Best approach to convert IFC spiral stairway into shell elements for RFEM

API & Interfaces
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We’re working with an IFC file that contains a curved spiral stairway. The stair’s side elements are made of 10 mm thick steel plates with a height of approximately 1.40 m. We would like to model these components as shell structures in RFEM.

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Since there's no direct function to convert IFC volume elements into shell elements, what would be the most efficient workflow or method to achieve this conversion and import the model into RFEM in a reasonable amount of time?

Any suggestions, tips, or recommended tools would be greatly appreciated.

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Hello MarkSc,

Thank you for your question!

In general, IFC objects can be converted into members, surfaces, or solids.

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Which software was used to export the IFC file?
Would it be possible to share the IFC file? I would like to take a look at the file myself.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask here :writing_hand:

Best regards

Paul Sivolgin

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For anyone facing the same problem: I used Python and CadQuery to create a STEP file of the shell elements, which I then imported into RFEM, since I was not able to generate these surfaces directly from IFC within RFEM.

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