15.1                 Exportation and Graphical Representation of Arrays in Microsoft Excel

The array exportation utility automatically creates a Microsoft Excel workbook with data generated by ANSYS and CivilFEM that can be used to further process the data as well as to organize the data for improved comprehension and interpretation.

The workbook includes two sheets:

·         In the CivilFEM Data sheet, exported arrays are stored in columns. The header of each vector is the name utilized in ANSYS.

·         In the CivilFEM Graphic sheet, arrays are represented in an Excel XY graphic according to options selected by the user.

Numerical arrays of any length can be exported and may be created with any ANSYS or CivilFEM command. This workbook is attained by applying the ~VWXLS command.

This utility is compatible with Excel 97, Excel 2000 and Excel XP versions.

 

15.2                 Export Arrays to HTML or ASCII

As with an EXCEL worksheet, arrays can be exported to create an HTML or ASCII plane text document with a table composed of the selected arrays.

The table header will include the name of the arrays.

Numerical arrays of any length can be exported and may be created with any ANSYS or CivilFEM command. The ~VWHTML command is used to generate the HTML document and the ~VWTXT command is used for the ASCII plain text document.

The HTML code generated is standard HTML 4.0.

 

15.3                 Import from Revit

Definition: Through Revit, this utility generates macros in APDL to import steel structure models from Revit into CivilFEM. 

Using the Application Programming Interface (API) within Revit Structure, the user can obtain properties from the Revit models; these properties include the analytical geometry (position of the nodes and elements) as well as the section and material properties.

15.3.1 Sections

Revit contains a catalogue of steel sections that can be used throughout the program.  Sections created in CivilFEM are created by type and dimensions.

The program considers the family names of sections utilized in Spain, France and the United States.

The element type used is Beam 188.

 

15.3.2 Steel

The program imports the steel with the discretization of the yield strength.  This value should not differ more than 5% with the steel defined in CivilFEM when compared to the same type of steel, European or American.

 

15.3.4 Exportation

The exportation of the model can be performed through the Revit Structure graphical interface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following window will appear:

 

 

1.    Select the File Path: The file path which contains the Revit Project will appear in the window.  If the project has not been saved, the file path of the Revit Structure 2010 Program will appear.  The user may edit this window to select the appropriate path.   The file .mac will have the same name as the project.

 

2.    Select the Units: Using the options provided, select the length and force units of the CivilFEM model. Default units will be those utilized in the Revit model.

 

3.    Select the Code: The user may choose structural codes to check and design within CivilFEM.  Eurocodes will be the default codes.

 

4.    Select Steel Type: The user can also choose the type of steel used within CivilFEM; by default, ASTM steel will be used.