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LiveLink™ for Revit®

Bring Multiphysics Simulation to Architectural Projects

LiveLink™ for Revit® provides an interface for transferring the geometry of elements from architectural design projects in Revit® software to the COMSOL Multiphysics® software.

Revit® is a leading software for architectural design that supports CAD design and building information modeling (BIM) workflows. Through the LiveLink™ interface, it is possible to generate the geometry for selected rooms and included architectural elements in a building. The selected rooms and elements are transferred to the COMSOL® software, where any physical effects can be included in the synchronized model to ensure accurate simulation.

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The COMSOL Multiphysics UI overlaid on a Revit UI with a bracket model in both Graphics windows.

Features and Functionality with LiveLink™ for Revit®

The link between Revit® and COMSOL Multiphysics® is flexible for design workflow and modeling needs.

A close-up view of the Settings window for the LiveLink for Revit node and a geometry of a layered wall structure in the Graphics window.

Synchronize CAD Geometries in Revit® and COMSOL Multiphysics®

LiveLink™ for Revit® enables synchronization of 3D representations of architectural elements from a Revit® project to a COMSOL model's geometry. The COMSOL Multiphysics tab installed in the Revit® user interface provides tools for configuring the synchronization. When setting up simulations for projects that contain rooms, the computational domains for the rooms can be generated to extend to the wall centerline or, alternatively, the walls can be included with their full thickness. The geometry of walls and floors can also be transferred, including the interior layered structure for more detailed studies. Other architectural elements can be transferred to the model in full detail or in a simplified 3D representation.

With the LiveLink™ for Revit® interface, several synchronization configurations can be saved in a Revit® project, which makes it easy to set up multiple models where different analyses will be performed for different parts of a project. For even more flexibility, the LiveLink™ for Revit® interface can also synchronize the elements that are visible in a selected 3D view that has already been defined inside a project. The LiveLink™ for Revit® interface always keeps track of the synchronized project's name and path — as well as the synchronized view of the configuration — to prevent synchronizing an incorrect document.

A close-up view of the COMSOL Synchronize Offline window in the Revit UI.

Offline Synchronization

Syncing files between the two programs is possible even when the programs are installed on different computers. The LiveLink™ add-in included in LiveLink™ for Revit® can be used to save a synchronization file that may contain one or several versions of the geometry. This synchronization file can then be loaded into a COMSOL model to compute parametric sweeps. This is especially useful in organizations where the two different software packages are used by different individuals.

The LiveLink™ add-in can be installed with the COMSOL Multiphysics® installer or with the COMSOL Client installer for running simulation apps. Installing the LiveLink™ add-in using the COMSOL Client installer enables functionality for preparing designs, saving the designs as offline synchronization files, and loading the files into simulation apps.

A close-up view of the LiveLink for Revit node in the Model Builder and a small concert hall model in the Graphics window.

Synchronize Parameters, Materials, and Selections

For an efficient simulation setup, LiveLink™ for Revit® generates selections for the synchronized architectural elements. When applying modeling conditions or functionality to a specific element, it is possible to simply select it by name in the COMSOL Multiphysics® user interface. The selections also ensure that when changing a Revit® design, e.g., moving a wall, the settings on model domains and boundaries will be retained in the COMSOL model.

When working with conceptual mass models in a Revit® project, the LiveLink™ for Revit® synchronization capabilities include mass parameters. The user interface in COMSOL Multiphysics® provides an informational settings window to keep track of the names of the synchronized parameters. These can be iteratively accessed and updated via COMSOL Multiphysics®, facilitating design parameter optimization studies and parametric sweeps to evaluate the effect of properties on the design. Design parameters that cannot be controlled in the Revit® design can still be accessed in a read-only format and used when setting up a simulation, such as when defining boundary conditions.

Streamline Geometries for Simulation

COMSOL model geometries created from an imported CAD geometry often require some manipulation to reduce the complexity of the mesh and improve the efficiency of the simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics®. To ensure that imported geometries can be reliably modified and combined with geometry created in COMSOL Multiphysics®, LiveLink™ for Revit® provides the Parasolid® geometry engine with functionality for geometry simplification, including automatic repair and defeaturing. Its functionality is detailed on the CAD Import Module page.

Virtual geometry operations are also available with COMSOL Multiphysics® to provide yet another method for preventing fine design details from creating regions with unnecessarily dense meshes. With this functionality, a virtual geometry for meshing is created that excludes selected features of the CAD design. A distinct advantage is that the original curvature of the design is maintained, which can improve simulation accuracy for certain applications, such as analyzing stresses in structural contact.

A close-up view of a sliver CAD geometry showing the results of the mesh before and after repairing it.
A close-up view of a CAD geometry shown in a side-by-side comparison with and without a groove and hole.
A close-up view of a CAD geometry shown in a side-by-side comparison with and without fillets.
A close-up view of a CAD geometry shown in a side-by-side comparison with and without capped faces.
An infographic showing the connection between four different networks.

Simulation Applications

LiveLink™ for Revit® includes capabilities for creating simulation apps that analyze Revit® designs. These apps can then be shared with Revit® design teams either as standalone, compiled applications or in a managed fashion, deployed on the COMSOL Server™ application management product. All that is needed to run simulation apps is the COMSOL Client for Windows®, which can be downloaded and installed for free. Doing so also installs the COMSOL Multiphysics tab in the Revit® user interface. Compiled apps can either be launched directly from this tab or from COMSOL Server™.

Supported Formats for File Import and Export

Note that not all file formats are supported on all operating systems; for details, see the system requirements. The STL, PLY, and 3MP surface mesh formats are supported by COMSOL Multiphysics® without add-on products.

File Format Extension Version Import Export
ACIS® .sat, .sab, .asat, .asab Up to 2024 1.0 (import),
R4, R7, 2016 1.0 (export)
AutoCAD® .dwg 2.5–2024
AutoCAD® DXF™ .dxf 2.5–2024
IGES .igs, .iges Up to 5.3
Inventor® assemblies .iam 11–2024
Inventor® parts .ipt 6–2024
NX™ .prt Up to 2306
Parasolid® .x_t, .xmt_txt, .x_b, .xmt_bin Up to V36.0
PTC Creo Parametric™ .prt, .asm 1.0–10.0
PTC Pro/ENGINEER® .prt, .asm 16 to Wildfire® 5.0
SOLIDWORKS® .sldprt, .sldasm 98–2024
STEP .step AP203, AP214, AP242 (import),
AP203 (export)

ACIS is a registered trademark of Spatial Corporation. Autodesk, AutoCAD, Inventor, and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Parasolid and NX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. PTC, Creo, Parametric, and Pro/ENGINEER are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries. SOLIDWORKS is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For a list of such trademark owners, see the Trademarks page. COMSOL AB and its subsidiaries and products are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by these trademark owners.

Every business and every simulation need is different.

In order to fully evaluate whether or not the COMSOL Multiphysics® software will meet your requirements, you need to contact us. By talking to one of our sales representatives, you will get personalized recommendations and fully documented examples to help you get the most out of your evaluation and guide you to choose the best license option to suit your needs.

Just click on the "Contact COMSOL" button, fill in your contact details and any specific comments or questions, and submit. You will receive a response from a sales representative within one business day.

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