topic Rebar in custom family components in Revit Structure Forum

Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:17:38 GMT

Hi,

I need to put rebar in concrete products. My products are too complex to build with traditionnal slab and wall functionnal, so tried creating families in which i can create any custom volume and shape i would like. However, Revit wont recognize holes and will put rebar through it. Does someone has an idea how i could create custom and complex shapes, will still benefiting from more automatic and user-friendly rebar funcitons.

Thanks,

Alex

Re: Rebar in custom family components

WEC17 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:09:15 GMT

are you trying to model the rebar or just 2d Elements

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:13:29 GMT

Hi,

Im trying to insert rebar in a concrete product (e.g. septic tank). Those haves holes in certain places and Revit wont recognize them, so i need to manually shorten my rebars.

Thanks!

Re: Rebar in custom family components

WEC17 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:16:21 GMT

okay, what concrete product. You need to be more specific Footing, grade beam, column. etc. My question is are you modeling the element?

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:21:58 GMT

Ok, so heres a photo of a product im modeling. So yes, im modeling them in the family editor, then insert them as a foundation. Thats the best way (yet) i could find, but still having difficulties with rebar functions. It is not detecting the hole in the back. Thanks!

Re: Rebar in custom family components

WEC17 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:26:11 GMT

upload the file and let see if I can help you.

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:27:43 GMT

Here you go. Thanks!

Re: Rebar in custom family components

WEC17 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:44:01 GMT

you can't model the rebar to the family you did. they only way to go that I know is if you add the after you load the family to the project.

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:46:12 GMT

Thats what i found, but it doesnt have any functions really. It only let me put rebars, while ignoring all others aspects of the element.

Re: Rebar in custom family components

WEC17 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:51:13 GMT

Also you need to think is it worthy going thru all this. Load it into your project and model the rebar there. them make it a group.

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:53:56 GMT

Yeah thats exactly what im doing! Sorry if this wasnt clear at all. But even in the project, the rebar are going thru the hole and is not considering the slope on the slab. It has difficulties considering a custom family (in this case a "foundation")

Re: Rebar in custom family components

ovidiu_paunescu — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 07:02:50 GMT

Hi @alexandre.legault.4

Indeed, shape driven rebar is not cut by openings. Actually only area reinforcement is cut by openings, but can only be placed in walls and floors.

Something you can use for complex elements is free form rebar.

You can edit the constraints of the set and add opening faces as targets for the start / end of bar constraints. The bars will stop at the opening.

For multiple sloping faces, you can create reinforcement that follows those surfaces. If you make your concrete element parametric, the free form rebar will react when it changes.

For free form rebar, you can turn the workshop instructions to Bend and the bars will be matched to rebar shapes in the project. This means they can report the individual segment lengths in schedule.

I placed a couple of sets on the model in your example and I am attaching it here.

Also, I will link below two classes I presented at AU, where I condensed a lot of information about how rebar and free form rebar work. Maybe those can help.

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Rebar-Modeling-Revit-Keep-It-Check-2019

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Tips-and-Tricks-Effective-Rebar-Detailing-Revit-2020

Re: Rebar in custom family components

alexandre.legault.4 — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 12:47:58 GMT

Hi Ovidiu,

Thanks a lot for the great explanation, the photos and the file! I think i have it now.

Thanks again,
Alexandre

Re: Rebar in custom family components

elvin_bmu — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:52:25 GMT

hi , how can i create 2 or more rebar family category for using bottom rebar ( which top must not be visible) and top rebar ( which bottom must be visible ) in plan view if diameters are same for the both . Additionally , this case will help me in view template of top rebar plan