BIM in Analysis and Design of Steel Connections

Abstract

It is desired to reduce the time spent at all stages of the building process. Communication between and within disciplines is a significant time consumer in structural engineering today. As the same person is often responsible for both analysis and design of a structure, linking the tools for these tasks could reduce the time spent significantly. Today, the same item is often modelled twice or more with different software, and the goal for this thesis is to make this process more efficient.In this work, an extension to Tekla Structures with a link to BuildSoft?s PowerConnect is implemented to enable connection analysis. Strength is determined in PowerConnect by the component method, according to Eurocode 3.The thesis includes a state of the art study of links between tools for analysis and design of steel connections, the planning and implementation of a link between Tekla Structures and PowerConnect, along with a description of the finished solution and how it works. Tekla?s Open API has been utilised using C# and XML in Microsoft Visual Studio 2012.At this stage the extension is limited to cover a bolted moment end plate connection between H- and I-profiled cross-sections. Support for other types of connections and cross-sections may be included in further work.