Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a visual programming editor integrated with Rhinoceros3D of Robert McNeel & Asscoiates. Within a graphical environment, the user can visually place so-called components which represent functionality like a geometric operation and connect the result of a component with the input parameters of other components. Starting from a given set of input parameters, this way a network of connected operations can be set up to define geometric models in a fully parametric way - when changing any of the input parameters, the model is automatically being updated.

The SOFiSTiK Grasshopper Toolkit gh_sofistik is an extension to Grasshopper providing dedicated components to define cross-sections, structural elements and loads for an analysis with SOFiSTiK. Elements like points, curves or surfaces can be converted into structural points, curves and surfaces and can be attributed with analytical properties like material, cross section, boundary conditions or loads. This data can then be directly streamed into a SOFiSTiK project, where further analysis and design of the structure is being performed.

Command Reference

All components available within the gh_sofistik toolkit are described in detail here:

System Prerequisites, Licensing and Installation

gh_sofistik is part of the SOFiSTiK Rhino Interface and will be automatically installed when installing the Rhino Interface within the SOFiSTiK Application Manager (SAM).

The full set of components require a license of type ‘RHINOINT’ (granule ‘XGEO’). For any support regarding SOFiSTiK or Rhino licensing, please contact us or your re-seller respectively.

Workflow Tutorials

The following tutorials, descriptions and videos will provide you a hands-on guide into the SOFiSTiK extension of Grasshopper.

Section specification in Json format

A detailed description of the Json format used to define cross sections within gh_sofistik is available here: