Analytical Elements Alignment#

The following parameters are used during Generate. They allow to tweak the optimization of the alignment of the analytical model:

Name

Description

Unit 1
General

Maximum Eccentricity of Staggered Columns

Percentage

Horizontal Alignment 2
Element Priority 2

Columns

Position of column axis from center in either direction.

Percentage

Beam Longitudinal

Position of beam ends in axial direction.

Percentage

Beam Perpendicular

Position of beam plane perpendicular to beam axis.

Percentage

Walls Longitudinal

Position of wall ends in axial direction.

Percentage

Walls Perpendicular

Position of wall plane.

Percentage

Floor Edges

Position of floor edges.

Percentage

Adjustment Limits 3

Columns

Maximum allowed offset of column axis from center in either direction, relative to minimum column section dimension.

Percentage

Beam Longitudinal

Maximum allowed offset of beam ends in axial direction, relative to beam length.

Percentage

Beam Perpendicular

Maximum allowed offset perpendicular to beam axis, relative to beam width.

Percentage

Walls Longitudinal

Maximum allowed offset of wall ends in axial direction, relative to wall length.

Percentage

Walls Perpendicular

Maximum allowed offset perpendicular to wall plane, relative to wall thickness.

Percentage

Floor Edges

Maximum allowed offset of floor edges.

Length

Vertical Alignment 4
Floors

Default

Default alignment based on the physical element geometry.

-

Align to Adjacent Level

Override default alignment if an adjacent level is found.

-

- Search Tolerance

Defines the search tolerance for the nearest level.

Length

Beams

Default

Default alignment based on the physical element geometry.

-

Align to Adjacent Level

Override alignment if an adjacent level is found.

-

- Search Tolerance

Defines the search tolerance for the nearest level.

Length

Align to Connected Floor

Override default alignment and level alignment if a connected floor is found.

-

1

Units according to Revit settings, to check or change go to Manage > Settings > Project Units where you can also add a unit symbol for easier readability.

2

Values from 0.1% to 100%. See Element Priority to learn more.

3

These settings overrule Element Priority. To learn more, see Adjustment Limits.

4

These settings are only available for 2023-10 and above. To learn more, see Vertical Alignment.

Horizontal Alignment#

Element Priority#

SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator minimizes the deviation of the analytical elements from their “optimal” position. The higher the priority, the lower the deviation.

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Examples:

A higher priority for Columns keeps the location of the analytical member in the center of the physical column.

The figure below compares the location of the analytical members within their physical counterparts for two different configurations:

  • High priority for beams, low priority for columns (left)

  • Low priotiry for beams, high priority for columns (right)

Example of Element Priority Combinations for Beam Perpendicular and Columns

Example of Element Priority Combinations for Beam Perpendicular and Columns#

Note

Normalization of Values

SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator normalizes all values, not individual value pairs.

Parameter

UI value [%]

Normalized value [-]

Columns

100

100/200 = 0.50

Beam Perpendicular

50

50/200 = 0.25

Beam Longitudinal

20

20/200 = 0.10

Wall Perpendicular

10

10/200 = 0.05

Wall Longitudinal

10

0.05

Floor Edges

10

0.05

Sum:

200

1.00

Adjustment Limits#

SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator respects the adjustment limits when finding the optimal location for the analytical elements. The limits are relative to the dimensions of the physical element (unless stated otherwise), measured from the center of the element.

Thus a limit < 50 \% results in the analytical element being placed within the physical element, while a limit > 50 \% allows it to being placed outside.

Important

Adjustment limits prevail over element priorities.

Vertical Alignment#

Note

This feature is only available for 2023-10 and above.

SOFiSTiK Analytical Model Generator respect these global settings according to the configuration file, unless a local override is specified.

The following settings are available:

-

By default either Top/Center/Bottom of Element are used.

Option 1

The most adjacent level within a specified search tolerance is used.

Note

Only horizontal elements are aligned with adjacent floors. Sloped beams and floors do not follow this setting, please specify a local override if needed.

Important

Only such levels with Analytical = True are considered during the search. To learn more, see Analytical Levels

Option 2

A connected floor is used.

This applies to analytical members for beams only.

Note

The later options supersede the former ones, e.g., a connected floor is more relevant than an adjacent level.