ConSteel Programing Interface (csPI) is finally here!

Our brand new programing interface enables you to create great variety of parametric model using all of the ConSteel objects (members, plates, supports, loads etc.) and for-loops and if…else statements.

csPI editor can be opened up with the double arrow button:

Let’s create a simple, 3000 mm height column at first.
Copy the highlighted (without comments) to the csPI editor.
Good to know: csPI is not language free, but apply the selected default model script language.

1. LOAD_SECTION "HEA 300"
2. Member can be created with the CREAT command:
   CREATE "id1" structural_member "HEA 300"         //command line contains an ID, element type and cross-section
   0 0 0                                                                                //coordinate of start point (global X, Y, Z); required attribute
   0 0 3000                                                                         //coordinate of end point (global X, Y, Z); required attribute
   ReleaseID_A "Continuous"                                        //release on start point; required attribute
   ReleaseID_B "Continuous"                                        //end release on end point; required attribute
3. We can add some optional attributes also:
   Eccentricity_Y 200                                                        //set 200 mm eccentricity in local y
   Eccentricity_Z 500                                                        //set 500 mm eccentricity in local z
   Eccentricity_D 45                                                         //set 45° rotation
4. Let’s place a fix support on the bottom of the column
   CREATE "id_sup1" support_point "id1" "Fixed"     //command line contains an ID, element type, native element ID
   0 0 0                                                                                  and support type
                                                                                           //coordinate of support (global X, Y, Z); required attribute

If we click on the Play button csPI creates the defined column.

Usage of variables

Variables also can be used to create parametric model. Variables start with $ symbol.

//PARAMETERS

//Start point

$x=0

$y=0

//Column height

$h=3000

//MODEL BUILD

LOAD_SECTION "HEA 300"

CREATE "id1" structural_member "HEA 300"

$x $y 0

$x $y $h

ReleaseID_A "Continuous"

ReleaseID_B "Continuous"

CREATE "id" support_point "id1" "Fixed"

$x $y 0

Let’s use some cycles

Cycles can be used to repeat command a known number of times.

//PARAMETERS

//Start point

$0x=0

$0y=0

//Column height

$h=3000

//Number of columns

$tx=5

//Distance between the columns

$d=2000

//MODEL BUILD

LOAD_SECTION "HEA 300"

$x=$0x

$y=$0y

for $n 0...$tx

    

    CREATE "id1" structural_member "HEA 300"

    $x $y 0

    $x $y $h

    ReleaseID_A "Continuous"

    ReleaseID_B "Continuous"

    

    CREATE "id" support_point "id1" "Fixed"

    $x $y 0

    

    $x=($n+1)*$d

end

More descriptions and commands can be found on ConSteel Wiki:

wiki.consteelsoftware.com

From the following links, you can download some examples:
- HEA 200 columns (csPI video example)

- Simple column example

- Parametric, complete 3D hall