Various industry sectors have moved from a two dimensional (2D) format to intelligent 3D models to allow the resulting information to be presented on drawings and reports in a coordinated form, ensuring information is correct displayed on all plans, elevation and sectional drawings together with model reports and everything is intrinsically to scale.

In recent years, adopting the latest technologies, 3D product model technology has developed into BIM solutions where all the building objects (beams, columns etc), can be defined in the model including, the structural, architectural and services information either as physical objects or reference models.

Structural BIM 

One of the most important areas for structural engineers and their immediate supply chain is the Structural BIM. This multi-material (steel, concrete, timber, masonry etc) subset can include the physical and Analysis & Design (A&D) information, and can be used for all drawing and report production.

Structural BIM is the part of the BIM process where the majority of multi-material structural information is created and refined. Architect's models are not included in the scope of structural BIM, as these are not based on the same concept as this model. Architects work with space, mass, texture and shapes; they do not work with building objects in the same way as defined in the structural BIM.

However, the connection between the architect's models and structural BIM is a very obvious way to help in the future development of intelligent integration and these should be always available in the form of reference models in the same way that the XREF function is used in a 2D drawing. These reference models could also be 2D information for collaboration with non-BIM applications.

The model starts to evolve during the engineering stage, where conceptual decisions of the structural forms are made. It sometime is thought that the design portion of A&D is just the pure physical sizing of the structural elements. However, it is more than that as it should also include the engineering and the value engineering of the project, including all materials, their relationships and their reference to the architectural objects, together with possible links to other design systems using .NET technology.

.NET flexibility

In its basic form, .NET is a flexible programming platform for connecting information; people; systems and devices together using a modern programming environment and tools based upon the Microsoft Visual Studio.NET developments.

There are over thirty programming languages that are .NET enabled which allow true object information to be seamless transferred between systems. So for example element information and geometry can be passed from modelling applications to any other .NET enabled system, this could be A&D systems, Management Information Systems, cost control or just used for internal bespoke company development.
 
An example that has been already completed is Ficep, an international steelwork fabrication machinery manufacturer, has developed a scribing interface through the Steel Projects WinSteel application. This interface marks the fitting positions and reference information (mark, angle of inclination, amount weld etc), onto the actual structural steelwork member using a special milling head on their latest CNC controlled saw and drill machines from information obtained from the BIM objects. This saves all the laborious workshop marking out time, just in the same way that the outline of a stamp is placed on envelopes to indicated its intended position. Also many of our internal developments are now created using this technology.

Iconic projects

Many iconic projects have been completed, both in the UK and globally adopting the Tekla Structures application. However, the software can be used for planning and design development through to manufacture and construction resulting in an 'as-built' model of the building. One such project is the Wembley stadium which is the largest football stadium in the world with a seating capacity of 90,000, with every seat under cover.

The physical model for the approximate 23,000 tonne project was split into four main categories being the Arch; Bowl; Parametric Perimeter Truss (PPT) and Roof, which were subsequently split into 160 phase models before being brought back again to a single model at the end of the project. The main grid had approximately 2,500 intersection points accurately calculated to eight decimal places of a millimetre. The 3D coordinates of which where then distributed to other contractors for their setting out purposes.

The fully welded arch weighs 1,700 tonnes, having 41 steel diaphragms generally being 7.4 metres in diameter and with a span of 315 metres. The arch supports the whole of the north roof and 60% of the south roof and is the longest single span roof structure in the world.

The bowl consists of 15,000 tonnes of structural steelwork and no vertical supports were allowed over the main terracing to allow unobstructed views for the spectators. The PPT acts as the main diaphragm at the top of the bowl and weighs 1,400 tonnes and is used to transfer the loads from the roof and arch into the bowl structure.

The north roof is tied to the arch with cables and the east, south and west roofs have retractable edge panels to allow sunlight to shine onto the pitch. The total roof structure weighs 4,500 tonnes, covers 50,000m2 and two forms of the roof had to be produced to model in the dead loading and member preset positions. The roof was erected onto 6,000 tonnes of temporary towers which were removed when the supporting tensile loads were applied to the arch cables.

After the modelling, drawing, report and CNC production, which was all completed by Oakwood Engineering Limited, Tekla Structures was used as an analysis tool, examining different stages of the project utilizing data imported from Excel and then visually indicating the progress of different activities.

This functionality is now also available in the Tekla Structures Project Manager configuration, and specialist versions of the software also available for structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, precast concrete detailers and manufacturers, as well as contractors.

Developments at Tekla

The Tekla Corporation has recently launcheD its annual main version of Tekla Structures the Building Information Modelling (BIM) application.

Tekla Structures is a 3D multi-material BIM software tool, that streamlines the construction design and delivery process from the planning stage to design and manufacturing, providing a collaborative solution for the steelwork; engineering; precast concrete and constructor segments.

This application is used by thousands of users in the UK and in over 80 countries and this version concentrates on improving existing functionality of the software, so users can concentrate on their business needs rather than spending time mastering their software tool.

The aim of the latest release is to make the application easier to learn and use than ever before, including for example, an automatic user feedback mechanism and enhanced and more informative on-screen tooltips. Modelling tools as well as ready-for-use structural components have been added and improved, and program output, such as drawings and reports, have been enhanced and further customized. 

Also to better serve customers and to increase efficiency in releasing quality versions of Tekla Structures, Tekla has also decided to streamline our release policy. Starting with this version, Tekla will move from releasing three versions to releasing two versions per year: one main and one intermediate release of the software.

Tekla Structures has also just received the IFC 2X3 certification, which means that Tekla is able to produce high-quality interfaces with other important industry software, including architectural and engineering models. Tekla Structures is also based upon .NET technology allowing third-party development with other software solutions.