Autodesk Project Storm

Project Storm for Autodesk Revit Structure is a technology preview that provides cloud-based structural analysis to structural engineers as a part of the BIM process. Project Storm enables structural engineers and designers to:

• Perform static analysis from the cloud so as not to disrupt their workflow or hinder performance.
• Simultaneously perform static analysis for various buildings models or parts of a project.
• Calculate different variants of the same model for example using differing materials, at the same time.

Structural engineers and designers must perform calculations as a necessary part of the design process for any building structures project. Project Storm makes structural analysis more accessible allowing analysis to be performed from anywhere at any time by accessing computers in the cloud. Being able to perform analysis during the design process helps to streamline the Structural Engineers workflow.

Please note that you will need to install the latest service pack UR1 from Autodesk prior to installing Project Storm. See Link Below.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=16840966

Once Project Storm is installed you will see the following additions to the Analysis ribbon within Revit Structure.

Simply submit your analysis and you will then be notified of results via a notification bubble. Click the Results button to show other results as desired.

Autodesk Project Storm can be downloaded from the following location.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_storm/

LawrenceH

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Revit Structure 2012 Command and Shortcut List

During training sessions I am often asked by delegates if there is a list of shortcuts available for Revit Structure. I have now put together a list of commands, Icons and shortcuts that I am making available to you as a PDF download, click the blue link to download (you lucky lot!!). It is a really useful document to assist you when working with Revit Structure or simply as a learning aid. I have included 394 commands from Revit Structure but not included the Ribbon mode commands.

Revit Structure 2012 Commands and Shortcuts (777Kb)

Creating Structural Opening families for Walls

After a number of requests I have put together a quick tutorial on creating structural openings in walls using  customised door and window families. YouTube link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CC-bFFL8-M

 In many of the Revit Structure training manuals, a structural opening is often placed using the Wall Opening tool on the Home-Opening Panel as shown below.

This will produce an opening but will not automatically detail this in an elevation and section view with a symbolic opening symbol. I also find this type of opening a little difficult to control within the model once it is placed. An alternative to this method is to create wall openings using Doors and Windows. These tools are found on the Architect and Site Ribbon as shown below.

The door and window tools will create a basic structural openings through a wall and create the symbolic details required. Doors and Windows can be placed in plan views or sections and elevations if required. I often find a window opening very useful for creating high level openings for services by using the sill height tool in the properties window.

The main disadvantage with Door and Window openings is that the Width and Height parameters are Type driven which means that you will need to create a duplicate type for each new size which can get rather time consuming.

An alternative to this is to convert the type parameters to instance parameters within the family file. This will then create a nice and easy tool for structural Wall openings. See the youTube tutorial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CC-bFFL8-M

Hope this helps,

 LawrenceH

Service Openings through Beams

In a post a few months back I outlined a quicker way of producing openings in beams using a customised framing family within Revit Structure 2011. see link https://revitstructureblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/openings-through-beams-in-revit-structure/

Link you YouTube Tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKtlUd0WpnU

I was asked the same question again last week and thought I would revisit the problem using some of the new Revit Structure 2012 features. I created a new line based family and made a void sweep with three instance parameters for the Length, Width and fillet Radius and then set the steelwork to ‘cut with voids when loaded’. This worked a treat and is a much quicker, more controllable way of creating openings in steelwork.

If any of you would like a YouTube video tutorial on how to create this family then let me know!

LawrenceH