Semantic TrimBIM Import (Steel)

The 2025 release introduces a new 'Import Semantic Model' workflow for engineers who use Tekla Structures for analysis and design during the early stages of design.

The new workflow is initially for steel members only, and allows you to automatically generate a connected, solvable model in Tekla Structural Designer directly from a Tekla Structures model.

Note:

To be able to use this workflow, the Tekla Structures user has to first install the 'Publish to Tekla Structural Designer' extension which is available in the Tekla Warehouse.

Benefits of Semantic TrimBIM Import:

When modeling in Tekla Structures, analytical model connectivity is typically not a major consideration. Consequently when a model is imported to Tekla Structural Designer using a Structural BIM Import file there are often a number of connectivity issues for the Engineer to resolve.
By importing the semantic model instead, analytical model connectivity is resolved automatically (as much as possible) during the import, saving a significant amount of time.
Structural member profiles and grades are mapped automatically.
The Tekla Structures model is visible within Tekla Structural Designer as a reference model.
Tekla Structural Designer and Tekla Structures do not need to be on the same PC
Analysis & design can be performed in Tekla Structural Designer, or the generated analytical model can be exported using existing native links.

Workflow for Semantic TrimBIM Import

The semantic model import can be broken down into 3 steps:

In Tekla Structures:
1. Open the model you want to import.
2. Run the Publish to Tekla Structural Designer extension.
3. Enter the details in the Publish to Tekla Structural Designer dialog and then click Publish
4. A TrimBIM (.trb) file and a .seb file are created in a TeklaStructuralDesigner subfolder within the specified folder.
In Tekla Structural Designer:
1. Open the Reference Models side pane.
2. Import the reference model from the TrimBIM (.trb) file.
In Tekla Structural Designer:
1. Right click the model name in the Reference Models side pane and select Import Semantic Model
2. Confirm the details in the Import Semantic Model dialog, then click OK

For further details, see: Import a model from a Semantic TrimBIM file