R/C BUILDING   SLABS

This a brief review the procedure, which can be implemented to preparation and analysis a 3D building model using R/C BUILDING and SLABS software.

1. The first step is to prepare a BMP (Bitmap) image file of each floor.  This can be done in any CAD software.  We need to select appropriate layer in the architectural CAD drawing.   We need to show only structural elements, and load bearing walls.  Then, we change the background colour to "White", and export a BMP image.  We need to repeat this for each floor. 




2. Then, we open each BMP image in MS Paint, and "Save As" monochrome image, in order to create smaller files.  Smaller files are easier to manage.  The dimension, shown below, was created in the CAD program.  We will need one dimension to scale the image, when we import it in R/C BUILDING.




3. Then, we import the Bitmap image of each floor in R/C BUILDING.  The images will be used as reference to generate the structural elements: walls, beams, columns and the slabs.




4. Working on the floors, from bottom-up we will create a 3D model of the building.

5. Once the model is ready, we will perform a vertical load analysis.  When the analysis is finished all the reactions on all floor will be calculated.



6. Then, we can export each floor to SLABS data file format.




7. Then, we can open each floor in SLABS.  The data files will contain the reactions from above, calculated in R/C BUILDING.




8. Now, it is only a matter of entering the material properties, and analyse and design each floor using SLABS.


Model Courtesy of BG Group, QLD