Use a Sketch Grid

VisualAnalysis allows you to draw your members and plates in the Model View. The most effective way to sketch models is to first define one or more Grids to work from. A grid lets you predefine the exact spacing and locations for nodes (joints or connections) in your model. To work with grids, Click on the Grid tab in Project Manager or use Home | Grid Manager menu command.

VisualAnalysis offers a number of different grid types that help you lay out floor plans at given elevations. Normally you will create a number of grids and then enable (show) one or two of those at a time so that you can sketch elements between grid points.

Sketch a 2D Model

The easiest way to create models is to sketch them in the Model View. Before you begin you should set up the Sketch Grid and choose between drawing members or plates. Sometimes you might sketch without worrying about exact locations of nodes so that later you can move nodes to correct the geometry. With the Grid turned off, you are only allowed to sketch members or plates between existing nodes in the model. Remember to fix out-of-plane supports when modeling in 2D.

Sketch a 3D Model

Sketch a 3D model in two phases. First sketch a wall elevation or a floor plan on a plane of the model. To do this, define a Cut Plane in the 3D space and turn on the Sketch Grid. Rotate the view to see this plane clearly and sketch as you would for a 2D model. Repeat this process for multiple planes in the model, changing the plane center to a different value.

Once you have at least two planes of elements created, you can switch to full 3D sketching. Here you can remove the Cut Plane setting to see the entire model and then rotate the view and sketch between any existing nodes. You could also create a Cut Plane in a perpendicular direction to draw members.

Import a DXF File

While sketching is very easy for most models, you might be more comfortable drawing in a CAD package. You may import geometry and connectivity information directly through a DXF file. This is especially useful for complex configurations involving angles, curved structures, or many offsets. The command is File | Import from DXF. Note that you may also import a DXF file directly using File | Open, however this method does not offer any options on the import and you will get default behavior! DXF File Details.

Generate Typical Models

The standard version of VisualAnalysis allows you to quickly generate parametric models of common structures or structural components. Use the Create Tab of the Project Manager to access this feature. The Generate Standard library includes options such as typical trusses, building frames, walls, slabs, floor systems, tanks, and more. You may also add your own parametric definitions for generating the types of models you create often. (See the chapter on Customizing.)

Generate Copies

You can copy any selected model objects using Structure | Generate Copies. The following list describes some of the many things you can do with the Copy and Paste approach to modeling:

• Generate rectangular, circular, or linear patterns of model objects. For example, copy a floor plan of beams to the next level.
• Generate a "mirror" image of a plane portion of the structure. (By rotating about the vertical axis.)
• Make a separate copy of your model, change it slightly and run a side-by-side comparison with the original model.
• Copy member loads from one member to another within a single load case and scale them.
• Copy loads from one load case to another and scale them if necessary.

Create Multiple Models

It is often helpful to compare two models side-by-side. You may create two or more separate models in a single project file. This works well for static analysis to see how different configurations or conditions will affect the behavior of simple structures.

Obviously, for large projects you will incur significant performance problems if you try to do this.

Import from Autodesk Revit

Requires: Advanced Level

IES offers a free add-in utility for BIM integration with Autodesk Revit: see VA-Revit Link.