Components Inside Components (SOL/234)

Version (9.6) of Solibri Model Checker (SMC) adds a new rule template Component Inside Component (SOL/234).  This rule template checks the distance between a component that resides within another component to the surfaces of that outer component. The following article provides an explanation of the rule parameters of this rule template through several examples.  The example model is available through the link below:

Component Inside Component Example.smc

This model contains rows and columns of slabs that contain rebar.  The north grouping provides examples of rebar that protrude at various lengths out from the various surfaces of the slab. The middle grouping provides examples of rebar that resides completely within the slabs at various distances to the surfaces of the slab.  The south row of slabs have different numbers of rebar contained within.

Checking Protrusion of Inner Components

The Check Protrusion of Inner Components ruleset provides examples of checking protrusions of inner components.  The first rule, Top Surface Protrusions 1″-2″ checks the west-most column of rebar that runs vertically through or close to the top surface of the slabs.

The rule parameters of the Component Inside Component template has two filter parameter tables for the outer components and inner components to check.  There are two methods to check distances between outer and Inner Component surfaces:

• Check Protrusions of Inner Components: checks a minimum and maximum length that the inside protrudes out from a surface from an outer component.
• Check Distance to Outer Component: checks a minimum and maximum length that the inside component resides from the surface of the outer component.

Both methods have four surface checks for minimum and maximum distances: Top Surfaces, Side Surfaces, Bottom Surfaces, and Any Surfaces.

In the rule parameters of the Slabs checked by Top Surface Protrusions 1″-2″ rule, slabs classified as examples for checking top surfaces are listed in the Outer Components filter parameter table.  Reinforcing Bar is listed in the Inner Components filter parameter table.  There is a checkbox marked for the Check Protrusion of Inner Components, option.  A minimum value of 1” and maximum value of 2” is specified for Top Surface protrusions.

In the results, the two slabs that have a .5” and 2.5” protrusion are listed as results, and dimension lines visualize the incorrect protrusion distances.

Likewise, the 3 slabs that have rebar running vertically toward the top surface but do not penetrate are returned as results, as those rebar have a 0 value of protrusion, where the minimum is 1″.  Red arrows point to the rebar that don’t protrude through the slabs.

The only slab that passes this check is the one that contains rebar that protrudes 1.5” from the top surface of the slab.

Checking Distances of Inner Components

The Check Distance to Outer Component ruleset provides examples of checking the distance of inner components to the surfaces of outer components.  Again, the first rule, Top Surface Distance 1″-2″, checks the west-most column of rebar that runs vertically through or close to the top surface of the slabs.

n the rule parameters of the Top Surface Distance 1″-2″ rule, slabs classified as examples for checking top surfaces are listed in the Outer Components filter parameter table.  Reinforcing Bar is listed in the Inner Components filter parameter table.  There is a checkbox marked for the Check Distance of Inner Components, option.  A minimum value of 1″ and maximum value of 2″ is specified for Top Surface distances.

In the results, the visualization of the issues is now the opposite, where rebar that protrudes from the top surface and has a 0 distance is displayed with a red arrow pointing to the rebar.  The two slabs that have rebar at distances of .5″ and 2.5″ to the top surface of the slab are listed as results, and dimension lines visualize the incorrect distance amounts.

Combine Outer Adjoining Components

The east-most columns in the model contain examples of slabs that are Adjoining Outer Components:

Upon closer inspection, one column contains slabs that are side-by-side:

While the other column contains slabs that are inside one another:

In the results of Side Surface Protrusions 1″-2″, the middle examples are returned as results even though the rebar is protruding 1.5″ inches from the slab:

The results provide information as to the issue, as the rebar is protruding a distance of 1′-1.5″ from the slab on the left:

Marking the Combine Outer Adjoining Components option in the rule parameters allows adjoining outer components to be treated as a single outer component.  By marking this option in the Side Surface Protrusion 1″-2″ Combine Outer Adjoining rule, the slabs are treated as a single outer component. In the results of the rule, only the rebar that is penetrating .5″ and 2.5″ from the right slab and outer slab are returned as results, and the rebar that protrudes 1.5″ passes, since it is within the 1″ min / 2″ max requirement:

Set Limits for Number of Inner Components

The Component Inside Component rule template allows for a check for a minimum and maximum number of inner components.

In the rule parameters of the 1-3 Rebar Inside Slabs rule, the Set Limits for Number of Inner Components checkbox is marked, the Minimum Amount is set to 1, and the Maximum Amount is set to 3:

In the results of the check, the slab that doesn’t contain any rebar is returned as an issue, since there is a minimum of 1 required.  Likewise, the slab that contains 4 pieces of rebar is returned as an issue, since there is a maximum of 3 required.  The slabs that contain 1, 2, and 3 pieces of rebar pass the check: