Analyzing for gravity loads and integration of lateral load design forces into BDS platform AEC|BOLT Building Design Suite is achieved by exporting the mathematical model of the building to the well-accepted finite element analysis software ETABS.
Obtaining analysis results from ETABS for the building model created in BDS need AEC|BOLT AUTOCAD APP needs satisfying the steps below:
Adding AEC|BOLT ETABS Plugin
Connecting to Building Platform AEC|BOLT BIM Cloud Library to “Pull” the model into ETABS
Analyzing the model in ETABS
Connecting to Building Platform AEC|BOLT BIM Cloud Library to “Push” the model into BDS
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Getting prepared for the ETABS from the AUTOCAD environment:
Generating mathematical model from the AUTOCAD drawings requires the following steps in the order of:
Generating wall segments (see Wall Segment Definitions )
Activating AEC|BOLT Global FE Model and (see Global FE Model)
Generating grid mesh (see Global FE Model)
Connecting to AEC|BOLT BIM Cloud Library from ETABS environment:
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Figure 1
→ Go to Tools then click AEC | BOLT link to connect the Building Design Suite Library as shown in Figure 1.
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A pop up window of AEC|BOLT Building Design Suite BIM platform will open.
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Figure 3
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The finite model generated by AEC | BOLT Building Design Suite will be transferred to etabs for analysis. You can easily re-generate the finite model if the generated model is not accurate for analysis (for example if not updated after the changes in 3D model). See Global FE Model page.
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Figure 6
→ Click Pull to transfer the model to etabs.
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