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