Title: Integrating 3D Structural Analysis and Piping Design Drastically Reduces Man-hours on Design of Chemical Plant
Company: Eichleay Engineers of California
Case History Source: http://www.rebis.com/corporate/press/success/eichleay.asp
Case History Author(s): Fred Adam, Project Engineer, Todd Hancock, Consulting Engineer Eichleay Engineers of California, Concord, California.
Rating:  Editor's Choice
Application:  Sizing steel members in plant design
As-Is Process:  Manual modeling and sizing a 3D component representing each individual member.
To-Be Process: After drawing the centerlines of steel members in the plant design program,
engineers transferred the geometry to a structural analysis program. There, the members were sized to meet required loads. This information was transferred back to the plant design system's structural steel module, which then generated a 3D model of the framework automatically from the analysis data. Equipment was placed and pipe routed, the data exported to Rebis' AutoPIPE® software for pipe stress analysis.  Isometric for fabrication are automatically generated.
To-Be Technology:  AutoPLANT® 97 from Rebis®, Walnut Creek, California, as an add-on to AutoCAD® and STAAD structural analysis program from Research Engineers, Inc.,
Yorba Linda, California.
How-To Process:  Procedures developed In STAAD, for an engineer to size and load the members, running the analysis and repeatedly refining the model to the point where it would perform adequately given the loads it would have to handle.  Software developed to takes the STAAD output files, combines them into one .SXF (simulation exchange file) file, and read the information into a component of AutoPLANT 97 called Multi-Steel. Multi-Steel converts basic information such as lines and mass properties into intelligent steel members.  Developed touch-up procedure to bring ISO's to company standards.

ROI: On one plant, at least 50% of the design man-hours normally budgeted were saved in structural steel design alone. The primary benefit to working in 3D was the automatice production of piping isometrics from the 3D model. Some touch-up was required to make the drawings conform to the company's standards, but overall the ability to generate isometrics from the 3D model reduced the time needed to prepare them by about 50%. Other required documents, such as plan views, section views, and bills of material were also generated automatically, for additional time savings.
Other Benefits: All design reviews were conducted using the 3D model.  A 3D model offers greater accuracy than a series of drawings. Interferences were detected and fixed in the model.  Ability to accurately predict steel requirements early in project helped reduce costs. Construction has proceeded on budget and on schedule.  Information from the 3D model has value for many aspects of the plant's ongoing operation, including purchasing, training, and maintenance. (Representatives from these groups were present at the design reviews and their input was used to work out problems early in the design process.)