Structural Software linked to REVIT

[kbbandw]

Hi,

We are evaluating various softwares for use within BIM environment using Revit Structure and will greatly appreciate any input from you. We provide structural engineering services in commercial building designs and work primarily for Architectural clients.

We are looking at following possibilities:

1) RAM Structural System (Bentley products)
2) RISA Floor and RISA 3D (RISA Tech products)
3) ETABS and SAFE (CSI Products)
4) Robot Structural Professional (AutoDesk)


Can these softwares design pile caps (deep foundations) for defined configuration of piles? What about concrete floors such as pan joist system?

Bidirectional linkage with Revit is very important and I believe all of the above have these linkage capabilities. However, I don’t have direct experience and am relying on advertised claims made by individual software vendors regarding these linkages. Is there any data loss or other concerns with respect to linkages of these with Revit?

The overall question is which one of these software does the best job for mixed material (primarily steel, concrete and masonry) office/commercial building designs?

Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Thanks!

 

[strguy11]

We have the RAM structural sytem, as well as Ram Advanse, which is a general finite element analysis program.

We have used it with Revit on a very limited basis, and to answer your specific questions, yes, RAM foundation module will design pile caps. We have not seen any data loss, however, we do a lot of steel joist and joist girder buidings, and REVIT does not handle them well, espcially joist girders. RAM Advanse has a some special design modules, which include masonry design, however, noting in Ram Advanse is revit compatible, or linkable.

We are also finding that the RAM SS is kind of limited, espcially in the lateral design aspects. Specifically, we have noticed that the RAM generated wind loads at floors are incorrect when you have a floor that only extends partially across a buiding floor, say like at a mezzanine or something. You have to add user forces for proper load distribution. Other than this, the only other things we have compliants about is the RAM foundation module, in how it does combined and wall footings. Other than that we are pretty happy with RAM SS. We are now looking at one license of another software package that would be a bit more robust. We have looked at a program called FASTTRACK by CSC, and are pretty impressed. It is basiclly the standard program in the UK, and now they are trying the US market. If we get another software package, it will be this or RISA.

I think it depend on the type of projects you do. If most all say like spec office buidings than RAM SS is perfect for them.

 

[kbbandw]

Thanks Strguy11 for your comments. I agree with you regarding RAM SS since I have used in at my previous work place. We had a FASTRACK sales person present this software to us and we were impressed too. The only concerns we found with FASTRACK is that it would not perform concrete design (nor foundations). So if you had a building with concrete lower floors and steel upper then you would need to use two seperate programs. RISA 3D is a general purpose FEM program that can be used for stick frames to shells but it would be a pain to model a composite steel deck and beam type floor in RISA you would need RISA Floor for that. RISA floor links with RISA 3D and RISA foundations. The only issue is RISA foundations will not design pile caps for you if you have a deep foundation system. I am yet to evaluate ETABS and SAFE.