Form-finding : Ignoring Form-finding Properties

This simply performs a non-linear analysis with the GsRelax solver using the materials and section properties defined in the data tables (i.e. ignoring soap film or force density properties and using real physical element properties).

The analysis is therefore identical to the static non-linear analysis. The results, however, are reported very differently. The displaced nodal co-ordinates overwrite the original geometry and element distortions and tensile forces are stored in the additional load case. The structure in the deformed shape plus the additional load case is in equilibrium with the total loading applied in the form-finding analysis. So if the deformed model is analysed with the same applied loading as before plus the new load case, negligible further movement should occur. An exception to this occasionally arises where distributed element loading has been used, as the equivalent nodal loads of the element loads will be generated based on the deformed geometry. They are different from the equivalent nodal loads used in form-finding analysis that were generated based on original undeformed geometry.

No “analysis results” will be produced from the form-finding analysis.