PySap2000

Python wrapper for SAP2000. It uses comtypes to call the COM API and exposes a Pythonic interface for working with SAP2000 models.

Requirements

• Windows (SAP2000 COM is Windows-only)
• Python 3.7+
• SAP2000 v20 or later (v24+ recommended)

Installation

pip install pysap2000

Optional extras:

# Agent-oriented extras
pip install pysap2000[agent]

# Visualization extras
pip install pysap2000[vis]

# Development extras
pip install pysap2000[dev]

# Everything
pip install pysap2000[all]

Quick start

Start SAP2000 and open a model file before running the example.

from PySap2000 import Application
from PySap2000.structure_core import Point, Frame
from PySap2000.global_parameters import Units, UnitSystem

# Attach to a running SAP2000 instance
with Application() as app:
    # Set units
    Units.set_present_units(app.model, UnitSystem.KN_M_C)

    # Create joints
    app.create_object(Point(no=1, x=0, y=0, z=0))
    app.create_object(Point(no=2, x=10, y=0, z=0))

    # Create frame
    app.create_object(Frame(no=1, start_point=1, end_point=2, section="W14X30"))

    # Run analysis
    app.calculate()

Core packages

Package	Purpose
structure_core	Core objects: Point, Frame, Area, Cable, Link, Material
point	Joint properties: restraints, constraints, springs, mass, local axes
frame	Frame properties: section, releases, modifiers, local axes
area	Area properties: thickness, meshing, offsets, springs
cable	Cable properties: section, modifiers, output stations
link	Link properties: section, local axes
section	Section definitions: frame, area, cable, link
loading	Load patterns, load cases, combinations, mass source
loads	Applied loads: joint, frame, area, cable
results	Results: displacements, forces, reactions, stresses
analyze	Analysis control: run analysis, solver options
design	Design: steel design, design codes
constraints	Constraints: rigid links, equal DOF
database_tables	Interactive tables: read, edit, import/export
global_parameters	Globals: units, model settings, project info
group	Groups
selection	Selection
statistics	Steel usage statistics

More examples

Restraints and loads

from PySap2000.point import set_point_restraint
from PySap2000.loads import PointLoad

# Fixed support
set_point_restraint(app.model, "1", [True]*6)

# Joint load
app.create_object(PointLoad(
    load_pattern="DEAD",
    points=["2"],
    fz=-10.0
))

Retrieve results

from PySap2000.results import PointResults, FrameResults

# Joint displacement
point_results = PointResults(app.model)
disp = point_results.get_displacement("2", load_case="DEAD")
print(f"Vertical displacement: {disp.uz}")

# Frame forces
frame_results = FrameResults(app.model)
forces = frame_results.get_forces("1", load_case="DEAD")

Steel design

from PySap2000.design import set_steel_code, start_steel_design, get_steel_summary_results, SteelDesignCode

set_steel_code(app.model, SteelDesignCode.CHINESE_2010)
start_steel_design(app.model)
results = get_steel_summary_results(app.model, "ALL", ItemType.GROUP)

Interactive tables

from PySap2000.database_tables import DatabaseTables

# Read a table
data = DatabaseTables.get_table_for_display(app.model, "Joint Coordinates")
for row in data.to_dict_list():
    print(row)

# Edit a table
result = DatabaseTables.edit_table(app.model, "Joint Coordinates", {
    0: {"XorR": "100"}
})

Configuration

from PySap2000.config import config

# Strict mode: raise on COM failures
config.strict_mode = True

# Logging
from PySap2000.logger import setup_logger
setup_logger(level="DEBUG", log_file="pysap2000.log")

Environment variables:

set PYSAP_STRICT_MODE=true
set PYSAP_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG

License

MIT License