Repeating Structural Frame - Best Practices

[Anonymous]

Hi all

Looking for advice for modelling of several steelwork bridge length options within the one Revit project model. Each bridge girder is made up of multiple 3m x 3m identical panels bolted together. In total I will have 15 bridges modelled varying in length.

My intention was to use a model group of framing members that are disallowed join to prevent any unintentional movement to surrounding members. This has worked well however I have currently modelled 4 of the 15 bridges and there is starting to become issues with what I assume is too many model groups. If I try to modify a beam size/cope/justification within the model group I get the error message "Can't rebuild geometry"

I have tinkered with using a family and having nested framing members within to create a panel that is hopefully more stable, but run into complications such as lack of functionality in cutting/coping nested family members.

I would like to know what your recommended best practice is for modelling of approximately 1000 panels and be able to tag/schedule the framing members, and the ability to model connections within a single entity that then updates all panels on all bridges.

[Anonymous]

My first question would be why model everything, is there any shortcuts you can take? seems like it's a lot of modelling for no gain. I would look at doing it in 2d and manually schedule the steel if you absolutely have to.

But if worst comes to worst I would have 15 models of your varying size bridges linked into a master site, once you've done 1 the other 14 should be easy. 

[Anonymous]

I would like to able to model as much as feasible, and would expect to achieve at least an LOD of 300 for this project. If connections aren't modelled it's no big deal, but having the bridge frame itself modelled I would say is the minimum.

It did cross my mind that I could break it up into 14 project files, however in the past this has created tedious repetitive tasks when it comes to changes that are bound to occur throughout design now having to be completed 14 times in separate models to maintain consistency.

I was playing around with it today and had some luck of avoiding the "Can't rebuild geometry" error message by removing any copes to structural framing members since these do not form part of the model group. Once all copes were removed I could place ref planes within the model groups to control cuts on the ends of the members.