Can you add a method(a function in python) for create a node table(tagnode,x,y,z) and element table(tagelement,tagnodej,tagnodei) for using in other FEM program like OpenSees? Im using BlenderBim.
Can you add a method(a function in python) for create a node table(tagnode,x,y,z) and element table(tagelement,tagnodej,tagnodei) for using in other FEM program like OpenSees? Im using BlenderBim.
Hi @DioBrando we can develop a script to create and extract a node and element/connectivity table from IFC Structural Analysis Elements in an ifc file.
But maybe you refer to a node and element table of an actual FE mesh, in that case applying the "ifc2ca" scripts one can obtain a MED mesh file, which contain specifically this information.
Do you have experience with OpenSees? It could be nice to explore more in that case
I used it for my master degree thesis, with a 3d multi-level concrete frame for a bi-directional time history analysis. There is a python version of it.
Hi all,
I've been following this discussion with great interest and would like to contribute. My focus is on integrating OpenSeesPy into the workflow to manage the entire structural analysis process within Blender using Bonsai.
However, I noticed that this thread hasn’t been active since 2021. Has this discussion moved elsewhere, or has interest shifted to other approaches?
I’d love to know if there have been any updates on IFC-based structural analysis, especially regarding Code_Aster integration.
Looking forward to any insights!
There has been some recent work by @Jesusbill in Bonsai. I don't know of any other discussion, so here is the place.
OpenSees is non-commercial use only, how would this work?
Ran across: https://github.com/ritchie46/anaStruct - 2D structural analysis in Python
Seems like it would be a good foundation for integrating structural analysis in Bonsai, as well.
calculix is use by the freecad solver I think: https://github.com/Dhondtguido/CalculiX
Back then, I believe the realised there were much bigger authoring capabilities to work on, so whereas Ifc2CA deals with analysis, it still relies on having a good, well-authored analytical model. No progress has been made in the authoring side (because we've been working on the fundamentals). Recently there was an addition to visualise loads. The code is somewhat self-contained and not exactly reviewed (I experienced lots of performance issues with it) but at least it does something.
I think the biggest missing piece of the puzzle is authoring the analytical models.
I agree with Moult that before focusing on FEM solver integration, an important step is enabling the editing of analytical models and their association with structural elements created in Bonsai.
Currently, it seems that Bonsai does not support the visualization of analytical models, such as the ones available in this repository:
https://github.com/ritchie46/anaStruct.
It might be useful to start working on:
Allowing the visualization of IFC analytical models to understand how they interact with Bonsai’s structural elements.
Developing tools to create analytical models, making it possible to generate them directly within Bonsai.
Building a tool to identify relationships between analytical and structural models, so that we can verify if a structural element in an IFC file is correctly associated with an analytical element in a specific model used for calculations.
What do you think? Are there any ongoing developments in this direction?
Best,
Francisco
@FraJoMen actually Bonsai does (and is one of the few) which does support visualisation, authoring, and editing of analytical models. The problem isn't that we can't do it, the problem is that the user interface to do it is so clunky and cumbersome that no one would actually use it practically.
Currently, when I go to Bonsai Structural Tools or the Structural Analysis tab, I can't see anything I can interact with.
Could you point me to any reference documentation or video tutorials on how to insert a simple beam?
Considering that Bonsai allows easy insertion of Beam and Column elements, is there a way to leverage these objects to associate them with an analytical element?
Thanks for your help!
Best,
Francisco
Commercial software that I've used import and export IFC. The funny thing is that they export the model in the domain of authoring BIM (sharedbuilding elements, structuralelements domain) and not ifc structural analisis domain. I'm not so experienced in IFC StrutAnalisis, it seems to me that this domain is not so developed like BIM Authoring. For example, maybe I'm wrong, i've found that structural constraints applied to nodes are of the type fixed, pinned; viceversa in frame analisis software each constraint is defined by six degree of freedom. I want alwais to point out the problems related to the modelisation of floor slab that are usually treated like virtual element which redistribute the load on beams, and represent the rigid plane in Seismic analisis
Hello,
@emiliotasso
You’ve raised some very important points regarding the current limitations of IFC Structural Analysis compared to BIM authoring.
Considering that it’s not currently possible to include all the necessary information for a complete structural analysis within IFC files, it might be worth considering a complementary data structure to integrate the missing information.
Personally, I’m interested in managing the entire process within Blender, leveraging its advanced 3D modeling capabilities to define analytical models that are as faithful as possible to the IFC standard. At the same time, the powerful IFC element creation tools offered by Bonsai could be essential for integrating and completing the workflow within a single platform.
However, I realize that a complementary data structure is necessary to fill the gaps in IFC Structural Analysis. I have the impression (based on what I’ve heard in some videos, but I might be wrong) that this approach may not be entirely aligned with Bonsai’s philosophy, which seems to focus on directly creating and editing IFC files, whereas commercial software tends to manage data internally and convert it only during the exchange phase.
On the other hand, I don’t think Bonsai alone can fill the current gaps in IFC Structural Analysis, considering that this framework is still in development. However, a broader experience of the entire process could help identify critical points and contribute to the improvement of the IFC standard itself.
What do you think? Would it make sense to explore a hybrid approach, combining direct IFC management with advanced modeling tools and a complementary system for handling analytical data?
Best,
Francisco
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