RhFEM
Does what it says - select points, curves and breps in Rhino >> nodes, lines, members and surfaces will be created in Dlubal RFEM.
After doing a quick search on the internet in 2018, I realized that there is no quick way to transfer Rhino geometry to Dlubal RFEM.
So I started by creating few nodes.
My everyday tasks currently does not involve using RFEM anymore, therefore I am not actively improving the plugin. The code is availalable on GitHub - feel free to fork and improve the functionality: https://github.com/mluksevics/GH_RFEM
Current nodes are:
- Delete all data from existing RFEM model;
- Write to RFEM - Point;
- Write to RFEM - Line;
- Write to RFEM - Member;
- Write to RFEM - Surface;
- Read from RFEM - All Nodes;
- Read from RFEM - All lines (only straight lines are being read);
- Create RFEM property - Node support;
- Create RFEM property - Line support;
- Create RFEM property - Member Hinge;
- Materials catalogue;
- Sections catalogue;
So how do you start:
- Download .gha component;
- Drag and drop the component on Grasshopper workspace. You may need to "unblock it" as it has been downloaded from the internet;
- A grasshopper tab "RFEM" will appear;
- Open RFEM and new model. The component will write data in the active model (be careful - it may overwrite data if you use existing model);
- First use "RFEM model clear" component to ensure that model is "clean";
- Add "toggle" component to "RFEM model clear" component.
- use point/curve/brep Grasshopper component to select geometry;
- drag and drop the relevant RFEM component.
- Use output for "success" in "RFEM model clear" component as toggle for "run" on any other components;
Other notes:
- Tested with RFEM 5.17.01. Note that you need a licence for add-on RF-COM for this component to work. Also works on trial versions.
- Note that plugin will not work with very early RFEM 5 versions (well, you need to upgrade anyway - a lot has been improved since 2012)
- To enable import of curved/arched lines and edges of surfaces, these are "segmented" during the import process. The parameter "MaxSegmentLength" determines the accuracy.
- Components assume that Rhino units are [meters]. If your Rhino units are millimetres, the RFEM model will be scaled-up 1000 times. Be careful with this when importing curved lines/surfaces and choosing maximum line segment length;
- Line component creates nodes automatically, the surface element creates lines and nodes automatically. If you need to transfer surfaces, no need to transfer the surface defining lines separately.
- Only planar surfaces are supported;
A simple disclaimer. I am a structural engineer (and not software developer):
- Not all exceptions are properly handled. It means that in case of error, your RFEM instance may stay frozen - make sure that you save&close all other models before geometry import.
- I am not affiliated with Dlubal team, and I hope&believe that they will work on a decent GrassHopper link in future;
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Downloads
Title
Description
Platform
RhFEM v0.07 alpha
2019-02-16
Rhino 5 for Win
RhFEM v0.05 alpha
2019-01-10
Rhino 5 for Win
RhFEM v0.05 example script
2019-01-03
Rhino 5 for Win
Also by Luksevics
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