AEC Integration Georgia Tech How to deal with custom objects in Bentley Applications Ph.D. student: Jin-Kook Lee Professor: Charles M. Eastman Design Computing, College of Architecture Georgia Institute of Technology 08/10/2006

Mainly deal with:  BA : Bentley Architecture / Building Products  PCS : Bentley Parametric Cell Studio  Datagroup Definition Editor for object type definition  Datagroup Catalog Editor for object item definition  Parametric Design / Modeling using PCS  Case study : Curved / Bended Curtain Wall

Custom Object in Bentley Building Products General 2D/3D Bentley Microstation 3D modeling Bentley Triforma BIM tool Bentley Architecture Generate xsd Datagroup Definition Editor Generate xml Datagroup Catalog Editor Parametric design tool Bentley Parametric Cell Studio Applications share UI with BA (Subordinated) Internal small applications of BA Parametric modeling for custom object cells Parametric components Generative Components Stand alone application Build parametric cell (.paz) files Generate xml files for custom object menu interface for BA

Simple process model for custom objects in BA Bentley Building ProductsParametric Cell Studio Datagroup definition editorDatagroup catalog editor Bentley Building Products

Bentley Architecture

 The focus of this Bentley Building application enables designers to maintain a strategy that addresses various essential project life cycle needs, including:  Space planning and mass modeling determinations that occur in the beginning stages of a project.  Production-oriented activities that occur during modeling such as placement of walls, doors, and windows.  Drawing, schedule, and report extraction that occurs throughout the life cycle of a project, and beyond.

Building Objects – Architecture Toolbox

Objects in BA  General type  Contour, space, column grid  Column  Wall  Door  Window  Floor  Roof  Stair  Toilet, shelving  User defined type  Curtain walls  Hand rails  Plumbing fixtures  Toilet accessories  (Unlimited) Additional custom object

Datagroup / Catalog Item definition for BA

DataGroup Catalog Editor in BA

Management of User-defined Object 1.Placement 2.Datagroup Definition 3.Edit Datagroup Catalog Items 4.Modeling the objects using Parametric Cell Studio 4-1. How to create parametric objects & behaviors 5.Again: Placement to the model

1. How to place embedded custom objects 1. Architecture Modeling Toolbox 2. Fixture, Furnishing & Equipment menu3. Place User Defined Type dialogue box 4. Select Type of User Defined Objects in the list 5. Select sub Items and modify their properties NEXT: How to add a new object type in this list?

2. Datagroup Definition 1. Run Datagroup Definition Editor in Bentley Building Applications, and add new definition files. Also create their properties. 2..xsd files are created in datagroupsystem folder NEXT: How to add a new item in this definition?

3. Edit Datagroup Catalog Items 1. Run Datagroup Catalog Editor, and add new type and their items. Also create their properties. 2..xml files are created in datagroupcatalogs folder NEXT: How to make geometric models?

4. Modeling the objects using PC Studio – the kernel 1. Using PC Studio, model the objects (cell). And publish (compile) them to *.paz files

5. Place a new custom (user-defined) object 1. Select and Modify the object items 2. Place the User Defined Object in Bentley Architecture

Parametric Cell Studio

Parametric Cell Studio (PCS)  Stand alone application for parametric cell modeling  A little bit different interface compared with Microstation  Powerful yet so simple parametric design tool

How to build parametric custom object for BA  Components assembly of  Combination of Constraints on  Sophistication of Condition / Segments / Components and publication (compile) for Bentley Architecture XY Plane YZ Plane ZX Plane Mullion component Frame and Path ……

Special features of PCS  Define several components using simple drawing tool  Assembled components can be defined another component  Assembled components inherit all constraints of each component  Path and reference line based solid modeling  Several defined segments take charge of “layer” function and fulfill the roles of translation to BA  Substantial object-oriented concept and property inheritance >> perform a kind of “power copy”

Component-oriented approach 1. Basic Section 2. Basic components3. Sub components 4. Main Assembly Sub components for other components / reference line 5. Final component Various applications

Case Study

Case study 1. Kawneer 2800 TRUSSWALL 2. Curved and Bended Curtain Wall  Apply selective constraints for parametric modeling  Focusing on the parametric behavior / modeling

Case study #1. Kawneer 2800 TRUSSWALL

Modeling process  Section / basic drawing  Components modeling  Define path / reference line in each plane  Sweep / extrude / array along path for assembly  Constraints modeling in each plane  Define as a final model >> a new component

Constraints on XY Plane  Distance & relation between the points on the path line  Distance of horizontal mullion  Angle of path line and mullion  Angle of path points (mullion’s location points)

Constraints on XY Plane 3. Mullion’s Horizontal Distance ML_1 = 4’ 00” = ML_2 = ML_3 …… 2. Angle of Path line & point A_1 = 350 = A_2 = A_3 …… 1. In case of A_1 = 360 degree 2. In case of ML_1 = 3’ Array distances were changed simultaneously 4. Array distance of Mullions As same as ML_1 1. Angle of Mullion to path Axono view

Constraints in YZ Plane 1. Height of Vertical Mullion Component Assembly 2. Same Height constraint for rear mullion 3. Array of Web following Mullion Height & their distance

Constraints in ZX Plane 1. Height & Relation of Intermediate Horizontal 2. Shape Sweeping through the path

Inaccuracy of angle: 10 degree Solution: 1. Elaborate parameters / conditions 2. Condition control method Example of Kawneer system: “Contextual placement” by angle

Constraints of basic mullion assembly 1. Height of Vertical Mullion Component Assembly 2. Same Height constraint for rear mullion 3. Array of Web following Mullion Height & their distance

Constraints of curved arc angle / distance 3. Mullion’s Horizontal Distance ML_1 = 4’ 00” = ML_2 = ML_3 …… 2. Angle of Path line & point A_1 = 350 = A_2 = A_3 …… 1. In case of A_1 = 360 degree 2. In case of ML_1 = 3’ Array distances were changed simultaneously 4. Array distance of Mullions As same as ML_1 1. Angle of Mullion to path

Constraints for Horizontal mullion & Edge cutting 1. Height & Relation of Intermediate Horizontal e.g: HM_Height = (Main.height / 4) – M.offset 2. Paralleled cut of horizontal mullion by bended angle w.g: bend.angle = (360-curved.angle)/2

Center point of arc C A B Length: a = b = c = d Angle: A = B C = B/2 = A/2 Curtain wall path ab c d Horizontal Mullion

Center point of arc C’ A’ Length: a’ = b’ = d’ Angle: A’ = B’ C’ = B’/2 = A’/2 a’ b’ B’ d’

Center point of arc C” A” Length: a” = b” = d” Angle: A” = B” C” = B”/2 = A”/2 a” b” B” d”

Constraints for angled cut C A a b B d A1 A2 L1 HM_A1 A2 = 540-A1 A1 = 270+(360-HM_A1)/2

Constraints for angled cut

Curved 2800 TRUSSWALL component could be defined another component using its variables e.g. curtainwall system using different angle, distance and different anchor point - Length - Angle - Semi diameter of circle - Coincidence on a point or path line - Sweeping along path - Array along path - drop first or last array - distance of array Constraints in PC Studio

Case study #2. Curved and Bended Curtain Wall  Simple application of Curtain Wall Parameters

Basic component definition

XZ Plane Constraints

Parameters: Angle of Mullion path point / Mullion Distance / Height And Basic component definition’s constraints

From Parametric Cell Studio To Bentley Architecture

Extra issues for *.paz format Publication  Model3d, Plan2d, or similar segments in PC Studio support the contextual display in Bentley Architecture model  Segment names should be provided accurately to BA  Performance: sometimes PCS shows not a good result due to file size, complexity and so on.  Well-defined parametric cells are required to prevent inadequate parameters, e.g. limitation of variables (also related with performance issue)

Contextual Display in BA  Contextual Display is determined by whether the context is a drawing (1) or a model (2,3) 1. 2D drawing 2. 3D model3. 3D rendered model

Ready to use in BA’s User defined object dialog box

Resources / references  Bentley User Guide (html, chm)  Bentley Reference Guide and Example Movies (250MB)  Bentley Discussion Group - bentley.triforma.architectural : 5,375 posted - bentley.microstation.pcstudio : 452 posted  Example files for PCS (*.pac, *.paz)