AEC Integration Lab @ Georgia Tech How to deal with custom objects in Bentley Applications

Ph.D. student: Jin-Kook LeeProfessor: Charles M. Eastman

Design Computing, College of ArchitectureGeorgia Institute of Technology

jklee@gatech.edu

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 smallapplications 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

Previous stage

Next stage

Plan building modeling

Need custom objects?

YES

NO

Define new object type Add new item

Modeling

Parametric Cell modeling using PCS

YES

Publication for BA

Works properly?

FB

YES

Bentley Building Products Parametric Cell Studio

Datagroup definition editor Datagroup catalog editor

Bentley Building Products

Bentley Architecture

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 Studio4-1. 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 menu 3. Place User Defined Type dialogue box

4. Select Type of User Defined Objects in the list

5. Select sub Items and modify their propertiesNEXT: 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 folderNEXT: 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 folderNEXT: 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 components 3. 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

simultaneously4. 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

simultaneously4. 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 = 270 + (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

a b

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

ab

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 model 3. 3D rendered model

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

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)