A simple structural analysis tool in Python, for structures consisting of truss and beam members, both in two dimensions and in three dimensions.
- 02/12/2025: Make it possible to use general identifiers.
- 02/05/2025: Add general springs to ground.
- 01/30/2025: Add tutorials.
- 01/22/2025: Implement initial functionality.
- The package analyzes two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures made up of truss (axial) members and beams (even in combination), with added masses and springs at joints.
- Linear statics and dynamics (free vibration) solvers are included.
- The Bernoulli-Euler model is implemented, so no shear deformation is taken into account.
- Only elastic models can be solved.
- Only straight members are treated.
- Only doubly symmetric cross sections can be handled in three dimensions. Hence there is no coupling between the bending actions in the two orthogonal planes.
- Warping of the cross sections is not modelled, hence only free torsion effects are included.
- Member loading is not considered. All member loading needs to be converted to nodal forces.
- Internal hinges can be modelled with linked joints. No member end releases are implemented.
- Degrees of freedom are only along the cartesian axes. Skew supports are not included (except with a penalty method based on springs)
- Offsets are currently not implemented.
- NumPy
- SciPy
- Matplotlib
These requirements can be easily satisfied by running the examples in Spyder 6 (IDE).
This package is not distributed through the official Python channels. It needs to be downloaded from GitHub as a zip file, and expanded in some convenient location.
The pystran folder can be located by looking for this README.md file.
The easiest way to run a pystran example is to download and install Spyder 6. It is a complete IDE for Python, including a very capable debugger. Just open an example and click the run button.
It is also possible to run simulations using a plain Python. The user then needs to install the requirements, and in the pystran folder run an example for instance as
py examples/linked_cantilevers_prescribed.py
Step-by-step tutorials are available in the tutorials folder.
Run tutorials for example as
py tutorials/three_bars_tut.py
There are many examples in the examples folder. They may not be heavily documented,
but they do show many recipes for solving truss and beam structures.
The functions in the package are documented. The documentation in nicely formatted form can be obtained by running pdoc. In the pystran folder, run
pdoc pystran/ --math -o html
which will create an ./html folder. double click the index.html file in that folder.