How Does BIM Enhance Structural Design?

BIM for Structural Designing

The main task of structural engineers is to guarantee stability and durability of a building throughout its lifetime by ensuring a robust structural integrity through the establishment of a strong foundation. Since efficient structural designing is essential to ensure structural stability of a building, it is necessary that this stage is conducted with high accuracy with suitable materials and adherence to latest industrial as well as safety standards.

To ensure adherence to all the aforementioned prerequisites for a well-built structure, construction firms should invest in BIM solutions for their projects. By adopting BIM to enhance productivity, companies can capitalize on the quick and convenient process of structural designing, thereby enhancing output quality and quantity in a short time frame.

Merits of BIM for Structural Design

Today, BIM has developed to not only provide 3D designing and modeling of structural steel layouts, but also allow computation of 4th and 5th dimensions of BIM which are time scheduling and cost estimation dimensions respectively.

Furthermore, BIM has opened up a host of benefits for structural design, some of which are discussed below:

1. Improved quality and efficiency

Many of the structural steel components are manufactured in an offsite fabrication factory and then transported, assembled and installed on-site. To produce accurate components that fit together perfectly enabling a seamless installation process, it is necessary to have access to highly detailed and precise shop drawings. BIM facilitates creation of such drawings.

Quality, accuracy and convenience is already assured through extracted drawings from BIM models as they ensure uniformity and conformity with rest of the structure which will also be made using drawings extracted from the same coordinated BIM model.

This reduces chances of inconsistencies and the resulting costly reworks by a significant percentage and enhances overall productivity and efficiency of the construction process.

2. Enhanced flexibility

Changes and modifications implemented in the any of the designs of the structure by any of the AEC professionals is swiftly registered and reflected in the final 3D BIM model. This final BIM model is accessible to all concerned personnel who get updates about changes and modifications in real time.

Deriving updated 2D plans and structural drawings becomes exceedingly convenient as architects and engineers do not have to draft them from the scratch for each and every update and modification to be made. This aids an easy process of design enhancement, allowing AEC firms to deliver exceptional and innovative results in a short while.

BIM is not limited to improvising structural designing of building projects only. BIM for Infrastructure is a discipline dedicated to enhancing and optimizing structural designing process of infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, dams, railways, etc. It helps architects to determine the required structural integrity of such undertaking and efficiently design a suitable foundation for the same.

3. Reduced rework and wastage

BIM allows for clash detection and resolution in the early designing stages of the building project. This allows for creation of a clash free model, also known as a coordinated model. Fabrications and installations are conducted with frequent reference to these coordinated models, thereby eliminating need for costly reworks and the resulting material wastage.

Expansion, renovation and refurbishments projects also become more economical than before by employing the expertise of firms that deliver high quality Scan to BIM Services. Project managers can ensure structural and aesthetic consistency. They can determine the exact areas requiring structural reinforcement which eliminates the need to damage existing structure in search of appropriate potential utility connection points.

4. Time and cost estimations

Contractors can implement the 4th and 5th i.e. time and cost dimensions of BIM on their projects to enhance efficiency of functions. They can make schedules for human resource requirements and for delivery of tools, materials and other structural supplies such that a seamless flow of operations is ensured. This not only helps in timely finishing of the project but also helps make maximum utilization of the available resources.

Accurate budgetary estimations and allocation information helps put stakeholders mind at ease by assuring them about the proper utilization of their funds and resources.

Conclusion

BIM has come a long way in enhancing structural design. It has enabled project visualization through high quality renderings and animations. This feature helps structural engineers explain or understand complex structure designs. They can also carry out stimulations to determine integrity of the structure under various conditions. This helps in deciding the exact quality, dimensions and quantity of structural steel required to meet the desired endurance level.

To assure durability of a building structure throughout its life cycle, it is essential to adopt BIM in the structural designing phase of a project. This not only meets structural objectives of the building in a budget friendly and cost effective manner but also helps construction firms grow and succeed in an otherwise ruthlessly competitive industry by helping them undertake and execute more projects successfully in a short time frame.

Author

  • Tesla CAD – UK is an Architectural and Engineering Firm providing CAD, BIM & Pre-construction Services in United Kingdom. Our core strengths are to provide quality deliverables within a quick turn around time. We follow British standards and codes diligently while working on building design and CAD Drawing projects. Our understanding is aligned with the needs of our clients. We aim to deliver high quality output in tandem to requirements of our clients. Our Services: Architectural Services, BIM Services, Scan to BIM Services, Steel Detailing Services, MEP BIM Co-ordination, MEP shop Drawings, Drafting Services and Mechanical Services.