In the Project Browser, open the families folder and browse to Structural Framing. Next you edit a Universal Beam family (or other section type for non-UK members). Your new Shared Parameter is now ready for use. You will need to ensure that the new parameter is created as a Number. I am naming the new parameter SDR (Span to Depth Ratio) but you can use something else if you prefer.

You will then be presented with the Parameter Properties Dialog. If everything is inactive, then you will need to create a new parameter file by clicking the Create button. If you already have a Shared Parameter file, then click the New Parameter command as shown below. On the Manage Ribbon click the Shared Parameters command as shown below. The first step is to create a shared parameter, this needs to be shared as this may need to appear in a schedule or be taggable. To follow this tutorial, you will need Revit 2016 or later.

The image below shows the filters colouring, green is OK, red is over the limit and yellow is under the limit. In the following tutorial I will edit a UB family, add a shared parameter and then use the value of this and the structural usage to activate certain colours with filters. Typically, a span to depth ratio of 13-15 is used for primary beams and 18-20 for secondary beams. Revit can be used to calculate and display the Span to Depth Ratio by creating a shared parameter and making a simple formula. In early scheme design of a steel structure many engineers like to use the span to depth ratio to size members assuming a uniform loading across the beam.

In this tutorial we shall look at a method of calculating and displaying the Span to Depth ratio for steel primary and secondary beams.

Revit library 2019