IFC 4.3.2.20240904 (IFC4X3_ADD2) under development

6.1.3.28 IfcRelConnectsPathElements

6.1.3.28.1 Semantic definition

The IfcRelConnectsPathElements relationship provides the connectivity information between two elements, which have path information.

The objectified relationship provides the additional information required to describe the connection between two path based elements that might have single or multiple layers of material. The connection type specifies where at the path based element a connection is given (at the start, in the middle or at the end).

The connection is described by a connection geometry, given within the object coordinate systems of the RelatingElement and of the RelatedElement. In case of layered IfcWall elements as the RelatingElement and RelatedElement the connection geometry is provided by the subtype IfcConnectionCurveGeometry. Both curves indicate the so called "end cap", i.e. the curve that trims the wall outer edges (being parallel along the wall axis) at the end.

wall connection
Figure 6.1.3.28.A — Path connection geometry

Figure 6.1.3.28.A shows the application of IfcRelConnectsPathElements with the ConnectionGeometry of type IfcConnectionCurveGeometry. The example shows the connection relationship between two instances of layered IfcWall elements using the IfcRelConnectsPathElements relationship. The ConnectionCurveGeometry defines the CurveOnRelatingElement and CurveOnRelatedElement, both are of type IfcPolyline.

wall connection
Figure 6.1.3.28.B — Path connection T-Type

Figure 6.1.3.28.B illustrates using the IfcRelConnectsPathElements for a "T" type connection between two instances of layered IfcWall elements.

wall connection
Figure 6.1.3.28.C — Path connection L-Type

Figure 6.1.3.28.C illustrates using the IfcRelConnectsPathElements for a "L" type connection between two instances of layered IfcWall elements.

6.1.3.28.2 Entity inheritance

6.1.3.28.3 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,

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.

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).

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.

Click to show 7 hidden inherited attributes Click to hide 7 inherited attributes
IfcRelConnectsPathElements (4)
8 RelatingPriorities LIST [0:?] OF IfcInteger

Overriding priorities at this connection. It overrides the standard priority given at the wall layer provided by IfcMaterialLayer.Priority. The list of RelatingProperties corresponds to the list of IfcMaterialLayerSet.MaterialLayers of the element referenced by RelatingObject.

9 RelatedPriorities LIST [0:?] OF IfcInteger

Overriding priorities at this connection. It overrides the standard priority given at the wall layer provided by IfcMaterialLayer.Priority. The list of RelatedProperties corresponds to the list of IfcMaterialLayerSet.MaterialLayers of the element referenced by RelatedObject.

10 RelatedConnectionType IfcConnectionTypeEnum

Indication of the connection type in relation to the path of the RelatedObject.

11 RelatingConnectionType IfcConnectionTypeEnum

Indication of the connection type in relation to the path of the RelatingObject.

Table 6.1.3.28.E

6.1.3.28.4 Formal propositions

Name Description
NormalizedRelatedPriorities

The RelatedProperties shall all be given as a normalized integer range [0..100], where 0 is the lowest and 100 the highest priority of the material layers.

(SIZEOF(RelatedPriorities) = 0)
OR
(SIZEOF (QUERY (temp <* RelatedPriorities
  | {0 <= temp <= 100}
  )) = SIZEOF(RelatedPriorities))
NormalizedRelatingPriorities

The RelatingProperties shall all be given as a normalized integer range [0..100], where 0 is the lowest and 100 the highest priority of the material layers.

(SIZEOF(RelatingPriorities) = 0)
OR
(SIZEOF (QUERY (temp <* RelatingPriorities
  | {0 <= temp <= 100}
  )) = SIZEOF(RelatingPriorities))
Table 6.1.3.28.F

6.1.3.28.5 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 Click to hide 2 inherited concepts
Table 6.1.3.28.G

6.1.3.28.6 Examples

6.1.3.28.7 Formal representation

ENTITY IfcRelConnectsPathElements
 SUBTYPE OF (IfcRelConnectsElements);
	RelatingPriorities : LIST [0:?] OF IfcInteger;
	RelatedPriorities : LIST [0:?] OF IfcInteger;
	RelatedConnectionType : IfcConnectionTypeEnum;
	RelatingConnectionType : IfcConnectionTypeEnum;
 WHERE
	NormalizedRelatedPriorities : (SIZEOF(RelatedPriorities) = 0)
OR
(SIZEOF (QUERY (temp <* RelatedPriorities
  | {0 <= temp <= 100}
  )) = SIZEOF(RelatedPriorities));
	NormalizedRelatingPriorities : (SIZEOF(RelatingPriorities) = 0)
OR
(SIZEOF (QUERY (temp <* RelatingPriorities
  | {0 <= temp <= 100}
  )) = SIZEOF(RelatingPriorities));
END_ENTITY;

6.1.3.28.8 References

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6.1.3.28.9 Changelog

6.1.3.28.9.1 IFC4

  • where rule, NormalizedRelatedPriorities
  • where rule, NormalizedRelatingPriorities
  • attribute RelatedPriorities type, Changed from "list[0:?] of integer" to "list[0:?] of IfcInteger"
  • attribute RelatingPriorities type, Changed from "list[0:?] of integer" to "list[0:?] of IfcInteger"