Getting Started with Revit Structure

Example of the model built in this tutorial

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll create a simple structural plan using the structural modeling tools available in Revit structure. For general information on working with Revit and to get started with Revit Architecture, please refer to Getting Started with Revit Architecture.

Setting up a new Structural project

In this first exercise you create and name a project in which you will create the concrete structure.

• Click the application Button. Choose New, then click project
• 
  Under template file, make sure the default metric, DefaultMetric.Rte is selected from the RST 2011 folder.
• Make sure Create New project is selected.
• Click OK

Youll now have a standard project with standard views and an extra 3d view with analytical properties. If you double click on the 3d view 'View 1 – analytical' you won't see anything yet, but this will be the view that gives you analytical information regarding your project.

Adding grid lines

Horizontal Grid lines for this project

In this exercise, we place a few extra grid lines next to the ones already in the project.

• Go into the plan view 'Level 1'
• In the Ribbon, on the Home Tab, click grid.
• Create 5 grid lines with 2 meter spacing. See the example at the right. A grid is used as a basis for your entire project. Grid lines are really planes that run perpendicular to your view. They only visible in views that are perpendicular to the grid planes.

Now repeat this process for the vertical grid lines. When you create the first vertical grid lines, it will be numbered as well (number 6). It is customary to use letters for the vertical grid lines:

• To rename the first vertical grid line, double click on the circle tag around the number of the grid line.
• Change 6 into A, renaming this grid line.
• Now create the other grid lines. Revit will automatically continue the new naming scheme, naming them B, C and so forth.

Adding levels

To add levels, you will do the same as you learned in the Revit Architecture tutorial. Create 2 extra levels in the North view by adding level 3 & level 4 each of which is 3 meters higher than the previous level.

Setting up a Structure

When you've set up you project with a grid and levels, you can start to create your structural model.

Adding Structural Columns

In this exercise you load existing column types from the Revit structure library change the dimensions and create custom column sizes. You then place the columns at specific grid intersections.

Columns on the Grid

• In the project browser, double-click level 1
• In the home ribbon tab click the pull-down for Column and select Structural column.
• Now for the type of column select the Concrete-Regular-Column of 300 x 450mm
• Place this column on A1. Making sure that the grid lines are purple when placing. This makes sure the column is in the center of the two grid lines.

Create a new column size

• Select the column we created earlier.
• Click Edit Type
• In the type properties dialog, click Duplicate. Rename to '400 x 400mm'
• Under dimensions enter 400 for b and 400 for h. Both are in millimeters.
• Click OK.

Place the new column

• This new column will be selected when going back to the plan view.
• Place this column at each of the gird locations shown at the right (above)

Making sure the columns have the proper height

• Go to your 3d view and select all structural columns.
• In the properties panel, set the top level to level 4.
• Click apply.

Creating a Beam System

In this exercise, you'll frame level 1 by adding horizontal beams

Sketch of our Beam System

Adding beams to level 1:

• In the Home tab, click the Beam System button
• Draw a Beam System. Use the example at the right.
• Click accept to have Revit generate the Beam System.

Notice that Revit creates a certain amount of evenly spaced beams beams. To change the number of beams (and spacing), change the value for Fixed Spacing in the properties panel:

Using the same beam system for every floor: To maintain the same beam system for every floor we could copy paste the floor. However if we ever wanted to change the floor we would have to change all floors again. Well be making groups instead, which is more efficient.

• Select the beam system.
• In the Modify Tab, Create Panel, click (Create Group).

Now you can copy this group to other places. Whenever you change something within the group, all other instances of the group change as well. Quite handy when making multistory buildings.

• Name the group 'Framing'.
• Tick the 'open in group editor' box and click OK.
• You are now in the group editor box. This is your 'playground' when editing groups. Exit the group editor by clicking the finish button in the top left corner.
• Go to the North elevation view. Copy the framing group to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th level.

Beam System Layout of our project

When you go to the 3D View, you can check your structural framing in 3D. It should be a sound structural system, however it still needs framing on the sides to support our beam system. To accomplish this:

• Select the beam system group.
• In the Modify Tab, Group Panel, click (Edit Group).
• Now add a beam, which can be clicked under Structure.
• Use the example at the right
• Click the finish button and voila: the entire building has changed.

Adding Slabs

In this exercise, you add concrete slabs to the project.

Example of the slabs added to our project

• Open your group editor for the floors.
• On the Home tab, click Slab
• Now make a floor for your building, keeping in mind you will have to atleast cover the framing.
• Now because the slab lies on TOP of the framing we will have to give the slab an offset of 200 mm
• Click the slab and go into the properties window: 'height offset from level' should be 200mm.
• After that click finish once again.

However there is one problem with our slabs, illustrated by the following image:

The current Beam System doesn't support the entire area of our slabs. The next task will be to make the beam system fit the floor.

Making the Beam System fit the Slabs

In this exercise we will make our beam system fit our structural floor.

Beam System fits Slabs after modification

• Go into the group editor of the Framing group once again.
• If you cannot see your beam system, rotate until it comes into view.
• Select the beam system.
• Click edit boundary.
• To make the beam system the same as the floor, delete all lines corresponding to the beam system
• Click the (pick lines) drawing tool.
• Click all the lines of the perimeter of your floor.