In Revit, an analytical model is a simplified 3D representation of the full engineering description of a structural physical model. The analytical model consists of those structural components, geometry, material properties, and loads, that together form an engineering system. The analytical model is created automatically while you create the physical model, and can be exported to analysis and design applications.
For more information, see Linking with Analysis and Design Applications.
| Physical Model | Analytical Model |
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You create your physical model in Revit within views that represent the physical structure. You can think of the physical model as a set of production drawings. As you build your physical model, analytical model creation is occurring on-the-fly. Revit maintains the analytical model for you.
The coarse representation of structural elements that you view in the physical model is not the analytical model. The analytical model is initially geometrically dependent upon the physical model, but can be viewed as independent objects.