StrucEngLib Server

The StrucEng Library features a server component to run FEA solvers on a remote host. This simplifies configuration setup and increases execution speed as FEA computations are remotely executed.

Run the Server

A server instance is deployed on ibkpika host. When connected to ETH network, browse http://ibkpika.ethz.ch:8080/ to access the server log.

The server log shows remote computation status logs. You may access the log during remote computations to keep track of computation results.

Connect to Server

In Rhino 3D, ensure to have latest strucenglib plugin version installed. Ensure to re-run StrucEnglibInstallDependencies command in Rhino to update all Python dependencies.

Configuration

Configure the remote server in Settings Tab. Set the remote server to endpoint ws://ibkpika.ethz.ch:8080/api/compute.

Select Execute on Remote Server and inspect or execute model. The FEA computation will then be executed on remote server.

Note

You must be connected to ETH VPN to issue requests to the server (Wifi connection itself is not sufficient)

Generated Code

Remote computations outsource Compas FEA analyse_and_extract invocations to the server. The following snippet is auto generated with Rhino 3D StrucEng Library Plugin.

from compas_fea.structure import Structure
from strucenglib_connect import connect

mdl = Structure(name='Rahmen', path='C:\Temp')
# ...

# 1. Run locally
mdl.analyse_and_extract(software='abaqus', fields=[ 'sf', 'sm' ] )

# 2. or Run on Sever instead
mdl = connect.analyse_and_extract('ws://ibkpika.ethz.ch:8080/api/compute', mdl, software='abaqus',  fields=[ 'sf', 'sm' ])

# ...

Analyse_and_extract can either be executed locally (1.) or remotely (2.). Remote and local invocations accept the same set of compas FEA parameters. The connection layer strucenglib-connect acts as a proxy which serializes and forwards model data to the remote server.

Source Code

The server component and more implementation details are available on GitHub.