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.
- LOAD_SECTION "HEA 300"
- 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 - 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 - 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:
From the following links, you can download some examples:
- HEA 200 columns (csPI video example)
- HEA 200 columns (csPI video example)