Software for Rebar Detailers
Allplan’s BIM solution for rebar engineering enables more accurate visualizations for reinforcement drawing & reporting.
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Allplan for Rebar Detailers
Rebar is a vital element to the integrity of any concrete structure, but the current means to achieve an efficient workflow, for a rebar detailer, leaves much to be improved upon. Fractured communication between the structural engineer, general contractors, sub-contractors, and field personnel can lead to costly errors and clashes on the job site. Coordination is critical to maintain a tight construction schedule, avoid site errors and eliminate costly extensions.
Building information modeling (BIM) gives drafters the ability to work in their familiar 2D drawing, while generating a 3D model. Allplan functions like automatic bar placement and error detection tools can cut the time it would take to design and detail concrete projects.
Quickly and easily detail concrete rebar with Allplan’s rebar takeoff software.
- Draft in 2D & create a 3D model simultaneously
- Generate accurate cost appraisals & estimates
- Automatically detect clashes & track changes
Work in 2D or 3D
Coordination is critical to maintain a tight construction schedule, avoid site errors and eliminate costly extensions. Building information modeling (BIM) gives drafters the ability to work in their familiar 2D drawing, while generating a 3D model. Functions like automatic bar placement and bending tools can cut the time it would take to design projects.
Here's what one of our customers said:
“When working with complicated geometrical conditions in conjunction with high reinforcement levels, complex reinforcement patterns often arise, which can be produced and also optimized considerably faster using 3D planning together with 3D animation.
But even with simple reinforcement planning, working in 3D is still worthwhile, especially when amendments are made, as an adaptation in the 3D model no longer has to be carried out manually in the sectional views. Allplan Engineering provides a significant advantage in such situations in comparison with 2D solutions.”
Automatic Clash Detection
Rebar detailing can be grueling work--especially if you’re using 2D CAD software for drafting. One fundamental flaw of working in 2D; limited visualization. If there’s rebar congestion or clashes, it’s nearly impossible to detect them in a 2D draft. But there is good news for detailers, and it’s spelled B-I-M.
Building information modeling (BIM) gives drafters the ability to work in a familiar 2D drawing method, while also generating a 3D model. Not only that, but functions like automatic clash detection help detect errors in the design stage, so they can be resolved before they cost the project time and money in the fab shop or onsite.
Change Management
Rebar detailing can be challenging--especially if you’re using 2D CAD software for drafting. If changes are made to the draft, then all copies of that draft have to be updated individually. This doesn’t help engineers and detailers work together more effectively, and it certainly doesn’t help keep a project on schedule.
Allplan BIM software allows drafters to maintain their 2D working method, while also generating a 3D model. Then, all changes made to this model are automatically updated in real time. Everyone working on the project would see the most current version of the model in the software, avoiding the need to redo the draft from one discipline to the other.
Automate bar lists
Rebar detailing can be challenging work--especially if you use 2D CAD software for drafting and Excel for reporting. Not only does the design portion of the project take longer in 2D, but the reports, material take offs, and bar bending schedules have to be created manually in an entirely separate program.
This disorganization creates a greater likelihood of reporting errors, which could wreak havoc on the entire project. BIM software allows drafters to generate a 3D model from which all reports are derived directly. Bar bending schedules and material take offs can be generated with a few clicks of a button, without having to leave the program!
Reinforce complex shapes
Rebar detailing can be challenging work--especially if you use 2D CAD software for drafting. Not only does the design portion of the project take longer in 2D, but it becomes very challenging to reinforce a project with complex shapes.
This was certainly the case for the team that worked on the Stuttgart 21 rail project - one of the largest European infrastructure projects. The engineers were presented with an enormous challenge when designing the shell roof, supported by 28 geometrically complex, chalice-shaped columns.
Luckily, the engineers had the benefit of modeling the reinforcement in 3D using Allplan. They were able to produce 12,000 reinforcement drawings, all for one roof!
Read the full case study to learn more about this incredibly complicated infrastructure project.
More video resources
Review Refine Manipulate Reinforce: Modifying bar schemas
Reinforce a corner automatically and control width and length parametrically
Add an opening in a concrete structure and update rebar automatically
Recorded Webinars
Bringing BIM to the Rebar Detailing & Estimating Industry
A Smarter Way to Create a BIM Model for Concrete Reinforcement
Advanced Rebar Modeling, Detailing, and Scheduling
References
The Gotthard Base Tunnel
Rebar detailing done in 3D can help detailers and fabricators avoid common site issues such as congestion with other reinforcing, and interference with other trades. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in the world, posed logistical complexities due to the scale of the project. An engineering consortium consisting of Gähler und Partner AG, Gruner AG, Rothpletz, Lienhard + Cie AG, and CES Bauingenieur AG was formed and for planning and construction purposes they divided the Gotthard Base Tunnel into several sections, and construction work on the different sections was coordinated and carried out simultaneously to save time and money.
“The 3D model was very useful to us where two adits meet at both tunnel tubes. The resulting spatial intersections of the various structures were ideally presented and edited in the 3D visualization. But the 3D system also gave us the assurance that the drawn reinforcement would really fit when developing the reinforcement plans.” Raphael Wick, project manager of the engineering consortium GBT Nord and representative of Gähler und Partner.
Dry Dock in Duqm Port
Rebar detailing done in 3D can help detailers and fabricators save time and speed completion. All instances can be modelled, visualized and coordinated prior to fabrication, site delivery and construction.
The experts at the Korean construction group Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E & C), Daewoo Ship-building & Marine Engineering, which has taken on the design work; and Korean service provider BasisSoft, which provides software support for the project had an incredibly tight deadline to complete the dry dock a the Duqm Port. The Omani government mandated that the entire installation had to be completed within three years – there was no time for errors.
Using Allplan Engineering, the engineers were able to reinforce the structures quickly and precisely. The formwork edges were generated automatically from the model, and formed the reference point for the spatial alignment of the reinforcement. “This significantly speeds up the design process,” says Chris Kim, Senior Manager of BasisSoft. “Using traditional methods in 2D, an engineer can finish around two layouts a day. An engineer using 3D works almost twice as fast and can create three to four layouts.“
Allplan takes the guesswork out of rebar detailing and allows you to problem-solve more efficiently.
An Introduction to Rebar Detailing
The question, “what do you do for a living?” is a simple one that any working professional can answer. however, there are professions within the AEC industry that are not commonly recognized—a rebar detailer is one of them.
The Professional Problem Solvers
Rebar detailers are not only interpreters, the core of their skill set lies in problem-solving. They put the pieces of a puzzle together to create the right drawing, and in turn, the correct fabricated rebar.
The Future of Rebar Detailing
In the AEC, there is a controversy over 3D and BIM, vs 2D. While 3D is a component of BIM, it is not BIM in and of itself.
