Tips for using IFC import

This chapter should help to understand how to use IFC file format for getting data from other software.

REVIT

If you use IFC for transfer model from REVIT to SCIA Engineer you should know how the model is written in the IFC and then how it is imported to SCIA Engineer.

In REVIT there is several options how to export the model. SCIA Engineer fully supports only 3:

• IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0
• IFC4 Reference View
• IFC4 Data Transfer View

On the simple example where 4 columns and 2 walls (one with windows/openings and the other one without any openings), 1 beam and 1 floor were defined is explained how to differ the exported files from REVIT and how it is imported to SCIA Engineer.

 

IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0

Standard columns are exported with Mapped representation where the column is defined as SweptSolid. It means they are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Standard walls are exported as IfcWallStandardCase with SweptSolid representation. It means walls are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Floor is exported as IfcSlab with SweptSolid representation, i.e. floor is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

Beam is exported as IfcBeam with SweptSolid representation, i.e the beam is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

 

IFC4 Reference View

Standard columns are exported with Mapped representation where the column is defined as SweptSolid. It means they are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Standard walls are exported as IfcWall. The wall with openings/windows is exported with Tessellation representation whereas the wall without any openings with SweptSolid representation. It means the wall without openings is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element, but the other one is imported as general solids.

Floor is exported as IfcSlab with SweptSolid representation, i.e. floor is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

Beam is exported as IfcBeam with Mapped representation where the beam is defined as SweptSolid, i.e the beam is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

 

IFC4 Data Transfer View

Standard columns are exported with Mapped representation where the column is defined as SweptSolid. It means they are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Standard walls are exported as IfcWall with SweptSolid representation. It means walls are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Floor is exported as IfcSlab with SweptSolid representation, i.e. floor is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

Beam is exported as IfcBeam with Mapped representation where the beam is defined as SweptSolid, i.e the beam is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

 

.

Tekla Structures

If you use IFC for transfer model from Tekla Structures to SCIA Engineer you should know how the model is written in the IFC and then how it is imported to SCIA Engineer.

In Tekla Structures there is several options how to export the model.

At first it is necessary to decide which version of IFC should be exported, i.e. IFC2x3 or IFC4.

If you choose IFC then it is recommended to set Export type - Coordination View 2.0.

In case of Surface geometry all structural members are exported with Brep (boundary representation) and so it is imported as general solids to SCIA Engineer.

 

If you choose IFC4 you can select between Export type - Design transfer view and Reference view.

 

 

On the simple example where steel and concrete columns, a panel, a slab and a plate and beams (straight,polybeam and curved one) were defined is explained how to differ the exported files from Tekla Structures and how it is imported to SCIA Engineer.

 

Coordination View 2.0

Standard columns are exported with SweptSolid representation. It means they are imported as native SCIA Engineer elements.

Panelis exported as IfcWall with Brep representation. It means walls are imported as general solid toSCIA Engineer.

Slab is exported as IfcSlab with SweptSolid representation, i.e. slab is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

Steel plate is exported as IfcPlate with SweptSolid representation, i.e. plate is imported as general solid toSCIA Engineer.

Straight beam is exported as IfcBeam with SweptSolid representation, i.e the beam is imported as the native SCIA Engineer element.

Polybeam is exported as IfcBeam with Brep representation, i.e the beam is imported as general solid to SCIA Engineer.

Curved beam is exported as IfcBeam with SweptSolid representation but defined as RevolvedAreaSolid which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no beam is imported.

 

Reference view

Standard columns are exported with SweptSolid representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no column is imported.

Panelis exported as IfcWall with Tesselation representation. It means walls are imported as general solid toSCIA Engineer.

Slab is exported as IfcSlab with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no slab is imported.

Steel plate is exported as IfcPlate with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no plate is imported.

Straight beam is exported as IfcBeam with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no beam is imported.

Polybeam is exported as IfcBeam with Tesselation representation, i.e the beam is imported as general solid to SCIA Engineer.

Curved beam is exported as IfcBeam with SolidModel representation but defined as RevolvedAreaSolid which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no beam is imported.

 

Design transfer view

Standard columns are exported with SweptSolid representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no column is imported.

Panelis exported as IfcWall with Tesselation representation. It means walls are imported as general solid toSCIA Engineer.

Slab is exported as IfcSlab with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no slab is imported.

Steel plate is exported as IfcPlate with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no plate is imported.

Straight beam is exported as IfcBeam with SolidModel representation which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no beam is imported.

Polybeam is exported as IfcBeam with Tesselation representation, i.e the beam is imported as general solid to SCIA Engineer.

Curved beam is exported as IfcBeam with SolidModel representation but defined as RevolvedAreaSolid which is not supported inSCIA Engineer, i.e no beam is imported.

 

Conclusion

From above you can see that even if you use the same simple model with the same Model View Definition the export differs and so the import to SCIA Engineeris different. It is surprising that Tekla Structures do not make a difference in export of object between MVD Design transfer view and Reference view.

The recommendation is to use always IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0 in case of Tekla Structures and IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0 or IFC4 Design Transfer View in case of REVIT.