

New Features

The following enhancements were added to ISM Revit Plugin 10.2.

Import of Reinforcing into Revit^®

Reinforcing objects in ISM repositories are now imported into Revit when creating a new Revit model from an ISM repository and when updating Revit models with changes in an ISM repository. As with previous versions of ISM Revit Plugin, this release also supports the export of reinforcing from Revit to ISM. All types of ISM reinforcing are supported in the import. This enables productive workflows between Revit and products such as RAM Concept, where 3D reinforcing designed in RAM Concept can be transferred into Revit for 2D documentation and scheduling.

An overview video of this new feature is available here. A detailed wiki on producing slab rebar drawings in Revit using a RAM Concept model is available here.

Compatibility with Revit 2018

This version of ISM Revit Plugin is now compatible with Revit 2018, with continued support for Revit 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Load Case Mapping Enhancements

New features have been added the give the user more control over how ISM load cases are mapped to Revit load cases. The ISM Revit Plugin shared settings file now includes a mapping table for load cases. This gives you control over how load cases in ISM repositories are mapped to Revit load cases. This may be edited for any existing shared setting db files that have already been set up.

Error Corrections

No error corrections were included in this release of the ISM Revit Plugin.

About ISM Revit Plugin

The ISM Revit Plugin enables a round trip exchange between Revit^® and Bentley’s Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) format, therefore also enabling a round trip exchange between Revit and any other ISM-enabled application. RAM Structural System, RAM Concept, and STAAD.Pro are examples of applications that are ISM-enabled and can interoperate with Revit with the help of the ISM Revit Plugin.

The ISM Revit Plugin adds commands to Revit that allow ISM repositories to be created and updated from Revit, and allow Revit to create and update ISM repositories. The ISM Revit Plugin is dependent on ISM and thus Structural Synchronizer must be installed on the computer.

Problem Description

The program does not distribute loads from deck areas to adjacent members. The analysis runs to completion and no error or warnings are generated during the analysis.

Reason

There are problems with the node that define the deck area. For example, there may be a duplicate node or an intermediate node along the member may be missing.

In previous versions, these input issues generated an error like the one shown below during the analysis and the analysis did not complete.

Solution

We are currently working on a fix for this problem. In the meantime, try resolving the problem by deleting and remodeling the deck areas. Otherwise, please submit a service request and send the model to the development team for review.

Problem Description

When earlier versions of RAM Elements were opened, a RAM Connection license was also used. This behavior may not be desirable for the following reasons:

1. An engineer is not modeling connections within RAM Elements, causing unnecessary license usage.
2. Another engineer using RAM Connection Standalone requires access to the program at the same time.

Background

By default, RAM Elements release 13.00.03.45 and earlier enables connection integration features within the program if the RAM Connection for RAM Elements component is installed. Starting with Ram Elements 13.02.00.99, which uses trust licensing, we changed the default behavior so that users have to opt-in to utilizing Ram Connection. Once a RAM Connection license is available, the program will retrieve a license automatically and add ribbon menu buttons for Connections, Bolts, and Welds to the Databases ribbon. When no license is availble these tools are hidden.

If the integration features are not needed, this behavior can be disabled.

Steps to Disable Ram Connection within Ram Elements

Option 1: Disable RAM Connection integration within RAM Elements.

If an engineer only occasionally models connection data within RAM Elements V8i or CONNECT Edition, the integration can be disabled from within RAM Elements itself and turned on only when needed.

Ram Elements V8i instructions

1. Open the "e menu" in the upper left.
2. Click the General Configuration button in the lower right corner.
   
3. In the window that appears, click the Licenses tab.
4. Then clear the checkbox labeled "Check RAM Connection license" (or "Use a license in each session").
   
5. Click OK to save changes.

RAM Elements will disable the RAM Connection integration features and will no longer automatically retrieve a license or log usage for RAM Connection.

Ram Elements should then be restarted.

RAM Elements CONNECT Edition instructions

1. Open the File Menu
2. Choose Settings
3. Choose License Configuration

4. Uncheck the option for Ram Connection to "Use a license in each session"

Option 2: Remove the RAM Connection for RAM Elements component.

For RAM Connection 8.0 only, the integration component, which is called RAM Connection for RAM Elements, is installed separately. If an engineer will never model connections within RAM Elements, uninstall the RAM Connection for RAM Elements component from the Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7/8) control panel. RAM Elements will then retrieve a license only for itself regardless of the license setting in the Configuration dialog. Users of RAM Connection 7.3 and earlier should use Option 1 to disable integration.

Steps to Enable Ram Connection within Ram Elements

If you want to use Ram Connection features temporarily, click the Start... button in the License Configuration - Ram Connection area.

If you alwayswant the Ram Connection features to be available in Ram Elements then check the box to "Use a Ram Connection license in each session".

In some cases Ram Elements users must still click Start during each session to enable the Ram Connection features. This was be fixed with Ram Connection 10 and later.

See Also

[[RAM Connection 11 and Ram Elements]]

[[RAM Connection is installed, but the Connection button fails to appear in RAM Elements]]

[[RAM Connection v9.0 and RAM Elements]]

[[SELECTsupport TechNotes and FAQs]]

Other Language.

 Spanish 

Overview

RAM Elements 10.5 changed the way that custom materials, sections, connections, bolts, and welds are added to the database. These changes were necessary to permit RAM Elements to run with minimal privileges in security-conscious environments.

Creating custom Sections, Materials, Connections etc.

To create a custom material, section, connection, bolt, or weld, select the appropriate button in the Databases ribbon found on the Home menu. For specifics on adding Connections to the Ram Connection database, see [[Creating Custom Connection Templates]].

RAM Elements includes various groups of elements organized by country. These groups are locked and new data cannot be added to these groups. So a new custom group must be created. To do this, click the New Group button in the upper right (circled in the screenshot below).

Give the new group a name in the dialog box that appears, e.g. "Custom" or "My Sections". Upon clicking OK, the new group will appear on screen. New elements cannot be created until a new table is added to the group. To do this, click the New Table button just below the New Group button (circled in the screenshot below).

Give the new table a name in the dialog box that appears, e.g. "My Pipes". Except in the case of welds, the dialog box will also require additional information such as the type. Pick the appropriate type from those available. For sections, click on the button with "..." to the right of the Type box to open a window showing the available section types. Upon clicking OK, the new table will appear in the left column. From here, you can create a new item from scratch by clicking the New Item button (circled in the screenshot below).

To modify an existing item included with RAM Elements, it is recommended to make a copy in a custom group and then edit it. To do this, select an existing item in one of the groups provided with RAM Elements. Then click the Copy selected item to clipboard button (circled in the screenshot below).

Navigate to a custom group, select a table, and then click the Paste items from clipboard button (circled in the screenshot below). Note that the copied item must match the type of the table. Copy(1) is automatically appended to the name to prevent duplicate entries in the database.

Finally, edit the item by double-clicking its listing in the right pane, or click the Edit Item button on the right edge.

Note it is also possible to import a text file to define shapes, but importing from the clipboard generally works best. One strategy is to copy data to the clipboard. Paste that data into a blank spreadsheet. Then manipulate the spreadsheet as necessary, adding rows, changing values etc. Then copy the modified data back to the clipboard and finally use the "Paste Items from Clipboard" button to add a group of shapes at once.

Deleting custom groups

To delete a custom group, remove all items and tables from it. The empty group will be removed automatically when RAM Elements is closed.

See Also

[[Creating Custom Connection Templates]]

Problem Description

Nodes are invisible in the main graphics window of Ram Elements.

The nodes are in the model, they can be edited in the spreadsheet, and the node numbers can be displayed, but the dots for the nodes cannot be seen in the main graphical window. 

Steps to Reproduce

Problem started after April 18 2017 as a side-effect of Windows 10 Professional update build 1703 (aka Creators Update). Various graphics adapters and drivers are affected, but updating the drivers does not typically resolve the problem.  

Solution

Fixed in version 13.05.00.224 and after.

Best Practices Documents

Modeling and Node Generation Best Practices

STAAD.Pro Loads and ISM 

ISM Revit Plug-in

ISM Import into Tekla Structures

ISM Change Management - Accepting Some Revised Properties but Rejecting Others

ISM Capabilities and Limitations Matrix

Installation

How can I find the ISM installer?

Can't Install the 32-bit Version on a 64-bit Operating System

Synchronizer Won't Install due to Prerequisites

ISM Toolbar Buttons Grayed out

Solutions

Boundary Is Not Valid Error

Cannot Find Suitable Level

Disable ProjectWise Integration with ISM

Error-Could not start a Responsive Engine

How to remove incorrectly mapped section properties while importing ISM repository into STAAD.Pro

ProStructures ISM Section and Material Mapping

ISM - IFC Import Details

ISM 8.11.09.130 crashes on startup

ISM Import or Export Unhandled Exception Occurred 

ISM Import to RAM Elements Beams Not Segmented

ISM Log Files

ISM Nodes into RAM Structural System

ISM Rotate RAM Model

ISM Section mapping and STAAD.pro

Not a Valid ISM DGN Repository Exception

RAM Manager Crashes when using ISM - New From Repository

Ram SS - ISM Missing Rebar or Deleting All Objects on Update

Tekla Structures v.20 ISM Mixed Mode Assembly Error

Not Able to Import/Export with ISM in STAAD.Pro

Unable to create host MainForm error in STAAD.Pro

Error Previous IsmStructuralPropertyCatalog initialization failed

This tech note discusses how to determine the Creep Factor and Initial Load Application for the AS 3600 design code. RAM Concept uses the ACI 209 model for creep and shrinkage. The creep and shrinkage parameters outlined in AS 3600 need to be modified to fit this model.

Creep Factor

In general, the final (30-year) creep value after being modified by all appropriate adjustment factors should be input as the creep factor.

AS 3600 references a creep coefficient, which is defined as the ratio of creep strain to elastic strain. The creep factor in RAM Concept is defined as the ratio of total strain (elastic strain + creep strain) to elastic strain, or 1 + creep strain/elastic strain. The creep factor in RAM Concept then is equal to 1 + creep coefficient.

For AS 3600, the input creep factor is determined as follows:

1. Find the basic creep coefficient from Table 3.1.8.2
2. Factor basic creep coefficient by correction factors k2, k4, and k5
3. Add 1 to convert the creep coefficient to a creep factor
4. Use a correction factor to convert the maturity coefficient k3 to the ACI 209 age coefficient

See “Creep Coefficient Correction Factors” for more discussion on Steps 2 and 4 above.

Creep Coefficient Correction Factors

AS 3600 uses the correction factors k2, k3, k4, and k5 to convert the basic creep coefficient to a design creep coefficient at any time. See Equation 3.1.8.3 in AS 3600-09.

Factor k2 should be based on a 30 year time after loading.

Factor k3 is a maturity coefficient that accounts for the initial load application. This parameter is analogous to the parameter in ACI 209, which is automatically accounted for by RAM Concept. A correction factor should be calculated based on the discussion in the Initial Load Application section below to calibrate the ACI 209 model used by RAM Concept to match the AS 3600 model.

Factor k4 accounts for environmental factors and will vary from project to project.

Factor k5 is a modification for high strength concrete and is a function of the concrete strength.

Initial Load Application

ACI 209 is based on a 7-day initial load application time, while AS 3600 is based on a 28-day initial load application time. The Initial Loading Application value that is input into RAM Concept should always match the actual initial loading time of the real structure. The initial loading time will be based on the construction and shoring schedule of your project and not the standard values specified in the design code. For example, it is common in the United States for formwork to be removed anywhere between 3-7 days and this is what should drive the input of the Initial Load Application value in RAM Concept.

ACI 209 uses a modification factor to account for initial load application times other than 7 days. This factor is automatically determined by the program and should not be incorporated into the input creep value. In AS 3600, the k3 correction factor accounts for the initial load time. A correction factor should be applied to the input creep factor to match the k3 factor to the age coefficient in the ACI 209 model.

In the plot below, the red line represents the equation for the maturity coefficient in ACI 209. The blue line represents the equation for the k3 factor in AS 3600. The green line is the ratio of the coefficient in AS 3600 to the coefficient in ACI 209 and represents the calibration factor that should be applied to the input creep factor to calibrate the ACI 209 model to the AS 3600 model.

For a single load application time, the calibration factor determined from the green line is easily determined. However, most real load histories are more complicated and include many loading/unloading times. For these more complex cases, the initial load application time is generally the most influential on creep deflection and the factor associated with this time from the green line plotted above should be used. For example, if the actual initial load application time is 7 days, then the correction factor is between 1.4 and 1.5.

It should be understood that this calibration factor does not correspond to a single given loading time, but rather will be used by RAM Concept to try to adjust the ACI 209 curve (represented by the red line in the image above) for all specified loading/unloading times. There is not a way to make it match exactly for many different loading/unloading times. Since the curve is reasonably flat, using the calibration factor for the initial loading time will give reasonable results.

Creep Example

Determine the creep factor for a 32 MPa, 200 mm concrete slab in a temperate inland factor environment. Initial loading time is 14 days.

The basic creep coefficient from Table 3.1.8.2 is 3.4.

k2 = 1.2 (see Figure 3.1.8.3(a) at 30 years after loading)

k4 = 0.6 (for temperate inland environment, see 3.1.8.3)

k5 = 1.0 (f’c < 50 MPa, see 3.1.8.3)

calibration factor for k3 = 1.3 (from green line in calibration plot above for time of 14 days)

Creep Factor = 3.4*1.2*0.6*1.0*1.3 + 1 = 4.18

The actual initial loading time is 14 days. The Initial Load Application should be defined as 14 days in the Load History/ECR tab of the Calc Options dialog.

Shrinkage Strain

In AS 3600, the final shrinkage strain is defined as the design shrinkage strain and consists of two parts: autogenous shrinkage and drying shrinkage. The shrinkage strain that is input in RAM Concept is the final shrinkage strain, or the sum of the autogenous and drying shrinkage strains.

All appropriate adjustment factors to account for environment conditions should be included in the final shrinkage strain. The time-dependent factor k1(Figure 3.1.7.2) is accounted for automatically by RAM Concept through the ACI 209 model.

For AS 3600, the input shrinkage strain is determined as follows:

1. Calculate the final autogenous shrinkage strain using Equation 3.1.7.2(3)
2. Determine the final basic drying shrinkage strain
3. Factor final basic drying shrinkage strain by factor k4
4. Calculate final shrinkage strain by adding strain in Step 1 and 4.

Moist Cure Duration

The ACI 209 shrinkage model used in RAM Concept assumes that no shrinkage occurs during the moist cure duration period. The standard moist cure duration period is 7 days and correction factors are applied for other durations (see ACI 209R-92 Table 2.5.3). RAM Concept automatically calculates this correction.

AS 3600 references a time “after the commencement of drying” with respect to the drying shrinkage and this is the equivalent of the moist duration period used in RAM Concept. The input moist duration period should be the time that has elapsed between concrete setting and the commencement of drying.

Note that moist cure duration correction will have the most significant effect on early age deflection. Because of the unpredictable nature and variability of early age shrinkage, early age deflections should be used with caution. Section 67.7 in the RAM Concept Manual has more discussion on this topic.

Shrinkage Example

Determine the shrinkage strain for a 32 Mpa, 200 mm concrete slab in a temperate inland environment. Assume a moist cure duration period of 7 days.

The final autogenous drying shrinkage strain from Equation 3.1.7.2(3) is:

[(0.06)*(32) – 1.0]*50*10^-6 = 0.000045

The final basic drying shrinkage is 1000 x 10-6.

k4 = 0.6 (for temperate inland environment)

The adjusted final basic drying shrinkage is:

0.6*(1000 x 10^-6) = 0.0006

Final shrinkage strain = 0.0006 + 0.000045 = 0.000645

See Also

Load History Article

RAM Concept Load History Calc Options

Support Solutions

RAM | STAAD Support Solutions including links for Release Notes, documented Defects and Enhancements and more.

• General (Licensing and Installation)
• STAAD.pro  
• STAAD Foundation Advanced
• Ram Structural System  
• Ram Elements  
• Ram Connection  
• Ram Concept
• ISM Revit Plug-in

Structural Analysis and Design products

See Also

• Structural Integration and the Structural Dashboard
• Structural Detailing products
• Bridge Analysis products
• Pipe Stress Analysis products

Resources

• Structural Support Solutions
• Bentley Structural Team Blog
• Structural Analysis Product Forums

Problem Description

Moment due to shear is always considered in spread footing design even when that option is turned off in the design criteria. 

Reason

In the Foundation module, under Criteria - Design Criteria there is an option to consider the moment due to shear times the footing thickness, for all three footing types.

When the option is turned off, the resultant reaction on a typical braced frame columns is therefore purely vertical, but a larger footing may be designed to resist overturning. Furthermore, the reported soil stress is not uniform, confirming that the foundation is being designed for an overturning moment.

Note, if the option to consider the shear is turned on, the overturning gets even worse (and the foundation gets larger). The moment appears to be double counted in that case.

Note, the load combination forces report indicates the shear force whether the option is turned on or off. In prior versions, the reported shear would have been 0.00 when the option was off. The load combinations report still correctly shows 0.00 for moments when the option is turned off. 

Solution

We are working on a fix for this issue.

What Is Exported?

Reactions 

• Dead Load, Live Load Reducible, Live Load Unreducible, Live Load Storage , Live Load Roof, and Balance Loading reactions. 
• Balance loading reactions are exported to a hyperstatic load case in RAM Concrete. Exporting balance load reactions will require re-running the analysis and regenerating load combinations in RAM Concrete. 

Geometry

Note - Geometry can only be exported to a new layout in RAM Structural System and not into existing layouts. Changes made to geometry in RAM Concept will not automatically update the layout in RAM Structural System.

• Slab areas.
• Slab openings
• Beams. These are exported as two-way slab areas.
• Columns below the slab.
• Walls below the slab.
• Reactions from load cases that do not appear in RAM Structural System.
• Reactions from transfer load cases.

What Is Not Exported?

Reactions

• Reactions from loads cases that do not appear in RAM Structural System.
• Reactions from transfer load cases.

Geometry

• Column above the slab.
• Walls above the slab.
• Surface loads, point loads, and line loads.

More Information

Please see RAM Concept-RAM Structural System Integration for additional help links.

Download the Latest Version of the ISM Revit Plugin

See the release notes located HERE for the features in this version.

What is the ISM Revit Plugin?

Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) is an interoperability workflow allowing design change management, revision history, and visualization of shared structural information among different specialized applications on the desktop. You can enable Revit Architecture and Revit Structure models to participate in ISM workflows. This enables you to confidently share data from Revit with ISM-enabled structural design and analysis applications such as RAM Structural System, RAM Concept, STAAD.Pro, ProStructures and AECOsim Building Designer using Bentley’s Revit Plugin.

Engineering Workflows using Revit and ISM

VIDEO: Round Trip Interop Between Revit and RAM Concept (click HERE to view full playlist)

(Please visit the site to view this video)
 

VIDEO: Creating Spread Footing Schedules in Revit Using an ISM model

(Please visit the site to view this video)

TECH TALK: Managing Revisions to Structural Engineering Models Using ISM

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Related Products

ISM and Structural Synchronizer (required for ISM Revit Plugin)

RAM Concept (structural engineering of structural slabs)

RAM StructuralSystem (structural engineering of multi-story buildings)

Structural Navigator (mobile review of ISM models)

I am trying to define standard Tube Sections from within the American Section database and finding out that I cannot do that anymore. There is a message as shown next. How can I define tubes ?

In the recent section databases that are provided by AISC, the Tube sections has been replaced by HSS sections ( Rectangular/Square HSS ) and in STAAD.Pro you will find these sections under the HSS Rectangle category within the Section Profile table for American sections. The tube sections have been taken out for that reason. You should use the HSS sections in lieu of tubes. If for some reason, you would have to use the Tube, here are a couple of things you can do

Option 1

In STAAD.Pro v8i and older, you can go to Tools > Section Database and add the sections you want to use within the database for Rolled Steel > AISC Steel Profile (v14.1) > Tube

In STAAD.Pro Connect Edition, you will find the Section Database option as shown below

Option 2

In STAAD.Pro v8i and older, you can change the section database to an older version as shown below and that way the TUBE sections would be available as part of the Section Profile Table

In STAAD.Pro connect Edition, you will find a Configuration option ( after clicking on the Specification > Section Database menu option ) using which you can change the section database to an older one

Problem Description

After Analysis is run in STAAD.Pro CE, the Run Analysis button gets greyed out. One cannot access the output file, Postprocessing mode, RAM Connection mode etc.

Steps to Reproduce

In STAAD.Pro CE version, Run the analysis on any model.

The Run Analysis button gets grayed out.

Note : This behavior has only be observed in certain machines and does not happen for majority of users.

Workaround

None

Solution

The fix will be available in STAAD.Pro CE Update 1 expected to be released around Oct/Nov of 2017. 

The TechNotes, FAQs and Support solutions cover various topics that pertain to the CONNECT Edition of STAAD.pro, version 21.00.00.57 specifically. 

Release News

New Release STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition (21.00.00.57)

Installation and Licensing

[[User ID Missing from the Output Report]]

Graphical User Interface 

[[Black Force Diagrams, Fonts or Color Changes]]

[[Run Analysis option is greyed out]]

Analysis and Design

Link 

See Also

STAAD.Pro Support Solutions

Problem Description

After installing the CONNECT Edition, beam force diagrams and stress plots may appear in black rather than in color. Other symptoms include displacement diagrams changing from red to black or labels using a very small font.

Steps to Reproduce

This only happens in certain cases depending on the order in which various STAAD.pro versions are installed and uninstalled. 

Workaround

Ensure that STAAD.Pro is closed. 

Delete the folder "C:\Users\<User.Name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\Engineering\STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition\Default". Restart the program and this folder will be created again.

If license selection dialog pops up, make sure NOT TO choose the “Exit” button, rather click on the “Accept” button ( see picture below).

If “Exit” button is clicked, it may destroy the configuration settings again and one will have to repeat this step again to fix the problem.

Solution

The problem will be addressed in the STAAD.Pro Connect Edition Update 1 due in October/November of 2017. 

I am trying to model members with varying cross section. How can I do that ?

Case 1 
If the sections are tapered wide flanges or tubes ( circular/square/other polygonal shapes), you can model the beam/column as a single member and assign a Tapered I or Tapered Tube property. Go to the General > Property page and choose either of these two options shown below
 

Case 2
In case of other types of cross section, you can split the beam/column into multiple segments and assign the General Section property to each segment ( also marked in the above picture ). For General Sections, you need to calculate the property for each segment and assign these properties appropriately.

Problem Description

User tries to create an analytical model from a physical model and gets the error below.

This issue has only been observed in some machines

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Steps to Reproduce

1) Open Staad.Pro in Physical Modeler and try to create any new file from scratch.

2) Try to create the analytical model by using the ribbon menu option Model > Return to Analytical Modeling.

Workaround

1. If STAAD.Pro is installed in a path different from the default, please uninstall the software and reinstall ( as administrator ) choosing the default installation path. For some users this addressed the issue.
2. If STAAD.Pro is installed in the default path and the error is still obtained, check for the existence of OSOEM folder in the following path C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition\STAAD\SPPM\Program. If the folder is not present, uninstall the software and reinstall ( as administrator ) and check whether the folder now exists. This worked in certain cases.
3. STAAD.Pro should be installed using an account with administrator rights. If not, please uninstall the software and reinstall as administrator. Once the software is installed, right click on the program shortcut and choose Run As Administrator. In some cases this addressed the issue.
4. If the installation satisfies what is mentioned in all of these 3 workarounds above, one has to wait for the Connect Edition Update 1 release which is due in Oct/Nov of 2017.

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Solution

The problem will be addressed in the STAAD.Pro Connect Edition Update 1 due in October/November of 2017. 

Download the Latest Version of Integrated Structural Modeling

See the release notes located HERE for what's new in this version of ISM.

What is Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM)?

Bentley’s Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) allows structural engineers and designers to share structural engineering project information among modeling, analysis, design, drafting, and detailing software applications.

More details on the philosophy behind ISM and how the process works can be found HERE. The adjacent chart shows how structural engineering and BIM software brands interoperate with one another using ISM.

Using ISM in Engineering Workflows

ISM facilitates interoperability across engineering teams and design disciplines, allowing designers to choose the products best suited for a particular project. With ISM-based workflows engineers can exchange data, synchronize revisions, track progress, compare alternatives, and publish deliverables. Below are some common workflows for which ISM is employed.

VIDEO: RAM interop with Revit(click HEREfor information on the ISM Revit Plugin)

VIDEO: Round Trip Interop between RAM Concept and Revit

VIDEO: SACS interop with STAAD.Pro

VIDEO: ProStructures interop with STAAD.Pro and STAAD Foundation Advanced

VIDEO: Reading an ISM file into Tekla (click HERE for information on the ISM Tekla Plugin)

TECH TALK: Managing Revisions to Structural Engineering Models Using ISM

How Our Industry is Using ISM

Click HERE to learn how WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff used ISM to interoperate between RAM and Revit in designing the 62-story Bishopsgate in London's financial district.

Latest News

The ISM 6.0 family of products was released January 2017 and is the most recent version of the ISM technology. This release consists of the following products and apps:

• Structural Synchronizer CONNECT Edition Update 1 (known more generally as ISM 6.0, now with support for piping systems)
• Structural Navigator CONNECT Edition Update 1(the mobile review app now with support for Android)
• ISM Revit Plugin CONNECT Edition (now with support for Revit 2018)

Tekla users are encouraged to obtain the latest Tekla ISM plugin from the Trimble Solutions - Tekla Warehouse. Phase 2 of the link is compatible with Structural Synchronizer CONNECT Edition and Tekla Structures 2016.

ISM Enabled Application Timeline

The following products are ISM-enabled:

• AECOsim Building Designer
• Microstran
• ProStructures (includes ProConcrete and ProSteel)
• RAM Concept
• RAM Elements
• RAM Structural System
• Revit Structure
• SACS
• STAAD.Pro
• Tekla Structures

How to model a base plate with anchors in STAAD.Pro

In STAAD.Pro you can model the base plate as a mesh of plates. Model the soil support as springs using Elastic Mat or Plate Mat. Model the anchors as FIXED BUT supports. Assign the compression only attribute to the springs representing the soil and tension only attribute to the anchors.

A sample model of base plate modeled in STAAD.Pro is attached

(Please visit the site to view this file)

Note that in the attached model, the load cases 1 and 2 are primary loads and hence these not analyzed with compression/tension springs just in case the iterative analysis fails to converge. The actual combination load case where DL and WL are acting together is analyzed with the tension/compression springs.