The Next Generation of BIM for Reinforced Concrete Design

October 18, 2016 | Comments

Building information modeling (BIM) is on its way up. As it becomes more popular for design, it becomes necessary to develop ways to improve workflows for users. One such method is the BIM Designers series from GRAITEC, a collection of apps integrated with Revit for useful little features.

The company recently announced an update to this series. Among improvements to familiar tools such as the Steel Structure Designer and Stair and Railing Designer, users can look forward to all-new tool for concrete construction and steel connections.

BIM Design for Reinforced Concrete

The new Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers tool is a rebar detailing and modeling software designed to be the first in a series of “next-generation” tools that will redefine how BIM data is used. The software embodies the company’s ambition of “information-driven industry automation,” which aims to automate intelligent downstream processes by utilizing the BIM data more frequently.

Using this tool, users will be able to:

  • Utilize BIM data in rebar designs
  • Work with numerous international standards
  • Automate the design and creation of 3D rebar cages
  • Produce documentation such as design reports, drawings and schedules
  • Work either with the software alone or use it within Revit, Advance Design and GRAITEC OMD

Carl Spalding, product strategy director at GRAITEC,cited the example of “creating a 3D rebar cage designed to the regional codes and based on the actual FEM results or producing detailed design reports, views and drawings, all to local standards.” He went on to explain that because the Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers is multi-platform, users will be able to adopt the software at any stage of the design process. This should help bridge the workflow gap between structural engineers and technicians.

untitledThe Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers workflow. (Image courtesy of GRAITEC.)

It’s important to note that Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers is one of four applications contained within GRAITEC’s Advance BIM Designers. All of these tools are designed to streamline structural BIM workflows, automate traditional design and modeling processes as well as speed the production of technical documents.

Stairs and Railing Designer along with Steel Structure Designer are already available in the Advance BIM Designers Collection but have been enhanced in 2017 R2 based on user feedback. The Steel Connection Designer is new to the collection, as is the Reinforced Concrete BIM Designers.

img2The Advance BIM Designers series. (Image courtesy of GRAITEC.)

An Increasing Interest in BIM

GRAITEC has grown into a BIM and CAD software developer for the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industries.

This growth into an international presence falls right in line with the widely publicized rapid growth strategy of GRAITEC. The company’s growing interest in and utilization of 3D modeling and BIM has definitely added to its success, as has its strategic partnerships (including one with Autodesk in 2013), acquisitions, commitment to its client base and continual improvement of its software offerings such as the BIM Designers series.

Noting the client commitment and desire to continually improve its products, Spalding had this to say: “Some of the key features of the GRAITEC Advance 2017 R2 range of products sees the implementing of user wish list requests, supporting more international and regional standards and the introduction of new reinforcement BIM solutions to support the migration to BIM of the concrete sector.”

For more information, check out the Advance BIM Designers tools on the GRAITEC website.

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