Masonry Magazine July 2009 Page. 28
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING
There are many initial benefits of using BIM on a project:
1) All drawings are consistent, with no errors where a change was made in one 2D view and not another.
2) If the building model is complete, then it can support bills of material and quantity take-offs, that can be automated.
3) A building model supports clash detection between all systems that are defined in 3D, eliminating change orders and on-site resolution of spatial conflicts. They can all be resolved virtually, using walk-throughs of the building as it is assembled in the computer.
Parametric Design of Load-bearing Concrete Masonry Curved Walls
Figure 1.
As a result, growing numbers of owners are mandating that BIM be used on their projects, based on the knowledge that it leads to fewer errors, lower costs and faster project delivery.
Masonry and BIM
MASONRY COMES IN MANY FORMS, from brick, concrete block and other types of modular elements, to natural stones with varied shapes. Masonry is almost always laid by hand, although there have been a few efforts of automatic layup.
FILL BLOCK WALLS WITHOUT A CONCRETE PUMP OR FORKLIFT
PumpMaster
Model PG-21
AIRPLACO
EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Call for your DVD!
Northeast
513.321.2850
1888.348.2850
Southeast
281.468.7102
1.866.468.7102
West
626.256.8310
1.888.383.8635
www.airplaco.com
26 MASONRY
READER SERVICE #296
SINCE 1846
July 2009 www.masoncontractors.org
One of the main aesthetic advantages of masonry is that it allows a wide and rich scope of form possibilities, whether in load-bearing mode or as cladding. This feature can be intensively explored using BIM, making the evaluation of complex patterns and shapes an easier and more efficient approach.
The basic requirement of a BIM project is to define all subsystems in 3D, so that layouts can be checked by the computer and conflicts eliminated. Coordinating connections and pass-throughs are other important uses. If a building system is represented in 3D in its layout space and approved, the space is reserved, otherwise the space is free. Thus, the first step for all trades is to lay out the systems in a 3D building model, so possible conflicts can be resolved in the virtual building model, not the real building.
An important use of BIM is to develop smart (rule-based) layout and detailing. For example, the structural steel and pre-cast industries have defined many of the design rules for these materials in BIM applications. The benefits are especially clear in automated connection design that can generate the appropriate connection based on the size and connection location of the pieces, and the structural loads being transferred.
Despite these advantages, a BIM software specification for masonry does not yet exist. However, some exciting prototypes have been generated. One example is research on parametric design of concrete masonry buildings led by Prof. Russell Gentry at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Example: Parametric design of concrete masonry walls
THIS WORK, funded by the NCMA Education and Research Foundation, explores the potential of BIM technologies to promote innovation and efficiency in concrete masonry construction. The research explores ways in which parametric modeling can be applied to support the design and construction of curved load-bearing masonry walls. The final goal is to improve the design and construction processes by supporting easy definition and evaluation of design alternatives from the beginning, while providing automatic specification construction details.
The Voice of the Masonry Industry