Main System#

Opens the 3D view used as the Main System by SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design.
If no Main System exists, one can be defined.

Defining the Main System#

Defining the Main System of the Revit project is the starting point of the workflow with SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design:

  1. Open a 3D view where the relevant analytical elements for the analysis are visible.

  2. Click SOFiSTiK Analysis Tab ‣ Project ‣ Main System[1].

  3. In the dialog box, validate which 3D view will become the Main System of the project with OK.

  4. The Project Settings dialog box opens automatically if no design code has defined yet.

  5. Select the design code to associate with the project and validate the dialog box with OK.

  6. Continue working in the project.

  7. Click again on SOFiSTiK Analysis Tab ‣ Project ‣ Main System to go back to the Main System view[1].

Working with the Main System#

Once defined, the Main System view allows to generate a Finite Element model and perform calculations with it. The What you see is what you get principle applies: all analytical elements visible in the view will generate Finite Elements:

  1. Ensure the Structural Properties panel is displayed.

  2. If not, click SOFiSTiK Analysis Tab ‣ Manage ‣ Structural Properties to open it.

  3. There, check and adjust the System View properties associated with the main system.

  4. Everything is now set to Calculate the Main System, generating the Finite Element model and performing analyses.

The Main System View#

The Main System is the view at the center of all further analysis and calculation steps in the project. All elements visible when calculating this view are analyzed to:

  • Create the main Finite Element model linked to the project.

  • Generate and store extended SOFiSTiK information about the project including: information found in the Project Settings (materials, cross sections etc.) and information used in ssd_small SOFiSTiK Structural Desktop (SSD) and for the designs suchas automatic combination rules, design parameter for area elements.

  • For projects with Subsystem View: to assess and store how analytical elements are connected to each other in the project. This information is necessary and used to detect Supporting Elements for subsystems and to perform the Load Take Down between them.

Important

Ensure the calculation of the Main System is up-to-date when performing subsystem and load take down calculations.

Note

There can only be one Main System in a project!
When your model changes, adjust the visible elements in the Main System view accordingly to have it reflect the relevant elements for your analyses.
If the current Main System view is no longer approriate, you may delete and define it anew with the Analysis Browser.
In this case, we recommend re-calculating all systems and checking them thoroughly.