Creating Conceptual mass in REVIT and Creation of Sinusoidal curve and a Parametric stadium using Dynamo

AIM: Creating Conceptual mass in REVIT and Creation of Sinusoidal curve and a parametric stadium using Dynamo

INTRODUCTION:

Dynamo is an open source visual programming language for Revit, written by designers and construction professionals. It is a programming language that allows us to type lines of code; while also creating an algorithm that consists of nodes.

Using Dynamo, we can work with enhanced BIM capabilities in Revit. Dynamo and Revit together can be utilized to model and analyse complex geometries, automate repetitive processes, minimize human error, and export data to Excel files and other file-types not typically supported by Revit. Dynamo can make the design process more efficient, with an intuitive interface and many pre-made scripting libraries available as well.

The user interface for Dynamo is organized into five main areas, the largest being the workspace where programs are processed. The user interface sections include:
• Main menu
• Toolbar
• Library
• Workspace
• Execution bar

TASK 1:

To create a set of sinusoidal points, create a curve and create a surface out of the curve using dynamo.

PROCEDURE:

Open a Revit architectural template file.

Now in the manage tab select dynamo option.

The Dynamo window opens and click on the new command.

A new Dynamo file is now opened as shown

To draw a curve certain parameters are required like start, end and step, this can be done using Code Blocks.

In library to the left search for Code Block

Three Code Blocks are inserted now

They are renamed to Start, End and Step with values of 10,400 and 1

Search for Range in library panel and insert it.

Range Block is now inserted as shown

Now connect the Range Box to previously created Code Blocks.

To insert the coordinates search for points by coordinate

The Points By Coordinates box is inserted.

Connect the Range Block to the X coordinate of the Point by Coordinate block.

To create a Sin Wave search for math.sin option

Connect Range to Math sin block as shown.

Sin value is too small, so we need to amplify it.

Search for integer slider and rename it amplifier

Integer slider was rename to amplifier and it needs to be multiplied.

Search for product function in library and insert it.

X value in product correspond to Sin block and Y value is Amplifier.

Phase Block:

For that insert an integer slider and name it phase

Amplified sin block:

Search and insert add operator from library

Phase block is then added to amplified sin block and is then connected to the y coordinate of the points by coordinates block

Now a set of sinusoidal points is obtained as shown

CURVE CONVRSION:

The curve is created form nurbscurve

Search for nurbscurve and select nurbs curve by control points

The points by coordinates block is connected to the nurbs curve.

A line is developed now connecting these points.

Now the sinusoidal curve is created

SURFACE CREATION:

To create a surface, first group all the blocks created till now. For that select all the blocks and click create group option in Edit tab.

Now copy the group using copy command in edit menu.

Paste the group components two times as shown

By adjusting the phase values we can see the other two curve lines which we pasted.

LIST:

To create the list search for list in library

Now connect all the outputs of sin curve as input of the list block as shown.

This List will now act as the input for surface

In library search for surface by loft and is inserted.

Connect the list as input to the loft and the surface is now developed as shown

RESULTS:

A set of sinusoidal points was created first and is as shown below

A sinusoidal curve connected through a line is created next and is as shown below:

Finally a surface was developed from the curve and is as follows:

TASK 2:

To create a conceptual layout of floor plan in dynamo.

PROCEDURE:

Open a Revit architectural template file.

Now in the manage tab select dynamo option.

The Dynamo window opens and click on the new command.

A new Dynamo file is now opened as shown.

CONTROL POINTS:

To create walls we need control points.

Search points in library and insert 4 control points.

Name them as Origin rest of them as control points 1, 2 and 3.

To give values to X and Y provide two integer sliders. Search for number slider in library and insert 2 of them

And was renamed as X and Y respectively.

These points are connected by the integer sliders as input.

LINE:

These points are connected by a line.

Search for line in library and insert 4 blocks.

The 4 blocks was inserted and connected to previously created points.

Now a layout of floor plan is obtained.

WALLS:

Search for wall in library and select wall by curve and height block.

Wall by curve and height block is inserted

To create a wall we need details like curve, height, and level and wall type

For curve, combine all the four lines in a list by choosing list Create.

For height a number slider is chosen and name it as height.

For level search level in the search panel it will contain the levels available in your Revit folder. Then choose the level in which we want to place your structure.

For wall type, search wall type in the panel and it will display the wall types linked in the Revit file.

The floor plan layout is as given below

The Revit file view of the same is shown below.

Floor:

Search for floor in library and insert one block

Select the required details like floor type, curve and level, then connect it as shown

The floor is now ready and the same in 3D view of Revit is as shown.

Results:

Conceptual floor layout was created using Dynamo and is as follows.

TASK 3:

To create an array of model elements in Revit.

PROCEDURE:

Open a new architectural template

Columns of size 610x610 mm s made and was placed as shown

The task is to change the change the properties of model elements using Dynamo.

For that open Dynamo in manage tab

In library search for model elements and insert the block.

Now select the columns from the Revit file and add it to the block

Insert integer slider and set rotator by searching them in library.

Integer slider was renamed to rotation angle.

Select model elements was made input to family instance and rotation angle as input to degree.

And assign the angle to 45

In the Revit file we can see that the change is reflected and columns are rotated to 45 degree from its initial position.

Again angle was changed to 60

And that change was also reflected to Columns in Revit.

RESULTS:

Model elements array was created and their properties was varied the Dynamo using blocks.

The angles was changed to 45 and 60 and the corresponding file is as below.

45 DEGREE

60 DEGREE

TASK 4:

To create a conceptual mass in Revit and to develop a parametric column by dividing the surfaces and to apply the concepts similar to use in parametric walkway modelling.

PROCEDURE:

Open Revit and select new option under the Families section and open the folder conceptual mass

Then select the Metric mass file

The metric mass file is now open and its 3D view is as shown.

In the elevation view create a new level and then set it to the desired height needed.

Now using the spline tool in the modify panel draw the desired outline for the walkway

A profile was created to sweep through the curve.

Workplane at the points was set and polygon was developed at workplane keeping the point at centre. Now a polygon is developed with point as centre

A workplane and polygon was developed at all the nodes.

Surface is created next which was done using sweep, for this select all the polygons and curve line and select form option

Select the entire form, filter it and retain just the form

Now select the form then divide surface and provide the triangular bend pattern

Now select the pattern as triangle bend and create a reference point at centre of face.

Draw a circle of small radius at reference point.. Select type pattern, reference plane and circle created and choose create form.

Now load this into the project.

Select the entire form of the walkway and filter it such that it retains only the divided surface

RESULT:

The conceptual mass was generated and is as follows:

TASK 5:

To use Dynamo to work on developing a Parametric Stadium.

PROCEDURE:

Open a Revit architectural template file.

Now in the manage tab select dynamo option.

The Dynamo window opens and click on the new command.

Integer slides was created and was renamed into the following:

No of levels

Floor to floor height

Bottom floor rotation

Top floor rotation

Insert a code block and type 0..#levels..Floorheight to combine level and floor to the floor height and type.

Connect the No of levels and floor to floor height as input to the code block as shown

Insert coordinate by origin in the file and connect the code block as input to z coordinate in coordinate by origin block

5 points are generated as corresponding to 5 levels

Search for rectangle by width and length from the library and insert it.

The data needed for that is Coordinate system, length and width.

Now connect the inputs correspondingly to the rectangle block as shown.

To rotate the geometry insert rotate block from library.

The data needed are geometry, origin, axis and degree.

For degree insert a code block and type Bottom..Top..#level:

Number slider was inserted and renamed to bottom floor rotation and top floor rotation and connected to code block.

No of levels was connected as input to level in code block

For geometry select rectangle block.

Origin block was inserted from library and made as input to origin in code block

For axis insert Z vector from the library and connect it

To create a surface search for surface by loft in library and insert it.

Make the geometry rotate block as input for surface by loft

Now the parametric stadium is created and its levels, width and length can be changed as needed

Revit file views

3D Isometric view

3D Top view

RESULTS:

The parametric stadium is created and is as follows.