Symbiosis of life-cycle structural design and asset management based on Building Information Modeling: Application for industrial facility equipment

In the last few years, particular focus has been devoted to the life cycle performance of fastening systems, which is reflected in increasing numbers of publications, standards and large-scale research efforts. Simultaneously, experience shows that in many cases, where fastening systems are implemented – such as industrial facilities – the design of fasteners is governed by fatigue loading under dynamic characteristics. In order to perform an adequate design and to specify the most efficient and appropriate fastening product, the engineer needs to access and process a broad range of technical and commercial information. Building information modelling (BIM), as a data management method in the construction industry, can supply such information and accommodate a comprehensive design and specification process. Furthermore, the application of BIM-based processes, such as the generation of a BIM-model, allows to use the important information for the construction as well as the life cycle management with different actions and time dependencies of the asset and its components. As a consequence, the BIM model offers the potential to correlate different data relevant for achieving the goals of the respective application, in order to ensure a more effective and correct design of the fastening. This paper demonstrates such a BIM-based design framework for an Industry 4.0 case, and in particular, the installation of a factory robot through post-installed anchors under fatigue-relevant loading in concrete.