StruBIM Steel

As StruBIM Steel is an Open BIM tool and connected to the BIMserver.center platform, it offers different workflow options.

• Modelling steel structures directly in StruBIM Steel
• Importing a steel structure designed in CYPE 3D
• Importing a steel structure designed in CYPECAD
• Importing models of steel structure in IFC format with IFC Uploader
• Importing structures developed in other tools via the StruBIM Uploader
• Importing structures from an XML file generated by ETABS®
• Importing structures from an XML file generated by SAP2000®

The StruBIM Steel working environment is similar to other CYPE modelling tools and features a system of dockable windows that can be customised to adapt the workspace to the project's needs.

At the top left of the screen, there are two separate tabs: "Model" and "Documents".

The modelling area is located on the right-hand side of the start screen and is where all elements of the project are entered, edited and visualised in 3D

The main toolbar contains different features depending on the "Model" or "Documents" tab. You can create project libraries, enter or edit elements, measure model elements, analyse connections, and also number and manage sheets.

The left-hand side contains the main tools for defining the project views, managing the view of the elements read, the tags and the elements themselves.

Types of steel for sections and plates

The steel required for manufacturing the sections and sheets of the project can be saved in the program's library by entering the reference, description, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, coefficient of thermal expansion, unit weight, yield strength and fracture limit. There is also the option of detailing the resistance criteria depending on the thickness of the material.

Types of steel for bolts

The steel required for characterising the bolts in the project can be saved in the program's library by entering the reference, description, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, coefficient of thermal expansion, unit weight, yield strength and fracture limit. There is also the option of detailing the materials of the nuts and washers.

Types of steel for anchors

The steel required for characterising the anchors of the project can be saved in the program's library after entering the reference, description, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, coefficient of thermal expansion, unit weight, yield strength and fracture limit. There is also the option of detailing the materials of the nuts and washers.

Types of concrete

The types of concrete used can also be saved in the program library. To do this, the reference, description, compressive strength, compressive strain in the concrete at maximum stress and the ultimate compressive strain of the concrete must be entered.

Entering sections

When entering a section, the different characteristics of the section are configured in the selection panel and will be available depending on the data stored in the previously created or loaded steel section library.

When entering a section, selecting the type, material and profile section and, in some cases, its layout, is necessary. To make modelling easier, the characteristics of the insertion point can also be set, selecting the alignment condition (left, centre, right, among others), and applying rotations and displacements.

Entering bolts

To enter a bolt, the material and geometric characteristics, nuts, locknuts and washers must be selected. It is also possible to define the place of execution, choosing between "On site" and "At workshop".

Entering anchors

To enter anchors, the material and geometric characteristics of the anchor must be selected, as well as the characteristics of the nuts and washers, if any. The place of execution can also be defined, choosing between "On site" and "At workshop".

Entering welds

To enter welds, users must select two or more elements to be welded and then draw a line indicating the position of the fillet weld. In the welding configuration window, the different characteristics of the weld are defined, selecting the geometric properties, type of material, type of surface area and type of graphic representation for each side. The place of execution can also be defined, choosing between "On site" and "At workshop".

Within the "Model" tab, users can enter a list of operations that are used sequentially to define the elements and geometry of the connection.

The entry order and the nomenclature used to identify each operation directly affect the way in which the connections are generated. During the modelling process, the program displays warnings about possible incompatibilities between modelled elements.

With this option, loads can also be imported for the rotational stiffness analysis. In addition to the loads, the elastic lengths of the bars of the structural model are also imported; these lengths are necessary for the correct classification of the connection. There are five options for importing load cases according to forces:

• Maximum moments, with simultaneous forces
  Imports the load cases with the largest moments "My" or "Mz", with a positive or negative sign, in addition to the other simultaneous forces.
• Maximum moments, without the other forces
  Only imports the "My" and "Mz" values from load cases with maximum moments.
• Maximum moments by plane, with simultaneous forces
  Imports load cases with maximum moments and their simultaneous forces per plane i.e. creates load cases with forces per plane (XY and XZ).
• All
  Imports all load cases.
• None
  No load cases are imported.

For Eurocodes and similar standards, the program will request the overstrength coefficient of the material, 𝛾ov, which amplifies both the yield strength and the ultimate strength of the dissipative elements. For American standards such as AISC360, NSR10, NTC-2023, among others, and other similar standards, the program will include in the material library the specific overstrength factors for each type of steel, Ry and Rt.

In the "Sheets" tab, there are several tools that allow detailed sheets of the connections to be obtained from the data previously entered in the modelling phase.

Scenes and views. To prepare the sheets, views of the connection model (elevation, floor plan, profile, 3D view, etc.) can be entered at the desired scale. The program allows both predefined views and user-created views to be entered.

Scene drawing modes. In each scene, users can select the type of image they want to add.

• Normal image, where the elements are coloured.
• Hybrid image, where the elements are coloured and the edges are vectorised.
• Monochrome image.
• Vector image, where the elements are not filled with colour and the lines are vectorised.

Sheet composition. Once the connections have been detailed, the composition process can begin, in which it is possible to create one or more sheets with the contents of the detailing of the connections. The "Link" tool allows a reference of the content of one sheet to be inserted into another, although the "Sheet composition" option generates a mosaic with the selected sheets.

Linking with the connection model
The content of the sheets is linked to the model of the connection, i.e. the scenes and views that have been defined, as well as the element tags that have been entered, will be automatically updated if changes are made to the model of the connection. If the connection is exported to the "Connection library", the sheets will also be exported and can be reused in future projects.

A group of nodes will be assigned the same connection. The connection assigned to a group of nodes will read from the BIM project the bar forces of all the nodes in that group. The combination filter obtained from "Generate from BIM model" is carried out by adding up the combinations of all the nodes.

The options available to generate these groups are as follows:

• Group
  Allows matching nodes to be grouped together. When a node is selected, all those that match are highlighted in yellow.
• Ungroup
  Allows previously grouped nodes to be ungrouped.
• Generate
  Generates nodes and automatically groups matching nodes.

StruBIM Steel can be used to search for connections. To do this, when running the tool, a panel is displayed where the reference of the connection to be located can be entered. All connections that fully or partially match the text entered will be highlighted, depending on whether or not the "Only whole word" option is enabled.

If these conditions are met, via the tools in the "Analysis" group of the main toolbar, users can carry out the following:

Analyse all the connections

The program will start an analysis of all the modelled connections of the structure and will issue a final report with the analysis results.

Analyse the selected connections

After selecting one or more connections, the program will start the analysis process of the selected connections. This process is ideal for quickly checking connections that have been modified.

The visibility of the different elements needed to model the project can be carried out via four panels on the right-hand side of the program's main interface:

• Views
• Elements read
• Tags
• Own elements

Managing views

Like the other CYPE 3D modelling programs, StruBIM Steel allows different views to be created to make the navigation and modelling process of the structure easier. The following types of views can be created:

The various models that make up an Open BIM project developed on the BIMserver.center platform can also be imported into StruBIM Steel so that they can be viewed and used as a reference for modelling the structure itself.

Visibility management options allow the following:

• Activating or deactivating elements;
• Changing the visualisation mode of the elements by selecting between "Normal View", "Transparent View" or "Wired View";
• Locking elements so that they cannot be snapped or selected.

Managing the visibility of these models can be carried out in two ways:

• With the "Models" filter, which is applied to the different imported models: architectural model, terrain model, concrete structure, etc.
• With the "Categories" filter, which is applied to the different categories found in the imported models, following the classification of the IFC scheme.

Tags can be created to group the different parts of the model. For each tag created the following can be carried out:

• Defining a reference;
• Defining a colour for 3D representation;
• Activating or deactivating the transparent view;
• Activating or deactivating the visibility;
• Activating or deactivating snapping.

Managing own elements

The visibility and snapping of elements modelled in StruBIM Steel can be controlled from the "Own Elements" menu in the left-hand sidebar of the application.

Sheets generated in StruBIM Steel via the options contained in the “Structural steel detailing drawings” module can be exported in DWG, DXF or PDF format.

EM.11 is an MVD (Model View Definition) specification of the IFC format containing information for automated steel fabrication. StruBIM Steel exports using this format for sections, plates, welds, bolts and screws.

The export to IFC EM. 11 works as a StruBIM Steel module. In order to be used, this module must be included in the StruBIM Steel software license.

Many of CYPE's programs are connected to the BIMserver.center platform and allow collaborative work to be carried out via the exchange of files in formats based on open standards.

Please note that, to work on BIMserver.center, users can register on the platform free of charge and create a profile.

When accessing a program connected to the platform, the program connects to a project in BIMserver.center. This way, the files of the projects that have been developed collaboratively in BIMserver.center are kept up to date.

Importing and updating BIM models

The "Update" button can be used to update the information contained in the models previously imported into the project or to import new models if desired.

The import of models is carried out according to the defined configuration, and users can choose how new, modified and deleted elements of the BIM model are shared.

Exporting the BIM model to share it with other users

Using the "Share" button, the information contained in the model developed with StruBIM Steel can be exported to BIMserver.center.

During the export process, users can define information related to the identification of the files to be exported, the location of the local copies that are automatically generated and the types of files that are generated.

Users can share the sheets, and the quantities reports and connection checks.

If the "Sheets" tab is activated, the selected sheets will be exported in PDF or DXF/DWG format. Users can also export all sheets as a single file or each sheet as a single file.

If the "Reports" tab is activated, the connection check report and the quantities report can also be exported.