Physical vs. Analytical

For analytical modeling with Dynamo, use these nodes to understand and filter analytical and physical elements.

FilterElements.IsAnalyticalElement

Determines if the given object is an analytical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to check.
Output bool Whether the object is an analytical element.
Remarks

Analytical elements are:

  • Analytical framing (analytical beams and analytical braces)
  • Analytical columns
  • Analytical floors
  • Analytical walls

Other types of objects are considered non-analytical elements.

See also: FilterElements.IsValidAnalyticalElement

FilterElements.IsPhysicalElement

Determines if the given object is a physical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to check.
Output bool Whether the object is a physical element.
Remarks

Physical elements are:

  • Structural framing (structural beams, structural braces, note that there is no architecturalframing),
  • Architectural and structural columns,
  • Architectural or structural floors
  • Architectural and structural walls.

Other types of objects are considered non-physical elements.

FilterElements.IsValidAnalyticalElement

Determines if the given object is a valid analytical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to check.
Output bool Whether the object is a valid analytical element.
Remarks

Invalid analytical elements are analytical elements that contain at least one non-linear segment (e.g. curved beams or floors with arc boundary segments) or are sloped (non-horizontal) analytical floors.

FilterElements.HasAnalyticalElement

Determines if the given object has an analytical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to check.
validOnly

Determines if the analytical element should be valid. Invalid analytical elements are analytical elements that contain at least one non-linear segment (e.g. curved beams or floors with arc boundary segments) or are sloped (non- horizontal) analytical floors.

See also: FilterElements.IsValidAnalyticalElement

Output bool Whether the object is a planar physical or analytical element.
Remarks

Analytical elements are usually associated with physical elements that are set to structural.

The analytical model can be disabled in the parameters of structural elements - in this case false is returned.

Architectural elements are not associated with analytical elements - in their case false is returned.

FilterElements.GetAnalyticalElement

Extracts an analytical element from the physical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to extract an analytical element from.
validOnly

Determines if the analytical element should be valid. Invalid analytical elements are analytical elements that contain at least one non-linear segment (e.g. curved beams or floors with arc boundary segments) or are sloped (non-horizontal) analytical floors.

See also: FilterElements.IsValidAnalyticalElement

Output analyticalElement

The analytical element extracted from the given object.

Remarks

If the object is not a physical element, null is returned.

If the object is a physical element and has no analytical element, null is returned.

If the object is an analytical element, the analytical element itself is returned with no changes.

If validOnly is set as true and the extracted analytical element is invalid, null is returned.

FilterElements.GetPhysicalElement

Retrieves a physical element that owns the given analytical element

Library Dynamo4AM → Utilities → FilterElements
Input obj Object to retrieve a physical element for.
Output physicalElement The physical element retrieved for the given analytical element.
Remarks

If the given object is not an analytical element, null is returned.

Parent topic: Utilities