Documentation

sectionproperties is 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.

A list of the current features of the package and implementation goals for future releases can be found in the README file on github.

Contents:

• Installation
• Structure of an Analysis
• Creating a Geometry, Mesh and Material Properties
• Running an Analysis
• Viewing the Results
• Examples
• Python API Documentation
• Theoretical Background

Here’s a quick example that harnesses some of the power of sectionproperties and shows its simplicity:

import sectionproperties.pre.sections as sections
from sectionproperties.analysis.cross_section import CrossSection

# create geometry of the cross-section
geometry = sections.ISection(d=203, b=133, t_f=7.8, t_w=5.8, r=8.9, n_r=8)

# generate a finite element mesh
mesh = geometry.create_mesh(mesh_sizes=[2.5])

# create a CrossSection object for analysis
section = CrossSection(geometry, mesh)

# calculate various cross-section properties
section.calculate_geometric_properties()
section.calculate_warping_properties()

# print some of the calculated section properties
print(section.get_area())  # cross-section area
>>>3231.80
print(section.get_ic())  # second moments of area about the centroidal axis
>>>(23544664.29, 3063383.07, 0.00)
print(section.get_j())  # torsion constant
>>>62907.79
print(section.get_As())  # shear areas in the x & y directions
>>>(1842.17, 1120.18)

Support

Contact me on my email robbie.vanleeuwen@gmail.com or raise an issue on the github issue tracker using one of the issue templates. If you have a request for a feature to be added to the sectionproperties package, please don’t hesitate to get in touch

License

The project is licensed under the MIT license.