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Revit Tutorial - Displaying Span To Depth Ratio of Steel Beams

This document provides a tutorial for using Revit to calculate and display the span to depth ratio of steel beams. It describes creating a shared parameter for the span to depth ratio, adding it to beam families, and using it in a formula to calculate the ratio based on the beam length and height. It then explains how to set up filters to color code beams as green, yellow, or red based on their span to depth ratio falling within, above, or below acceptable limits for primary and secondary beams.

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Abdelkrim Jomaa
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254 views

Revit Tutorial - Displaying Span To Depth Ratio of Steel Beams

This document provides a tutorial for using Revit to calculate and display the span to depth ratio of steel beams. It describes creating a shared parameter for the span to depth ratio, adding it to beam families, and using it in a formula to calculate the ratio based on the beam length and height. It then explains how to set up filters to color code beams as green, yellow, or red based on their span to depth ratio falling within, above, or below acceptable limits for primary and secondary beams.

Uploaded by

Abdelkrim Jomaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Revit Tutorial – Displaying Span to Depth Ratio of

Steel Beams
Posted on July 21, 2019by lawrenceh
In this tutorial we shall look at a method of calculating and displaying the Span to
Depth ratio for steel primary and secondary beams. In early scheme design of a steel
structure many engineers like to use the span to depth ratio to size members
assuming a uniform loading across the beam.

Revit can be used to calculate and display the Span to Depth Ratio by creating a
shared parameter and making a simple formula. Typically, a span to depth ratio of 13-
15 is used for primary beams and 18-20 for secondary beams. In the following tutorial
I will edit a UB family, add a shared parameter and then use the value of this and the
structural usage to activate certain colours with filters. The image below shows the
filters colouring, green is OK, red is over the limit and yellow is under the limit. To
follow this tutorial, you will need Revit 2016 or later.

The first step is to create a shared parameter, this needs to be shared as this may need
to appear in a schedule or be taggable. On the Manage Ribbon click the Shared
Parameters command as shown below.

If you already have a Shared Parameter file, then click the New Parameter command
as shown below. If everything is inactive, then you will need to create a new
parameter file by clicking the Create button.

You will then be presented with the Parameter Properties Dialog. I am naming the
new parameter SDR (Span to Depth Ratio) but you can use something else if you
prefer. You will need to ensure that the new parameter is created as a Number. Click
OK to both dialog boxes. Your new Shared Parameter is now ready for use.

Next you edit a Universal Beam family (or other section type for non-UK members).
In the Project Browser, open the families folder and browse to Structural Framing.
Below I am adding the parameter to UB-Universal Beams, but you can add this to any
Section you require.

Right Click over the family and select edit. You are now in the Family Editor. On the
Home Ribbon click the Family Types command as shown below

In the Family Types Dialog box click the New Parameter command as shown below.
In the Parameter Properties Dialog click the Shared Parameter radio button and then
select the Select button as shown below.

Select your new SDR parameter and click OK. You now need to set the new parameter
to Instance and group the parameter under Structural Analysis. Click OK. You should
now see your new parameter in the Structural Analysis group.

Create the following formula. round(Length/Height)


This will take the length of the beam and divide this by the section height. Note that
the section height appears under the Structural Section Geometry group. We then
round this number to get a ratio value. Save your new family and repeat for other
families where you want to calculate the span to depth ratio.

Next you create a project parameter for your Span to Depth Ratio. This will enable
you to create a filter. On the Manage ribbon click the Project Parameter button as
shown below.

In the Project Parameter dialog, click the Add command. You will then see the
Parameter Properties dialog as shown below. Configure the dialog by selecting Shared
Parameter, select your SDR parameter and then click OK. Make sure that Instance is
checked, group the parameter under Structural Analysis and check the category,
Structural Framing. Click OK.
You now complete the last step to create a series of filters to colour the beams by their
span to depth ratio. In this example you create a filter for secondary framing. You
need to ensure that you have secondary framing in your project for testing. In a
Project with the edited families that you have created in the steps above, open the
Visibility/Graphics Override dialog and select the Filters Tab as shown below.
In the Filters tab click the Edit/New Button at the bottom of the dialog box. In the
Filters Dialog box select the New command in the bottom left as shown in the image
below.

In the Filter Name dialog box type Secondary Framing – Span/Depth OK.
You can now set the Category, Structural Framing and then set the AND rules to the
following. ADR is greater that or equal to 18 AND SDR is less than or equal
to 20 AND Structural Usage equal Purlin. Note that the Structural Usage may
have differing terminology depending on the regional settings and template applied.
Click OK.

You now select the Add command to add your new filter into the Visibility/Graphic
Overrides Dialog.

You can then add green to override the linework and for extra impact add a solid
green shade to the members. Anything that displays green is now in the correct span
to depth range.
Once the filter has been set your secondary framing will appear green when the
correct span to depth ratio is achieved. Note that you can create additional filters to
show members that exceed and are too deep. You can also colour the SDR values in a
structural framing schedule.

Hope you find this useful? I will try and create a tutorial video when I have some
time.

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