A python package for the analysis of arbitrary cross-sections using the finite element method written by Robbie van Leeuwen. sectionproperties can be used to determine section properties to be used in structural design and visualise cross-sectional stresses resulting from combinations of applied forces and bending moments.

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Installation:

For more detailed installation instructions, refer to the documentation.

UNIX (MacOS/Linux):

$ pip install sectionproperties

Windows

Install meshpy by downloading the appropriate installation wheel.

Navigate to the location of the downloaded wheel and install using pip:

$ cd Downloads
$ pip install MeshPy‑2018.2.1‑cp36‑cp36m‑win_amd64.whl

Once meshpy has been installed, sectionproperties can be installed:

$ pip install sectionproperties

Documentation:

sectionproperties has a fully documented python API which you can find at https://sectionproperties.readthedocs.io/. To read more about the theory behind the program, its implementation and some more examples, check out my blog at https://robbievanleeuwen.github.io/.

Current Capabilities:

Pre-Processor:

• Python API
• Custom section geometry input
• Common section geometry generators
• Multiple geometry merging
• Perimeter offset tool
• Geometry cleaning
• JSON input file
• .dxf import
• Quadratic triangular mesh generation
• Composite material properties

Cross-Section Analysis:

• Global axis geometric section properties:
  • Area
  • Perimeter
  • First moments of area
  • Second moments of area
  • Elastic centroid
• Centroidal axis geometric section properties:
  • Second moments of area
  • Elastic section moduli
  • Yield moment
  • Radii of gyration
  • Plastic centroid
  • Plastic section moduli
  • Shape factors
• Principal axis geometric section properties:
  • Second moments of area
  • Elastic section moduli
  • Yield moment
  • Radii of gyration
  • Plastic centroid
  • Plastic section moduli
  • Shape factors
• Warping section properties:
  • Torsion constant
  • Warping constant
• Shear section properties:
  • Shear centre (elastic method)
  • Shear centre (Trefftz's method)
  • Shear areas (global axis)
  • Shear areas (principal axis)
• Cross-section stresses

Solver:

• Direct solver
• CGS iterative solver
• Sparse matrices

Post-Processor:

• Plot geometry
• Plot mesh
• Plot centroids
• Plot cross-section stresses
• Retrieve cross-section stresses
• Generate cross-section report
• Export to Paraview

Additional Modules:

• Optimisation
• Reinforced Concrete
• Steel