Export a model from Tekla Structures to an analysis application

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Export a model from Tekla Structures to an analysis application

To run structural analysis on a Tekla Structures model, you need to export an analysis model or the physical model to an analysis application. For example, you can use Tekla Structural Designer as the analysis application.

Export an analysis model to Tekla Structural Designer

You can export Tekla Structures analysis model data to Tekla Structural Designer along with the physical model. The exported .cxl file can be imported to Tekla Structural Designer to update an existing model, or to create a new Tekla Structural Designer model on the basis of the Tekla Structures analysis model.

If you have compatible versions of Tekla Structures and Tekla Structural Designer installed on your computer, also the corresponding Tekla Structural Designer model (.tsmd file) can be created or updated during the export, and it then automatically opens in Tekla Structural Designer.

Limitations:

  • Walls that consist of several segments are not exported. Only walls with a single analysis area are exported.
  • Walls with chamfered corners are exported without chamfers.
  • Openings in concrete walls are only exported when the walls and openings are rectangular.
  • The physical position of the exported polybeams in Tekla Structural Designer may not match the physical position in Tekla Structures. However, the analysis position is correct.

Before you start:

  • Open the Tekla Structures model from which you want to export.
  • If you want to manually define which member type will be used for a Tekla Structures part in Tekla Structural Designer, use the TSD Member Type, TSD Slab Type, or TSD Wall Type user-defined attribute of the physical part. These attributes are available on the Tekla Structural Designer tab in the part's user-defined attributes dialog box in Tekla Structures.

    For example, you can set TSD Slab Type to STEEL_DECK_1WAY, or TSD Wall Type to MID_PIER.

    For more information about the member types, see the 'Specifying objects within Tekla Structures' section in the Tekla Structural Designer documentation.

  • Create an analysis model that includes the parts you want to analyze. Set Tekla Structural Designer as the analysis application in the analysis model properties.
  • Ensure that the analysis parts of the columns are aligned in the analysis model.
  1. On the Analysis & design tab, click A&D models.

    Alternatively, you can go to the File menu and click Export > Tekla Structural Designer with analysis model.

  2. In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box:
    1. Select the analysis model to export.

      Ensure that Analysis application is set to Tekla Structural Designer for this analysis model.

    2. Click Export.
  3. In the Export to Tekla Structural Designer dialog box:
    1. Click the ... button next to Export file to set the folder location and name for the export file.

      We recommend that you use a file name that indicates the analysis model name, the phase of the analysis and design workflow, and the file transfer direction. For example, AnalysisModel1 - A - Initial export from TS to TSD or AnalysisModel1 - C - Further changes from TS to TSD.

      If you have a compatible version of Tekla Structural Designer installed, the .tsmd file type is automatically selected.

    2. In the Grids list, specify which of the Tekla Structures grids you want to export: All, Selected, or None.

      With Selected, select the grids in the model.

    3. To check the proposed profile and material grade conversions, open the Conversions section and click the preview buttons.

      The export uses an internal conversion list containing the standard profiles and material grades. If the profile or material grade of any part cannot be converted using the internal conversion, the export name will be replaced with the following text in the Conversions tables:

      --- NO MATCH ---

    4. If the text --- NO MATCH --- is displayed, or if you want override the standard conversion, you can convert the profiles and materials in the following way:
      • Create a profile and/or material grade conversion file in a text editor using the file name extension .cnv.
      • In the text file, enter the Tekla Structural Designer profile or material grade name, for profiles the # symbol and the profile code, then the equal sign (=), and the corresponding Tekla Structures name.

        You may need help from your local Tekla support with this.

      • In the Profile conversion file and Material conversion file boxes, specify the conversion files that you want to use for mapping profiles and material grades.

      If the conversion files are not used, the parts with profiles or material grades that cannot be converted will still be created but they will use the export file profile or material grade that may be invalid.

    5. Click Export.

    A .cxl file is created in the folder you specified using the file name you specified. Also with the .tsmd export file type, a .cxl is created first and a timestamp is added after the file name.

  4. If you have a compatible version of Tekla Structural Designer installed and .tsmd selected as the export file type, the BIM Integration : Structural BIM Import wizard appears. Do the following:
    1. Review and modify the settings in the wizard as needed, and then click Next in each step.

      For example, you can set the building code, and select whether this is a first-time transfer from Tekla Structures to Tekla Structural Designer, or an update to an existing model.

      For more information about the options, see 'Import a project from a Structural BIM Import file' in the Tekla Structural Designer product guides.

    2. When you are happy with the settings, click Finish in the final step of the wizard.

      A Tekla Structural Designer model file (.tsmd) is created in the folder you specified using the file name you specified.

      Tekla Structural Designer will open, and you can start working with the model in Tekla Structural Designer.

To import a .cxl file to Tekla Structural Designer on another computer, for example, see 'Import a project from a Structural BIM Import file' in the Tekla Structural Designer product guides.

Export a physical model to Tekla Structural Designer

If you do not want to create a Tekla Structures analysis model and use it in export to Tekla Structural Designer, you can export a Tekla Structures physical model instead, and use it for analysis in Tekla Structural Designer.

Note:

We recommend that you export to Tekla Structural Designer using the analysis model. It ensures better analytical connectivity and produces a more accurate model in Tekla Structural Designer than the physical model.

For more information about the physical model export, see Export to Tekla Structural Designer and Example workflow of integration between Tekla Structures and Tekla Structural Designer.

Export an analysis model to an analysis application

To run structural analysis on a Tekla Structures analysis model using an analysis application, you need to export the analysis model into a folder. By default, the export folder is the current model folder. If you have a direct link to an analysis application, and you export an analysis model from Tekla Structures using that particular analysis application, the analysis model is opened in the application.

  1. On the Analysis & design tab, click A&D models.
  2. If needed, define the export folder.
    1. In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box, select the analysis model to export, and then click Properties....
    2. In the Analysis Model Properties dialog box, click Browse for export folder on the Analysis model tab.
    3. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, browse to the export folder, and then click OK.
    4. Click OK to save the export folder settings with the analysis model properties.
  3. In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box:
    1. Select the analysis model to export.
    2. Click Export.
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