Parametric Design: Automating TSD Analysis & Design with Grasshopper

Tey Kai Loon

A & D Interoperability: Grasshopper

 Outline
 User Requirements for basic parametric workflows
 Basic workflows with GH-TSD 2019i
 Intro on TSD component in Grasshopper
 Simple example illustrates Grasshopper –TSD link

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 Basic Parametric Workflows
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 Structural Design
 A Structural Design Engineer wants to produce a building that:
– Satisfies safety requirements(doesn’t fall down)
– Satisfies usability requirements
– Minimises costs
– Simplifies construction

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 Structural Design- responding & collaborating
 Early in design process
– High level of uncertainty
– Respond to change
– Collaborate
 Creating and editing models
 Architect makes some change to the design:
– Engineer must recreate part or all of the structure
– Lots time spent modelling
– Lots of money waster repeating work

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 Traditional CAD vs Parametric Modelling
 Traditional CAD:
– Digital Pen & Paper
– Create a 3D model
– Changes to the model
=>delete/move/redraw
Parametric Modelling:
– Generative, Algorithmic
– 3D model is created by
 Inputs-parameters
 Process(visual programming)-script
– Changes to the model=>quickly realised

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 Parametric Modelling-Grasshopper
 Grasshopper
– Plugin for Rhino3D
– Parametric modelling
solution

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 Basic Parametric Workflow
 Users need to change quickly
 Pain point – re-modelling
 Solution – parametric modelling
 User=> run Analysis and Design

Create multiple Run Analyses

separates model manually
quickly

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 TSD Grasshopper
 New feature in TSD 2019i
 Plugin for grasshopper

TUA: https://teklastructuraldesigner.support.tekla.com/support-article/2985297

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 Installation Guide:
 Download the zip with the required files (GH-TSD.gha, TSD_Steel_Example.gh,
TSD_Concrete_Example.gh) from Tekla Warehouse.
– Make sure you download a package targeting the (installed) version of Tekla Structural Designer
you'd like to work with.
 Run Tekla Structural Designer (2019i SP1 and onwards - run as administrator) and
create a new document.
 Run Grasshopper within Rhino (64-bit) and drag GH-TSD.gha onto the canvas to
install the components. A new component tab labeled TSD [version] should appear.
– If the TSD tab doesn’t show up, the component file might be blocked as it’s downloaded from the
internet. To unblock the file:
 In Grasshopper, click File > Special Folders > Components Folder
 Right-click GH-TSD.gha and click Properties
 Under the General tab, click on the Unblock button, and click OK. (If you don’t see an Unblock
button, the file is not blocked.)
 Restart Rhino (64-bit)/Grasshopper. The TSD tab should now be visible in Grasshopper.

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 Grasshopper TSD-Link
 Steel Beams,Column & braces
 Concrete Beams, Columns &
walls
 Slabs, Roof Panels & wind
panels
 Supports
 Section Filter & Member
Alignment
 Member point loads & Area
Loads
 Loadcases
 Restricted to creating a model

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 General Notes
 Make sure you run TSD as an administrator, and open a (new) document before running Rhino/Grasshopper or
inserting components. The components generate and modify objects live in TSD. Components will show
warnings when TSD cannot be reached.
 The TSD components convert native Rhino/Grasshopper Geometry objects such as lines & polylines to
structural objects such as beams, columns and walls in TSD. It is good modelling practice to get your script
producing a suitable configuration in Grasshopper, before adding and connecting TSD components.
 If there are multiple (compatible) instances of TSD running, the GH-TSD link will create geometry in the
instance that was opened first.
 It is best practice to work with only one running instance of TSD, only one running instance of Grasshopper,
and a single Grasshopper script. If multiple scripts containing TSD components are open, it is necessary to
recompute the solution after switching from one script to another.
 Removing components from the canvas, or removing their inputs, removes the generated objects from the TSD
document.
 The link uses the units of the currently open Rhino Document for the geometrical inputs.
 The link uses the units of the currently open TSD Document for all other inputs (Force, Area, Inertia etc.)
 To cut the link between a Grasshopper component and the TSD object it has generated, right-click the
component and select Bake to TSD. This will leave the object as-is in TSD, and a copy of the object will be
generated upon further modifications of the component input.

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 Component in GH-TSD Link
 Geometry Component
– Accept line input from Grasshopper element as below:
– Column, Beams, braces (concrete or steel)

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 – Accept polyline input from Grasshopper element as below:
– Slabs, wall, roof panel, wind panel

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 Option Component
 Decomposition Target
 Specify the “Decompose to” option on Wall
Panels. Choose from Nodes, Members, or Rigid
diaphragms. This option can be set directly on
the Wall Panel component by right clicking the
parameter.
 Diaphragm Option
 Specify the Diaphragm Option on Slab Items.
Choose from None, Semi-Rigid or Rigid. This
option can be set directly on the Slab Item
component by right clicking the parameter.
 Roof Type
 Specify the Roof Type on Roof Panels. Choose
from a list of headcode dependent values. This
option can be set directly on the Roof Panel
component by right clicking the parameter.
 Slab Item Type
 Specify the Slab Item Type on Slab Items.
Choose from Composite Slab, Flat Slab or Slab
on Beams. This option can be set directly on
the Slab Item component by right clicking the
parameter.

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 Miscellaneous
Geometry Components:

Accept point input:

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 Properties
 Option Components
– Section filter
– Steel grade
– Concrete class
– Member alignment
– Load direction

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 Member loads

 Member point load- on member

 Area load – On panel

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 Loading
 Define load case
 Define load combination

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 Structural Design-Value Engineering
 Engineers also have control within architectural brief
– Opportunity for them to deliver value
– Looking for optimal/ most efficient design

 Value Engineering

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 Value Engineering - Questions
 “I can change several things to improve my design- which
one should I change?”
 “How much does {x} influence {y}?”
 “Increasing {x} improves {y}, but when does that become
uneconomical?”
 “Various things in my design are interrelated- where do I
have to compromise?”

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 Imagine you have following scenario....

If you given a model 2 bays x 2 bays simple model

with equal spacing 4m.

3 point loads each 100kN applied on top of the column

On the 1st row.

If you trying to control the lateral displacement under

Wind load case as 25mm, how many additional bay in Y
direction is require to add on??

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 Traditional way vs Parametric Modelling
 Traditional way
– Model the initial model in TSD, then slowly increase the number of
bay in Y by copy and create the member and run the analysis

 Parametric Modelling
– 3D model is created by
 Inputs-parameters
 Process(visual programming)-script
– Check the analysis results once increase every additional bay

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 Let’s start the Parametric Modelling
 Disclaimer: The course does not cover full detail on how to
use grasshopper but it is intended to illustrate how
Grasshopper link to TSD.

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 1. Right click on TSD and
select run as administrator
2. Then new a document in
TSD.
3. Open rhino, ensure the
unit in rhino is set as
m.(follow default TSD
unit)
4. Launch grasshopper

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 Create initial base model
 Add in rectangular grid under vector on the grasshopper
canvas.
 This shall create points based on grid

Spacing in X
Spacing in Y
Number of bay in X

Number of bay in Y

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 Create Columns
 This shall create
the bottom
points of the
column

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 1. Add in 2 panels and
set the number
spacing as 4.
2. Link it to Spacing X
and Y.

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 3. Add in number
slider and connect it
to Bay in Y.
4. Set the bay in X as 2
by right click on it.

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 5. Duplicate the
points and raise it
to form the top
column points
6. Add in move, link
the points to
geometry input.
7. Add unit z to raise
in z direction
8. Add in slider to
control the height
of columns

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 9. Add in line component.
10. Link the bottom point as start point.
11. Link the top point as end point.

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 Create beams
1. Add in polyline and link it to the geometry of top points
2. This shall form the Y direction beams

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 3. Flip the matrix to form the X direction beam.
4. Link it to polyline

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 5. However in order draw beams in TSD, you need to be a
line.
6. Hence, use explode component to split the polyline to
smaller line segment

*Notes: Hold down “shift” + left mouse click to multiple link two component

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 Connecting grasshopper to TSD
1. Link to concrete Columns

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  You shall see TSD model also showing columns is created, where
bottom you will notice grasshopper input as shown as below.

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 2. Link to concrete beams

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 Adding loading on members
 The line created consist of 3 data branch as shown as below(label
as 3 colours) and each data branch have 3 items label as 0 to 2.

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 1. In this case, we need only 1st row of column, hence we use list item to
retrieve the 0 index item line.
2. Right click on index and set the value as 0.

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 3. Add in member point load component.
4. Set the value as 100kN
5. Set the direction as global Y.

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 6. Set the position as 1, top of the columns.

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 Assign the member load to load case
1. Add in load case component.
2. Use panel to define the load case title as “wind in direction Y”
3. Set the load case type as wind

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  Connect the component together as below.

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  You shall see your base model is done.

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 Investigating the analysis results.
 Original model displacement in Y. (56.9mm)

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  Try increase the number slider for bay Y incrementally and
run the analysis in TSD.

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 Results
 Model with 4 bays. Displacement Y as 32.3mm

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  Model with 6 bays. Displacement Y as 22.7mm

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 Conclusion
 Answer: Additional 4 more bays require to control the
displacement in Y below 25mm.

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 Thank you!!

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