(API) Create objects such as panels or section properties from Excel table

[CarolineHulin4038]

Hi,

I've seen a lot of spreadsheets to update objects such as panels geometry via an Excel table but I haven't seen anything about creating such object. Is there a simple way to create and define new section properties or  new panels (i.e thickness, geometry,...) using an Excel? When going to the panel table, there is no column containing the coordinates of the nodes or the number of the contour bars.

Thanks

[Rafal.Gaweda]

I am attaching very old example having all the things inside VBA code you are looking for

[CarolineHulin4038]

Thanks for the very quick response.I'll look at it.

[CarolineHulin4038]

For some reason I can't do exactly what I want. Here's the problem. I have to apply wind load to a quite complex structure. The wind load input is a pressure value so I'd like to create non structural panels that I would use only to distribute the load to adjacent beams. As far as I understand the way to do it in Robot is to create panels with "inactive" reinforcement properties, some random material with null density, random thickness and in the panel model properties no stiffness and unmeshed load transfer. Am I right? If so, what is the best way to create such panels from an Excel file specifying the contour by nodes or bars?

Thanks

[Rafacascudo]

If your panels are perfectly flat ,the best way to distribute the load is using claddings.

Claddings are created in the same way as regular panels.Some restrictions like total flatness and some load types as temperature apply , but pressure load is not an issue.

[CarolineHulin4038]

All right. Thank you.

I want to create these cladding panels based on an Excel file that contains all the bars of my structure (i.e bar number, node numbers and node coordinates). What is be the best way to put that information into Robot? If it's VBA, what is the syntax to use?

Where can I find a list of the VBA syntaxes that refer to Robot objects?

Thank you

[nany717]

In lines of the same issue, I am facing a hurdle...

I have a structure on which I would like to apply wind load as well as acceleration loads on objects and masses.

The problem I am facing is, I am applying wind loads as pressure distributed on the cladding as suggested above. But since cladding has no material properties or density, the forces induced due to the acceleration forces are not considered in calculations

So, I modeled both panels and cladding at the same location, and applied wind load only on cladding by giving the cladding number.

Is this the correct way to do it ?!

[Rafal.Gaweda]

So, I modeled both panels and cladding at the same location, and applied wind load only on cladding by giving the cladding number.

Is this the correct way to do it ?!

Not recommended but it should work

But why do you need claddings in  such situation? Just apply loads to panels.

[Rafal.Gaweda]

What is be the best way to put that information into Robot? If it's VBA, what is the syntax to use?

It depends on your skills. You can use VBA, VB, C#, C++

Where can I find a list of the VBA syntaxes that refer to Robot objects?

Install SDK from media or find it on this forum. After installation or unpacking SDK from forum everything what is available will be visible in SDK folder: tutorials, samples, documentation (Robot API.pdf)

Check also this thread:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/robot-structural-analysis/useful-addins-for-robot-api/td-p/3899448

additionally search forum with keyword "API"

[nany717]

The panels in my case are 6mm thick steel panels. I wanted to distribute the total wind load on to the connected members.

If I apply the wind load on to the panels, the panel itself will be loaded and the rest will be distributed to the members connected, right.

For conservative purpose, I did that way.

[Rafal.Gaweda]

Understood.

[CarolineHulin4038]

Thanks to your help I managed to create my cladding panels as I wanted. But I am facing another issue: the panels axis orientation.

As per the ROBOT help, the panels local axis orientation depends on the order of the panels nodes (i.e the normal axis orientation is based on the right hand rule, going from node 1 to node 4). My structure has a cylindre shape and I create the panels in a way that the normal axis should all be oriented towards the exterior of the cylinder. But when I do this, all the normal axis are oriented towards the positive global X axis. Thus, I tried reverse the order of the nodes for the panels that got badly oriented. Even after that change, the normal axis remain towards the positive global X axis. How can I fix this?

Thanks

[Rafacascudo]

Use " panel local direction" to change created local axes. See attached pic

[Rafal.Gaweda]

My structure has a cylindre shape and I create the panels in a way that the normal axis should all be oriented towards the exterior of the cylinder. 

You are looking for:

object.Main.Attribs.SetDirX
object.Main.Attribs.DirZ

[rhlkochar]

Hi, were you able to do this? I am looking to do something similar. I want to create a structure using slab and wall elements. Could you please help me out with it? I am trying to do it using C#, but I am flexible to using macros as well.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to your reply

Rahul