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Support CenterTutorialsGrasshopper API link - how to import and calculate parametric connection model (02)
In this tutorial, you will learn how to play with parametrized connections and how to change and evaluate them in Grasshopper.
SteelConnection designTutorialsConnectionIDEA Open Model (API)

Grasshopper API link - how to import and calculate parametric connection model (02)

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In this tutorial, you will learn how to play with parametrized connections and how to change and evaluate them in Grasshopper.

This tutorial is using Rhino 8. If you work with IDEA StatiCa version up to 24.1.3, see this tutorial.

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Colibri plugin

As Grasshopper can not work with loops, you have to install another plugin - COLIBRI, which you will use in this tutorial.

IDEA StatiCa Connection – End Plate joint with parameters

For this tutorial, we will need a connection with some parameters. Please open the attached file.

To be able to work with parameters, it is necessary to enable the Developer tab in Preferences / Advance Settings: 

This connection includes two parameters - Bolts and Endplate. 

If you are not familiar with parameters please see following tutorials:

Parametric design in IDEA StatiCa Connection - Basics (01)

Parametric design in IDEA StatiCa Connection - Advanced (02)

Grasshopper - Import the *ideaCon file and modify the parameters

Create a new document, select the tab Params in the upper ribbon, and place the component File Path on the Canvas. 

file

Right-click on the component and select the file Example2.ideaCon we saved before. 

Note: If you open the attached file, you must change this path accordingly. 

Since version 24.1.4, IDEA StatiCa has come with a new API, described here.

To run Grasshopper scripts, you must add a component called Connection Service Runner to every file. This component can be found in  IDEA StatiCa / App Common.

Runner

When running this component, you should see the following window appear.

CMD

Now, add the following components to the canvas and connect them as displayed in the picture.

Import File:

IDEA StatiCa / App common / Open Project
IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Get Connection

View Parameters:

IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Get Parameters

Here, you can add the components Params / Input / Panel to see the values of our parameters.

Modify Parameters:

IDEA StatiCa / App common / Modify Object (1)
IDEA StatiCa / App common / Modify Object (2)
IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Update parameters

Calculation and Results:

IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Calculate Project

Here, again, you can add components Params / Input / Panel to see the values of the results.

For components
IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Calculate Project and IDEA StatiCa / Connection / Update parameters
It is essential to verify the 'Run Synchronously' parameter. 

Colibri Components to iterate combinations of parameters:

TTTollbox / Colibri Inputs
TTTollbox / Colibri Outputs
TTTollbox / Colibri Aggregator

For the Input, the first Value list contains 3 values (0.010, 0.015, 0.020) for the thickness of the End plate.
The second one contains three values (M12 8.8, M14 8.8, M16 8.8) for the bolt diameter.
The results are stored in the data.csv file. By default, it is stored in c:\Colibri; here, you should set the path to C:/IDEA. Please make sure you have authorized access.

Click the Colibri Inputs / Fly button to go through the whole iteration. After a while, the CSV file is created.

The straightforward results with True / False can be seen when opening it. 

Interpretation of the results

For this specific connection, you will have satisfying results using either 

  • Bolts M16 8.8 with Endplate thickness of 10 mm

or

  • Bolts M14 8.8 with Endplate thickness of 15 mm

More complex examples can be found on your PC in the directory

“%appdata%\McNeel\Rhinoceros\packages\8.0\IDEAStatiCa\0.2.5\Examples0.2.5.zip”

Related recordings

Part 1 - set up of parameters in IDEA StatiCa Connection

Part 2 - upload of connection and display in Rhino

Part 3 - loop process over the parameters

Part 4 - results interpretation

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