CADD MicrosystemsJune 19th, 2015
There are several improvements and enhancements to existing features within Revit Structure 2015 that make upgrading a worthwhile endeavor.
New Capabilities and Features to Enable Precise Definition and Placement of Structural Framing Elements
It is now much easier to adjust how structural framing elements join to and align with other beams, columns, or structural walls. The default references that beam ends use to align to other elements can easily be changed using the “Change Reference” tool in the Structural Framing Contextual Tab.
The “Justification Points” tool allows for quick changes to the physical geometry of a framing element. Instead of the trial and error of adjusting parameter values in the Properties palette, you can now use the “Justifications Points” tool to select new justification directions right in the drawing area.
You can also make fine-tuned adjustments using the “y Offset” and “z Offset” tools, also bypassing the manual calculating of parameters in the Properties palette for on screen editing. You simply select a reference on the framing element then select where you would like that reference to be, and the entire process is completed right in the drawing area.
Reinforcement Numbering
Revit now automatically numbers reinforcement elements, rebar and fabric, facilitating the design, ordering, manufacture, and placement of cast-in-place concrete reinforcement.
The numbered reinforcement can be assigned to Partitions, and the rebar and fabric sheet numbers will match those of the same type, size, material, and shape. Partitioning for reinforcement identification serves a number of organizational purposes depending on how a building is designed or how it will be constructed. Any rebar, rebar set, or fabric sheet instance in a model can only be assigned to one Partition.
Reinforcement for Parts
Reinforcement can now be added to concrete Parts. Concrete Parts created from elements such as walls and floors possess rebar cover and can host rebar, rebar sets, area and path reinforcement, and fabric reinforcement. New parameters have been added that aid in distinguishing parts that can host rebar and whether or not rebar is hosted by a part or an original element. These new parameters are “Can host rebar” and “Host category”.
Being able to add reinforcement to Parts improves the deign-to-fabrication workflow.
Single Fabric Sheet Placement
Now you can place single instances of fabric sheets to precisely reinforce sections of concrete walls, floors or slab foundations. This feature gives you the flexibility to define reinforcement by means of a structural fabric sheet. While placing a single fabric sheet, you can manually set its position, change orientation (horizontal or vertical) and define a different lap splice for each element. You can move each individual sheet to compensate for collisions. Deselecting the parameter “Cut by Host Cover” allows a fabric sheet to extend outside of the host cover and edges. You can also define individual fabric sheets together with symbols and tags to simplify shop drawing creation.
This feature gives you greater flexibility in modeling and precise placement of reinforcement.
Presentation for Rebar Sets
Currently, documenting multiple rebar within a host can make for busy and confusing views within Revit. Now with the new Rebar Presentation tools it is easy to clean up cluttered reinforcement plans by only showing a representative subset of the modeled rebar. This allows for the creation of legible, more readable reinforcement documentation, and the ability to define different Rebar Presentation for a Rebar set in separate views gives more flexibility when conveying that graphic information.