This is a quick start follow up to our structural building and plant seminar series held in Australia in September. This article contains the instructions you need to try some of the things that were demonstrated in the seminar yourself.
A note about Bentley maintenance, product usage, and license charges
Assuming that you have a Bentley SELECT maintenance plan in place, many of the how-to’s described in this article require no additional license or usage fee beyond what you currently pay for your software. For example, Structural Synchronizer (ISM) is a free product and capabilities such as the creation of an i-Model or iPad-compatible format from within Structural Synchronizer require no additional fees. Within this article a section called ”What software do I need installed to replicate what was shown in the seminar demonstrations?” is provided as well as which products used within the workflows require a license fee. Also note that most Bentley products, upon initial installation, allow use within a time limited trial mode (usually 15 days) during which you can use the software for free.
What software do I need installed to replicate what was shown in the seminar demonstrations?
The workflows demonstrated at the seminars can easily be replicated if the necessary software is installed in your working environment. The most current commercial versions of Bentley Desktop Prerequisites and Structural Synchronizer must be downloaded and installed. These can be downloaded at www.bentley.com using the steps documented below.
1) Log on to www.bentley.com using your Bentley credentials and password. Once logged on, go to SELECTservices on the right side of the page.
Note: Signing into Bentley SELECT requires SELECT credentials. If you do not have a Bentley SELECT maintenance plan or SELECT login credentials, please contact Sandra Mora at Sandra.Mora@bentley.com for more information.
2) On the SELECTservices page, select Software Downloads.
3) In the search field, type “Prerequisite Pack” and hit return. Then select “All Downloads” under the heading Prerequisite Pack for Bentley Desktop Applications.
4) Select the green download icon for Prerequisites Pack for Bentley Desktop Applications (English) x86 (version 08.11.09.03). Once the download is complete, install the Prerequisites Pack.
5) Repeat step 3 to 5 for Structural Synchronizer, which can be found using the word search field as done before. Download and install version 08.11.11.46.
How do I create an ISM repository?
Most Bentley products that deal with structural design or modeling can produce an ISM repository from the native file format. This includes the RAM and STAAD products, AECOsim Building Designer, ProStructures, and, as was demonstrated during the plant session during the seminars, soon Microstran as well. In most products, the command to create an ISM model is located under the File menu. For example, in RAM Concept the command is located at File->Sync ISM-> Create ISM Repository. Note that if Structural Synchronizer is not installed on the computer, these commands will be grayed out. For help installing Structural Synchronizer, see the instructions in the section above in this article.
How do I turn a Microstran model into an ISM repository?
The current version of Microstran does not yet have this capability. We are expecting the ISM-compatible version to be available in November. What was demonstrated live in the seminar was a development build of the product. Once complete however, the ability to create an ISM model will be available under the File menu within Microstran as with other applications. This feature will be available in all three tiers of Microstran: basic, Pro, and Advanced.
During the plant seminar, a Microstran model was used to design foundations and reo. How was this done?
This process utilised the upcoming Microstran to ISM export to first create an ISM model from an analysed Microstran file. Once this was done, STAAD Foundation Advanced was opened, and the same ISM model was then read into STAAD Foundation Advanced. The ISM model contained, among other information, the reactions imparted on the ground by the columns. This allows STAAD Foundation Advanced to place foundations where these reactions occur in space. From here the footings can easily be designed. Once the file is saved with the design results, the command Update ISM Repository can then be used in STAAD Foundation Advanced to transfer the footing geometry, material properties, and reinforcing into the ISM model.
Note that unlike Structural Synchronizer, STAAD Foundation Advanced carries a license fee. Usage beyond the trial period allowed upon first installation could result in quarterly license charges as stipulated in Bentley's SELECT Open Access program. Please consult your site administrator if unsure of your Bentley license configuration.