geometry gym SSI curved beams

Hi Jon and All

I am curently working on a design which calls for 3/4" plywood ribs with curved profiles.

They are all 3/4" x around 250mm deep, and I am attempting to create structural elements out of them to analyse in GSA.

Am i incorrect in assuming they are beams?

Is there something else they should be modeled as? When i attempt to create beams out of them, a straight line is drawn between their endpoints.

Let me know you thoughts, thanks

Benjamin

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on July 11, 2012 at 2:02pm

Hi Benjamin,

Structural analysis is derived on mathematics or theory based on curve elements based on straight paths.

Some structural analysis software permit you to define curved members, but I'm pretty sure most of them divide the member into straight elements when you analyze. I can't recall a means to define a curved member in GSA.

My StructDrawRhino plugin has a "convert curve" component that can take a tolerance and convert a curve to a polyline. You might also have to explode this into it's segments. You could also use the native grasshopper divide component (if the curve has constant curvature).

Let me know if this doesn't make sense, and I'll post an example.

Cheers,

Jon

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