What's the best way to create a waffle slab floor?
Do I use cut profile, or should I just draft it in?
Thanks,
Rookie Revit User/Student
Do I use cut profile, or should I just draft it in?
Thanks,
Rookie Revit User/Student
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It depends what discipline you are working in (arch or struct), how you intend to use the model, how flexible you want the model, and how accurate you want the model. If all you need is the correct geometry, an array of concrete beams in two directions with a flat concrete slab on top will do the trick. If you need correct mass volumes quickly and model flexibility isn't a concern, use an in-place family with a lot of voids. If you've got time and need flexibility and accuracy, adaptive components might work. -
I'm an architecture student so appearance is the number one priority but it's also best to know how to accomplish the task as if the mass volumes were a real concern.
Thanks for the help!Comment
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If you're a student, just use the in-place family with cutting voids. It's fairly quick and painless. Do you know how to do in-place family?
For other users out there- how would you suggest modeling a waffle slab in practice?Comment
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I'm not sure about in place families. I'm using Revit 2010... Do I use a mass? Also where do I find the adaptive components if they even exits in 2010? I can't find them.Comment
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On the home tab, under component there should be a button called in place family. Use an extrusion to create a mass the full thickness of the waffle slab. Then create a void extrusion or a void blend for the waffles with a smaller thickness than the mass. Cut the mass with the voids. Set the family category to floors and make sure the mass is the material you want. Then select finish family.
As far as adaptive components go, I'd stay away from them until you've got the revit basics taken care of. But if you want to learn more and whet your appetite, google "buildz", then go read the autodesk conceptual massing tutorials.Comment
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I use waffle slabs in all of my buildings. I found it easier to create a family for the interior beams. I have it set up so I can align each end of the family and it will "stretch" to the correct length. They will clean up with each other automatically. They also have depth and width parameters. That way, I can use this family for any project that requires a waffle slab.
For the perimeter beam, I use a slab edge with a custom profile.DanComment
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Are you talking about a single beam family that arrays the beams in both directions? Fours it work for non- rectangular footprints? I don't do a lot of waffle slabs, but that's a pretty elegant solution.Comment
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I also prefer the single beam family arrayed in the project.
As mentioned, you can make a more complex family but once you go to a non rectangular slab this becomes more work than benefit
I guess the only problem with this approach is if you want to schedule the actual void form quantities as opposed to the concrete volume which is probably what you would want to schedule in most cases anyway
For the rib beams, I would suggest creating a simplfied beam family to ensure you dont get any automatic cutback etc. The easiest way I have found is to start with a simple line based family instead of the beam family since you dont need end cleanup either, leaving you a beam family that only extends exactly where you stretch/extend it to in planComment
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Good point. I don't do any calcs so it's never been a problem for me, but I can see where the automatic cut back would mess things up.DanComment
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