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.
An analytical model of a structure is comprised of a set of structural member analytical models including one for each element in the structure. The following structural elements have structural member analytical models: Structural Columns, Structural Framing elements (such as beams and braces), Structural Floors, Structural Walls, and Structural Foundation elements.
The analytical model of any one structural element has:
- Instance parameters
- Physical material properties
- Default position relative to the structural member itself
- Location with respect to a projection plane, either as placed or as adjusted
The analytical model is created automatically when you create the physical model, and can be exported to 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.