The construction industry currently lacks automated open-source-based workflows for thermal and structural analysis of buildings. The Finite Element Method (FEM) represents the state-of-the-art approach for structural and thermal analysis in construction engineering. With the recent increase in computing power, complex models can now be analyzed within a feasible amount of time. However, the integration of FEM into Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows remains an active area of research. While some commercial software provides interfaces and plug-ins for BIM-integrated finite element analysis, their capabilities are limited and their use is restricted to the corresponding commercial software. Customizable open-source-based approaches exist, but they lack consistent and robust workflows. A consistent data flow of material properties and boundary conditions is essential but remains a challenging task that has not yet been sufficiently addressed. Fraunhofer Italia has developed a workflow based on the open IFC-standard and open-source FEM software packages, which has been tested and validated through the creation of a software prototype. This talk will introduce the developed workflow and demonstrate the prototype’s functionalities through selected use-cases.

1. BIM2FEM: From Building Information
Modeling to Finite Element Analysis
—
An open-source-based workflow
Julius Emig, Dipl.-Ing. | Fraunhofer Italia IEC

2. 1
—
Fraunhofer Italia – Innovation Engineering Center

3. Fraunhofer Italia
• Applied research for public and private
stakeholders all sizes and economic sectors
• Institute founded in 2010 in Bolzano, since 2017
at NOI Techpark
Head of Institute
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dominik Matt
Unit: Process Engineering in Construction
• Digitalization and sustainability in construction
industry
• Concepts and software prototypes
• BIM methodology and extraction, manipulation
and analysis of data related to construction
processes
Innovation Engineering Center
©
Domenico
Fiorentino
©
Ivo
Corrà

4. 2
—
BIM2FEM – Background & Motivation

5. Background
Building Information Modeling – BIM
• Methodology to model and exchange
information about construction projects /
processes
• Open file-format IFC

6. Background
Building Information Modeling – BIM
• Methodology to model and exchange
information about construction projects /
processes
• Open file-format IFC
Finite Element Method – FEM
• Numerical simulation method to model physical
behavior of objects
• Applied in AEC-sector e.g. for structural and
thermal analysis of buildings / building parts

7. Motivation
Lack of interoperability for BIM and FEM software
• Proprietary solutions
• Open-source solutions lack robustness

8. Motivation
Lack of interoperability for BIM and FEM software
• Proprietary solutions
• Open-source solutions lack robustness
Thermal analysis of buildings
• Low degree of automation
• Manual input of thermal bridges, materials,
boundary conditions
Enable simulation-based planning
with high degree of automation

9. 3
—
BIM2FEM - Workflow

10. BIM2FEM - Workflow
Extracting geometry and
materials from BIM-model

11. BIM2FEM - Workflow
Extracting geometry and
materials from BIM-model
Meshing extracted geometry

12. BIM2FEM - Workflow
Extracting geometry and
materials from BIM-model
Meshing extracted geometry Thermal FEM-simulation

13. BIM2FEM - File Formats and Software
IfcOpenshell
OpenCascade
Python, (C++)
Gmsh
Python, (C++)
ElmerFEM
pyElmer
Python, (Fortran)
IFC STP UNV VTU
Extracting geometry and
materials from BIM-model
Meshing extracted geometry Thermal FEM-simulation

14. 4
—
BIM2FEM - Demonstration

15. Video: 2D-Prototype

16. Video: 3D-Enhancement

17. Contact
—
Julius Emig, Dipl.-Ing.
Research Associate
julius.emig@fraunhofer.it
Fraunhofer Italia Research
Via A. Volta 13a
39100 Bozen
www.fraunhofer.it