Modelling

In this example we will draw and model 7 story building using all features of Building Design Suite. Materials to be used are 4000 psi concrete and ASTM A615 Gr60 steel for reinforcement. Floor elevations and other properties such as thickness of slab are given in the drawings.

Load Classes

Load classifications are added from load classes section as shown below. Add 2 load classes.

Go to Load Classes → Add
Choose first load class as SDL and name it
Choose second load class as L and name it

Self Weight class is being created automatically at the start of project.

Loads

Load properties based on loading schedule are added from Loads section as shown below. Add 4 loadings. SDL is 20 psf LL is 40 psf for residential areas, SDL is 35 psf LL is 60 psf for terrace, LL is 100 psf for public escape areas but will be loaded as sum of 40 psf LL + 60 psf LL.

Go to Loads section → Click “add”
Select load class and type
Enter value of load
Name loads

Load Combinations

Design forces are determined by load combinations. We will use 1.4D +1.4 SDL and 1.2D+1.2SDL+1.6LL combinations. Add load combinations as shown below.

Go to Load Combinations → Add
Enter load factors to load classes
Name load combinations

Drawing Files

Upload reference drawings as shown below.

Go to Drawing Files → Upload Drawing
Select reference “.dwg” files and click OK

All necessary datas have been defined to start modelling. We will start drawing.

Stories

Create stories to draw as shown below. We have 7 stories + 1 roof +1 upper roof so we will create 9 stories to be modelled.

Go to Stories → Add
Enter number of Stories

Enter elevation of each story
Assign drawing files to the stories
Select default materials for slab, column and slab rebar

We will start modelling from top to bottom.

Modelling Of Upper Roof

Go to Roof → Overlay
Select Xref drawing as Roof Linked Drawing
Click OK

Reference drawing must be as shown below.

Zoom in and start drawing. Since upper roof drawing is the top floor plan there in no column or shear wall above. We will draw slab and beam objects.

Drawing Slab

Click + next to Roof item on tree view
Go to Slab → Slab Edge Button

Start to draw slab

You can view slab edge drawing by right clicking on spreadsheet and selecting in AutoCAD as shown below.

Enter the properties of slab such as thickness or clear cover.

You can edit material from clicking relevant cell above if you imported more concrete material.

Since there is no association between slabs you should draw them all by using slab edge command. So just hit space to repeat last command which is slab edge and draw. Enter slab edge properties as shown above.

Click update button to update changes on 3D view and cloud

If you do not see thickness of slab on 3D view;

Go to Project Settings
Detailed Render → Select true
Update the project

Beam object causes error so could not be modelled. Shearwall opening is modelled instead.

If reference drawings are floor plans which means it shows columns/shear walls above, you must overlay the drawing of one lower floor to draw columns and shear wall which are carrying the slab.

To draw shearwalls and columns below;

Go to Roof → Overlay
Select Xref drawing of 8th Floor linked drawing
Unselect Roof linked drawing
Click OK

Now you see the shear walls and columns below.

Drawing Shearwalls

Go to Roof → Shear Walls

Click Shear Wall to start drawing

You can select shearwall drawing by right clicking on spreadsheet and selecting in AutoCAD.

You must draw analytical wall to shear wall for finite element analysis calculations and for exporting floor models to SAFE correctly.

Spreadsheet Data → Analytical Walls

Click Analytical wall to draw.

You must draw a straight line from mid point of one edge to mid point of other edge of shear wall. If shearwall is not straight you must draw analytical walls for each directions of shear parts.

Corner intersection of two analytical walls linked to one shear wall must be as shown below.

Edit analytical wall properties such as thickness from spreadsheet as shown below.

If an analytical wall intersects another from middle, create break point on intersection point as shown below.

Go to interrupted analytical wall on spreadsheet
Click No Break Pts

Draw line starting from start point of analytical wall to intersection point

Continue drawing to end point of analytical wall
Hit ESC

You can edit thickness or refline offset of analytical wall parts interrupted by break points with different values by entering “,” between values as shown above.

We will create an opening on shearwall as shown below.