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How to Utilize AutoCAD in Geometry Modeling in midas Civi

August 3, 2021 

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Table of Contents
How to Utilize AutoCAD in
  Geometry Modeling in midas…
Aug 3, 2021
1. How to Import AutoCAD Drawings to midas Civil
2. Tips and Reminders Von-Mises Stresses: Physical
Signi cance and Application i…
  Jul 28, 2021
1. How to Import AutoCAD Drawings to midas Civil
 
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Supposed you are given this cross-section of a bridge in AutoCAD, and you need to interpret this as a Elements Ebook
model in midas Civil: Jul 21, 2021

 
Composite Steel Integral
Bridge Analysis and Design
Jul 14, 2021

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Figure 1. Sample bridge cross-section

 
 
To most engineers, it is easier to interpret this cross-section to a bridge geometric model using AutoCAD,
like this:

Figure 2. Sample bridge geometric mode

 
 
Since midas Civil is fully compatible with AutoCAD, you can directly use this drawing as your geometry
model in midas Civil. Just simply save your drawing to a DXF (.dxf) le, then you can already import it to

midas Civil.

Figure 3. AutoCAD save as DXF le

 
 
 
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Figure 4. Import DXF le to midas Civil

 
 
And that easy, you now have the geometry model of your structure, ready to use in your midas Civil. But

there are few things that you need to consider to use this method to draw your model. With this, we will

also give some Tips and Reminders on how to effectively draw your model in AutoCAD.

 
2. Tips and Reminders
 
 

2.1 The rst thing that you need to consider before importing your DXF le is to make sure that the

active unit of measurement in your midas Civil is consistent with the unit of measurement that you
considered in your drawing. For example, you have drawn in AutoCAD in millimeters, then the active unit

of measurements in midas Civil should also be in millimeters before importing.

 
You can easily change the active unit of measurement in midas Civil using the functions available at the
lower-right of the interface:

Figure 5. Active unit of measurement

 
 

2.2 Draw your elements in AutoCAD considering the section offset that you will use in midas Civil. For

example, you will consider the offset of a steel composite section on the center-top, then, you should
draw the element that will represent your girder in AutoCAD at center-top as well.

 
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Figure 6. Offset consideration

 
 
 
2.3 Set different layers for each structural component since midas Civil will adapt these layers as

Structural Groups. This is useful especially when you are going to de ne Construction Stages on your
model since you no longer need to de ne these groups one by one anymore. You can also consider

creating different layers with the consideration of the launching stage already.

Figure 7. AutoCAD layers- midas Civil Structure Group

2.4 The direction on how you draw in AutoCAD will also be the basis of your element’s local axis and

local direction in midas Civil.

2.5 Midas Civil will also follow the World UCS of your AutoCAD for the coordinates of your nodes and
elements. Since when drawing in AutoCAD in 3D, you need to move your origin from time to time to draw

on different planes. With this, no matter what active coordinate system that you are in, midas Civil will

always follow the world UCS. It is highly suggested to locate a reference point of your model on the

origin of the World UCS for easier navigation once you import to midas Civil.

 
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Figure 8. AutoCAD Coordinate System

 

2.6  Additional things to consider when drawing in AutoCAD:

       2.6.1 Polylines and Lines in AutoCAD will be imported as beam elements.

       2.6.2 Rectangular enclosed Polylines will be imported as plate elements.

       2.6.3 3-points Arcs will be imported as beam elements considering the end-to-end nodes only. It is     

               advisable to divide your arcs into multipoint arch before importing. 

       2.6.4 Solids cannot be imported from AutoCAD to midas Civil.

 

Figure 9. Element type comparison

 

Sample DXF le is also downloadable on this article so you can try practicing how to import your

drawing from AutoCAD to Midas Civil.

 

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About the Author

N o r l a n D e Ve r a | Te c h n i c a l E n g i n e e r | M I D A S I T P h i l i p p i n e s

Engineer Norlan obtained his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at the

Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and is currently in process of

taking his master's degree in Structural Engineering.  Engineer Norlan is

currently a Technical Support Engineer at MIDAS IT Philippines but before

joining MIDAS IT, Norlan worked in various bridge-related projects using

midas Civil. He is very passionate about his work and wants to further pursue

his passion in bridge design/engineering and teaching. 

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 Topics
midas Civil Construction Stage 2D CAD Tips & Tutorials Geometric Modeling

Bridge Engineering Bridge Modeling AutoCAD Modeling

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