5.4.3.48 IfcRelConnectsElements

5.4.3.48.1 Semantic definition

The IfcRelConnectsElements objectified relationship provides the generalization of the connectivity between elements. It is a 1 to 1 relationship. The concept of two elements being physically or logically connected is described independently from the connecting elements. The connectivity may be related to the shape representation of the connected entities by providing a connection geometry.

In this case the geometrical constraints of the connection are provided by the optional relationship to the IfcConnectionGeometry. The connection geometry is provided as a point, curve or surface within the local placement coordinate systems of the connecting elements.
If the connection geometry is omitted then the connection is provided as a logical connection. Under this circumstance, the connection point, curve or surface has to be recalculated by the receiving application.

5.4.3.48.2 Entity inheritance

5.4.3.48.3 Attributes

#	Attribute	Type	Description
IfcRoot (4)
1	GlobalId	IfcGloballyUniqueId	Assignment of a globally unique identifier within the entire software world.
2	OwnerHistory	OPTIONAL IfcOwnerHistory	Assignment of the information about the current ownership of that object, including owning actor, application, local identification and information captured about the recent changes of the object, NOTE Only the last modification is stored - either as addition, deletion or modification. IFC4-CHANGE The attribute has been changed to be OPTIONAL.
3	Name	OPTIONAL IfcLabel	Optional name for use by the participating software systems or users. For some subtypes of IfcRoot the insertion of the Name attribute may be required. This would be enforced by a where rule.
4	Description	OPTIONAL IfcText	Optional description, provided for exchanging informative comments.
Click to show 4 hidden inherited attributes
IfcRelConnectsElements (3)
5	ConnectionGeometry	OPTIONAL IfcConnectionGeometry	The geometric shape representation of the connection geometry that is provided in the object coordinate system of the RelatingElement (mandatory) and in the object coordinate system of the RelatedElement (optionally). NOTE ConnectionGeometry does not consider shape and position of the realizing element.
6	RelatingElement	IfcElement	Reference to a subtype of IfcElement that is connected by the connection relationship in the role of RelatingElement.
7	RelatedElement	IfcElement	Reference to a subtype of IfcElement that is connected by the connection relationship in the role of RelatedElement.

Table 5.4.3.48.B

5.4.3.48.4 Formal propositions

Name	Description
NoSelfReference	The instance of the RelatingElement shall not be the same instance as the RelatedElement.
`RelatingElement :<>: RelatedElement`

Table 5.4.3.48.C

5.4.3.48.5 Concept usage

Concept	Usage	Description
IfcRoot (2)
Revision Control	General	Ownership, history, and merge state is captured using IfcOwnerHistory.
Software Identity	General	IfcRoot assigns the globally unique ID. In addition it may provide for a name and a description about the concept.
Click to show 2 hidden inherited concepts

Table 5.4.3.48.D

5.4.3.48.6 Examples

Figure 5.4.3.48.A

Construction Scheduling Task

5.4.3.48.7 Formal representation

 ENTITY IfcRelConnectsElements
 SUPERTYPE OF (ONEOF
	(IfcRelConnectsPathElements
	,IfcRelConnectsWithRealizingElements))
 SUBTYPE OF (IfcRelConnects);
	ConnectionGeometry : OPTIONAL IfcConnectionGeometry;
	RelatingElement : IfcElement;
	RelatedElement : IfcElement;
 WHERE
	NoSelfReference : RelatingElement :<>: RelatedElement;
END_ENTITY;