Introduction

Getting Started

Send Model to midas Gen

Update Model from midas Gen

Applicable data for midas Link for Revit Structure

What is Updated from midas Gen to Revit Structure

Usage Note

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Midas Gen Technical Paper

Midas Link for Revit Structure

Table of Contents

midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Introduction

Using Midas Link for Revit Structure, direct data transfer between midas Gen and Revit Structure is available

for Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow. Midas Link for Revit Structure enables us to directly transfer a

Revit model data to midas Gen, and delivery back to the Revit model file. It is provided as an Add-In module in

Revit Structure and midas Gen text file (*.mgt) is used for the roundtrip.

Midas Link for Revit Structure supports the following workflows:

(1) Send the Revit Structure analytical model to midas Gen.

(2) Import the MGT file of the Revit model in midas Gen.

(3) Export the midas model file to the MGT file.

(4) Update the Revit Structure model from midas Gen

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Getting Started

The following exercise leads you through a sample scenario providing detailed instructions for each step in the

process.

Step 2: Send Model to midas Gen

1. Click Tools menu > External Tools > Send Model to midas Gen

2. Click OK to send the project using the default.

The following table shows the Revit components that are sent to midas Gen.

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Step 1: Prepare a Model

1. Using the structural template, build a simple structure that has

4 beams, 4 columns, 4 boundary conditions, 1 Hosted Point

Load, and 1 Hosted Line Load, as shown.

2. Create a load combination; create a load combination usage

called MIDAS_STEEL; set the load combination to this usage.

3. Check for inconsistency by clicking Tools menu > Analytical

Model > Analytical / Physical Model Consistency Checks.

Make any adjustments if necessary.

Revit Structure Midas Gen

Linear

Element

s

Structural Column

Beam

Brace

Curved Beam ELEMENT (BEAM)

Beam System

Truss

Planar

Element

s

Foundation Slab

Structural Floor

Structural Wall

Wall Opening & Window ELEMENT (PLATE)

Door

Vertical or Shaft Opening

Boundary

Offset OFFSET

Rigid Link ELASTICLINK

Cross-Section Rotation ELEMENT (ANGLE)

End Release FRAME-RLS

Isolated Foundation Support CONSTRAINT, SPRING

Point Boundary Condition CONSTRAINT, SPRING

Line Boundary Condition CONSTRAINT, SPRING

Wall Foundation CONSTRAINT, SPRING

Area Boundary Condition CONSTRAINT, SPRING

Load

Load Nature STLDCASE

Load Case STLDCASE

Load Combination LOADCOMB

Hosted Point Load CONLOAD

Hosted Line Load LINELOAD, PRESSURE

Hosted Area Load PRESSURE

Other

Parameters

Material MATERIAL

Level STORY

midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Step 3: Analyze and Revise Model in midas Gen

1. Start a new project in midas Gen, and import the MGT file of the Revit model. Note any warnings and

errors in the message window.

2. Import the MGT file again, it should import without error and display the structure.

3. Perform a structural analysis in order to be sure that the model is complete.

4. Add a horizontal brace to the model in section 1.

5. Reduce the size of the columns from W10x49 (section 8) to W10x33 (section 9).

6. Export the model using the same name as the imported MGT file.

Step 4: Update Model from midas Gen

1. In Revit Structure, click Tools menu > External Tools > Update Model from midas Gen

2. Verify that the paths in the dialog point to the right files, and click Update. The summary should report 1

added element and 4 section changes, and the structure should now look like the following illustration.

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Send Model to midas Gen

1. In order to send the Revit Structure analytical model to midas Gen, click Add Ins > External Tools >

Send Model to MIDAS/Gen.

2. Click the first Browse button to select a path for the Revit model file. The paths for the MIDAS model

and the log file will default to the same name. If necessary, modify these paths by clicking the

corresponding Browse buttons.

3. Select the units for length and force to be used in midas Gen.

(2)

►Mesh size for

slab and walls

can be adjusted.

► Part of a model

can be imported to

(3) midas Gen.

(4)

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(5)

(6)

midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

4. Section DB File

Section mapping is provided based on [Auto-Search] and [User-defined] mapping rule.

Auto-Search

The program automatically detects identical section name between Revit and midas Gen DB

sections. Auto-search rule can be specified in the dialog box as shown in the figure below.

Revit Type Name: Element type name used in Revit Structure

Gen Code Name: Section DB code which will be used in midas Gen

Section Shape: Section shape name which will be used in midas Gen

Gen Section Name: Section name in the specified section DB code

User-defined

Section transfer list from Revit Structure to midas Gen is displayed in the table format. Click [Add]

or [Modify] button to specify section shapes and size exported to midas Gen.

(4-1)

Mapping Method: It is specified in Define Section Mapping dialog box between NAME and PARAMETER.

Name : Section mapping data is entered using DB section name.

Parameter : Section mapping data is entered using section parameters (ex. bf, d, tf, tw, etc.).

Revit Family Name: Family Name used in Revit Structure

Shape

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Code

Section

Name

midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

4-1. Add/Modify Section Mapping

DB Type Section

Section mapping data is entered using DB section name.

User Type Section

Section mapping data is entered using section parameters between Revit and midas Gen.

5. Material DB File

Material transfer list from Revit Structure to midas Gen is displayed in the table format. Click [Add] or

[Modify] button to specify section shapes and size exported to midas Gen.

Category: Material type used in Revit Structure. Steel and concrete type are applicable.

Revit Material Name: Material name used in Revit Structure

Gen Standard: Material standard which will be used in midas Gen

Gen DB Name: Material DB name which will be used in midas Gen

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

6. Click Send to start writing the MIDAS model.

When the writing is complete, a summary will be presented in a dialog. If an unidentified section exists in

a Revit model, the following dialog box is displayed. Click select the row marked in the table and click

[Define Section Mapping] to specify the section shape and size imported in midas Gen. If Archive new

mapping rule option is checked on, the setting will be saved in SectionMap.smap(c:\Program

Files\MIDASIT\Midas Link for Revit Structure 2014\ GenSectionDB \SectionMap.smap) so that the user

do not need to specify them again.

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Update Model from midas Gen

1. In order to update the Revit Structure model from midas Gen, click Add Ins > External Tools >

Update Model from MIDAS/Gen.

2. A dialog will pop up. If "Send Model to MIDAS/Gen" has been used during this session, the paths

for the files are automatically set to be the same. If necessary, click Browse to change them.

3. Click Update to start updating the model.

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Applicable data for MIDAS Link for Revit Structure

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Functions Revit <> Gen

Linear

Element

s

Structural Column <>

Beam <>

Brace <> Applicable section shape for round trip:

Curved Beam >

Angle, Section, I section, T section, Box, Pipe, Solid

Round, Inverted T-section

Beam System >

Truss >

Planar

Element

s

Foundation Slab <>

Structural Floor <>

Structural Wall <>

Wall Opening & Window >

Door >

Vertical or Shaft Opening >

Boundary

Offset >

Rigid Link >

Cross-Section Rotation >

End Release >

Isolated Foundation Support >

Point Boundary Condition >

Line Boundary Condition >

Wall Foundation >

Area Boundary Condition >

Load

Load Nature >

Load Case >

Load Combination >

Hosted Point Load >

Hosted Line Load >

Hosted Area Load >

Other

Parameters

Material <>

Level >

midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

What is Updated from midas Gen to Revit Structure

Here are the revisions that are detected and updated in the Revit model:

Sections

If assigned section is changed to the other section pre-defined in the model, the corresponding element in

Revit will be updated accordingly.

If assigned section is changed to the other section newly added in midas Gen, the corresponding element

in Revit will be assigned to a default section (arbitrary section which has a same material type in a model).

Delete Elements

If an element is deleted in midas Gen, the corresponding element in Revit will be deleted accordingly.

Move Elements

If an element is moved in midas Gen, the corresponding frame element or column in Revit will be moved

accordingly.

Add Elements

If a beam element is newly added, a corresponding element in Revit will be added accordingly.

Change Beta-Angle

If beta-angle in a beam element is changed, a corresponding element in Revit will be updated accordingly.

Materials

If material data assigned to an element is modified, a corresponding element in Revit will be assigned to a

default material.

Thicknesses

If thickness data assigned to a planer element is modified, a corresponding element in Revit will be updated

accordingly.

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midas Gen Midas Link for Revit Structure

Analyze and Revise in midas Gen

• Always check the message window when importing the MGT file to midas Gen.

• Though nodes and elements may be added or deleted in midas Gen, you should never renumber

them, because the update mechanism identifies them by their numeric IDs.

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Update from midas Gen

• When section assigned in an element is modified, the family and type name of the element will not be

recognized. This means that any sections that may become necessary should be preloaded into the

Revit project before sending the model to midas Gen so that their family and type can be specified

during updating the model. Otherwise, default family (ex. MIDAS Gen User L Frame) will be assigned.

• After the Revit model is updated, it may be worthwhile to use the Track Changes command to verify

the changes.

Usage Note

Send to midas Gen

• Before sending a Revit Structure model to MIDAS, it is advisable to check and make adjustment to

the analytical model to ensure consistency. Revit Structure provides such tools under Tools menu

Analytical Model.

• Always check the export summary to determine if any items were skipped due to problems.