PSI - Issue 64

Iryna Rudenko et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 1216–1223 I. Rudenko and Y. Petryna / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000

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3. BIM-based FE model generation 3.1. Data transfer between BIM and FE software

The loss-free data transfer between BIM and FE software is essential to increase productivity and to avoid a cumbersome adjustment of the FE model. As stated by Sacks et al. (2018), there are different kinds of data transfer methods: using direct links and file-based. With the help of direct links, the data is transferred from one application directly to another. The two applications communicate via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and there are no additional files necessary. Many BIM and FE applications on the market already have direct links to each other, but there is no generally valid method for establishing FE models based on the BIM model, especially allowing the user to vary their complexity and element dimensionality or to include SHM relevant information. A file-based data transfer implies that there is a file to which the data from the BIM model is exported. Afterwards, this file is read by another application, like the FE software. For the file-based data transfer either proprietary or standard exchange formats can be used. Proprietary exchange formats are developed by a specific software company for its applications, such as the DXF and RVT formats defined by Autodesk. Standard exchange formats, like IFC, are based on an open data schema and vendor-neutral. 3.2. Industry Foundation Classes IFC is an internationally standardized data format for building information based on the EXPRESS language. It is an object-oriented data model. Therefore, the objects are grouped into classes, that may have attributes and relationships to other classes. Every object is specified as a semantic identity with one or more geometric representations. IFC offers various geometric representations, such as points, curves, triangulated surface descriptions (tessellation) as well as modeling 3D solids as boundary representation (Brep) or through an extrusion of a 2D profile. Depending on the required FE dimensionality (1D, 2D or 3D), different geometric representations of the same object can be useful. To ensure better flexibility in case of changes, the geometry of one object is not specified globally, but relative to the local coordinate system of another object. With the help of Model View Definitions (MVDs), IFC allows to transfer the building data related to the respective use case, see Borrmann et al. (2018). For instance, the Structural Analysis View includes the components relevant for structural analysis, such as physical models, loads, boundary conditions and materials. The Coordination View is very common and contains all the information required for architecture, structural engineering as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. However, it does not contain the information needed for structural analysis. The Reference View is used to merge the BIM models of individual domains without making geometric changes to the shared model. One of the applications for the Reference View is collision detection. On the other hand, the Design Transfer View allows geometric changes to the shared model. IFC schema specifications are being developed by the buildingSMART organization, see buildingSMART International Limited (2024a). 3.3. Related literature overview Romberg et al. (2004) proposed an approach to generate FE models using high order solid finite elements based on IFC model. The usage of the three-dimensional continuum approach of high order is an alternative to dimensionally reduced FE models. The geometry of IFC objects was described through boundary representation. The method introduced by Xu et al. (2019) also uses Brep representation of the IFC elements to generate FE models with solid finite elements and to save the analysis results to an IFC file as well as to visualize them within the BIM software. Zhou et al. (2021) developed a Revit-ANSYS model transformation interface. The geometry and material information, boundary conditions along with loads of the structural models in Revit were extracted through Revit API and an ANSYS APDL file was created. Boolean operation in ANSYS was used to bond the objects together. Jia et al. (2022) introduced an automatic generation method of FE models for ANSYS APDL based on IFC and ontology. An ontology reasoning knowledge system was established for the decision-making process of element types and meshing method.