Introduction

Introduction to Structural Analysis

The Geometry Gym structural analysis plug-ins for Rhino and Grasshopper provide an efficient way of modelling, setting load and load combination data performing remote analysis operations, reading results and automating the overall design process of structures.

We currently have downloadable plug-ins for all the following structural analysis programs listed below.

GSA | ggRhinoGSAEtabs | ggRhinoEtabsSAP2000 | ggRhinoSAPROBOT | ggRhinoRobotSPACE GASS | ggRhinoSpaceGassStrand7 | ggRhinoStrand7

Geometry Gym can also provide development services to provide Rhino and Grasshopper plug-ins for linking in-house analysis software packages with Rhino and Grasshopper.

Plug-in Structure

The general approach to plug-ins for structural analysis packages is to provide a plug-in for each structural analysis program. In doing so we can provide the user with similar terms and notations to inputs and outputs you would expect when using that particular application manually.

The alternative option to this would be where you build an entire model using a set object model, say IFC components (with its own definitions) and then select what Application to convert that too on export (or baking of the model), or say when you run the bake.

While the latter option may be something we go towards in the future, we believe that our current plug-ins allow for more transparency around input and output data for each particular program and allows us to extend each plug-in to encapsulate the full capabilities of each structural analysis application.

There are a number of different ways we provide to send and receive structural analysis models between different analysis programs, BIM applications and file formats.

Current Features

Features available for all of our current packages vary and typically depend on the number of requests and ideas we have had from our user for improvements and additions.

We develop plug-in features on a demand and feedback basis, but can also provide updates in a very quick time frame as we do not have typical releases.

If there is something that can be done in the structural program you are using and you think it can be automated to better help your workflow we would like to hear about it so we can continually improve the product.

Data Validity

It is the responsibility of the designer to ensure that all structural analysis data is transferred correctly and that results are coming out as expected. We generally recommend to set-up a number of small models that allow easy validation through a traditional calculation method to ensure data validity.

We provide a number of simple examples under each structural program page which should help.