Konstru and CSI (SAP and ETABS)
Some CSI specific notes
ETABS Floor Extrusion Directions
After importing a model to Etabs you might spot varying extrusion directions of floors. Some might be extruded upwards why others are extruded downwards. But all floors have justifications (Cardinal point) set to middle. This is a rendering issue only and does not affect your calculations. We cannot change the cardinal point using the Etabs API.
Convert Shafts to Hosted Openings
Konstru now lets you convert shafts automatically to hosted openings in CSI tools. So far, shafts haven't been translated because they didn't exist as such in CSI tools. This new option allows you to convert any Revit Shaft into multiple openings placed on floors within the shafts range.
On Download
Openings will be created from Shafts
On Upload
Openings will be removed automatically from floors before upload.
Please note: Currently Konstru will still indicate floors as changed on upload, however this is not the case - floors won't be modified. We will improve this messaging soon.
Importing Grids to ETABS
Due to an API limitations its not possible to import Gridlines into Etabs. However we implemented a workaround to get gridlines into Etabs. Our Etabs Gridline Importer is a standalone tool importing Gridlines into an $et file so you can reimport the model into Etabs with Gridlines. Please keep in mind that this workflow changes Etabs IDs, therefore all elements will be recognized as new in Konstru. So we recommend to upload your Etabs model into a new Konstru model.
The following video explains how to import Grids into Etabs using Konstru Grid Importer.
Download the GridImporter here.
Download your Konstru Model into Etabs
Save your Model (including $et file)
Open Konstru Grid Importer and select the $et file you just saved
Select the Konstru Model to download
Close the Grid Importer and import the $et file into Etabs
All Grids are not part of the model (Keep in mind, due to the import - Etabs IDs changed)
Join Walls and Frames
Similar to joining walls and floors you can join beams in Etabs on upload. Konstru joins frames (bemas and columns) by groups. Add elements you want to join into a group starting with KonstruJoin eg. "KonstruJoin Beams A" - once you check the join elements option in the Konstru dialog those frames will be joined into one single frame:
Konstru will build a frame across the input geometry using start and endpoint from maximum extends of all elements within the group. This means both elements don't have to be connected necessarily.
On Upload, when applying properties, Konstru goes by majority. So if 3 elements have section A and 2 section B, Konstru will apply section A to the overall joined element. When downloading Konstru applies properties of the single element to all 5 children the same.
Join Walls and Floors
Konstru supports joining Etabs Walls and Floors into single elements. So your meshed etabs model can be translated into a proper and clean model in Revit or any other Konstru-supported platform. We implemented this workflow as close as possible to our users existing workflows so we are joining walls and floors by groups and across levels.
Also see: join frames if you are interested in joining beams and columns
This feature works both ways:
on upload: segmented areas are being joined into one
on download: properties of the single element are applied to all segments the same.
On Upload, when applying properties, Konstru goes by majority. So if 3 elements have section A and 2 section B, Konstru will apply section A to the overall joined element. When downloading Konstru applies properties of the single element to all 5 children the same.
Walls (joined by Group)
Etabs walls (vertical areas) can be joined automatically by group across levels. All walls being in the same group named with a prefix called "KonstruJoin" will be translated into a single wall. Please make sure your walls can be joined, which means:
walls should be connected
walls should form an overall rectangular shape
Floors (joined by Group)
Etabs floors (horizontal areas) can also be joined automatically by group. Your floors have to be in a group starting with "KonstruJoin". Elements within the group can span across multiple levels, Konstru will translate them into single floors per level. For best results, please make sure:
floors are connected
floors form and overall rectangular shape (optimal, however other shapes should work)
avoid holes in floors you want to connect
To activate the join feature make sure you are checking the "Merge Walls by Pier Label and Floors by Groups" checkbox when selecting Up- or Download in the Konstru dialog:
Sloped Elements
Konstru supports Floors as purely horizontal elements and walls as vertical elements. This means, if your floor is sloped in Revit, it will arrive horizontal in Konstru. This is due to a limitation of the Revit API, but we are currently working on a solution to improve this and support slab shape point edited elements. We won't be able to create sloped walls in Revit at the moment and the near future.
Currently Konstru is setup in a way so it identifies areas from ETABS and SAP as walls if they are within a small tolerance of being fully vertical, and the same for floors if they are horizontal. Every element in between will be identified as an area element. Those areas are not supported in all platforms.
Similar for Columns, Braces and Beams. From ETABS and SAP Konstru identifies almost vertical elements as columns and horizontal ones as beams, while all in between will become braces. In Revit this is handled by type, if the element is a column it will remain one. Same for braces and beams.
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