10 | Autodesk Revit IFC manual

2.4.2 Geometric representation of IFC objects

There are three basic possibilities for geometrically representing a three-dimensional IFC object:
- extrusions
- solid body representation using a sweep, and
- representation using B-reps.

Extrusions
Are the most common and simple graphical method and are used for most of the cases when the shape
can be described by a simple profile.

Swept solids
As the name implies, an element is created with the swept solid
method using a sweep. In this case, a defined profile is led along a
path (direction vector) to generate the solid. This profile may change
due to rotation or distortion along the path. Revit uses this method
for describing rebar and other shapes which cannot be described
with extrusions.

B-rep
The method known as boundary representation (B-rep) can also be
described as a boundary surface model. The surfaces of a component
are represented using coordinates and together form the actual solid,
allowing even complex forms to be represented.
B-rep objects use complex calculations to represent individual
surfaces in detail, and thus use more data memory.

NURBS and other smooth surfaces

In the IFC4 schema, it is possible to generate B-rep objects as
advanced B-reps using NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines)
surfaces. The memory space required is thus drastically reduced,
while the bodies are represented more accurately.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REVIT USERS