v7.0.0 [14047]

01 Feb 2024 | Major Release

Major Release

Enhancements

• Peregrine software features and the distributed example files and are now fully compatible with Rhino v8 [ref 1871]
• For problems employing Peregrine's Euler buckling functionality the user workflow has been streamlined. This has been achieved by decoupling EulerLO from EulerPP in ProbSpec. User Manual has been updated to reflect the changes, also providing improved insights into program behaviour with different EulerLO and EulerPP combinations [ref 1870]
• Enhanced the quality of the structural layouts obtained using the Simplification component. This has been achieved by including a built-in Geometry Optimization (GO) stage; the default number of GO steps is five (as with the GO component itself), but this can be increased or reduced to zero as required [ref 1874]
• Enhanced the dependability of solution and post-process operations via the adoption of filtered layouts, prioritising them over unfiltered alternatives whenever feasible. This reduces the occurrence of 'zero' area elements being passed through the SolData chain, which can adversely impact subsequent operations [ref 1876]
• Design domain geometries and support / load conditions in example files are now no longer dependent on the ordering of DeBrep lists, ensuring these are compatible with Rhino 8 and future Rhino versions [ref 1871]
• Implemented a series of procedural measures to enhance the quality of data derived from the design domain geometry. This increases the reproducibility of results, and also the overall stability of the optimization process [ref 1877]

Licensing

• Free license extended to Feb 2025 [ref 1873]

Documentation

• Updated the User Manual to reflect the new and enhanced functionalities implemented by this release [ref 1874] [ref 1870]

Bugfixes

• Fixed a minor licensing bug that could cause functionality to be lost/retained temporarily after switching licenses [ref 1864]
• Fixed a bug that could cause access to Academic licenses to be lost after switching away from a University network to a non-University network [ref 1865]
• Fixed a bug that could cause files containing catenary self-weight materials to crash when starting the layout optimization, if EulerLO was also enabled. Software now warns that the two model options are incompatible [ref 1878]

v6.0.5 [12853]

15 Dec 2022 | Maintenance Release

Maintenance Release

• Fixed a bug that caused access to Academic licenses to be lost after switching away from a University network to a non-University network [ref:1865]
• Fixed a minor licensing bug that could cause functionality to be lost/retained temporarily after switching licenses [ref:1864]

v6.0.4 [12659]

13 Oct 2022 | Maintenance Release

Maintenance Release

• Updated the expiry date of the Free license. Peregrine can now be used in Free mode until 1st January 2024 [ref:1863]
• Fixed a bug caused by an update to the license server, which caused Trial licenses to include an extraneous line of text and not be read correctly by the software [ref:1860]
• Fixed a bug that could cause calculation points (nodes) to be generated outside of the design domain where that domain is constructed using Rhino meshes which overlap each other [ref:1857]

v6.0.3 [12456]

15 Aug 2022 | Maintenance Release

Maintenance Release

• Fixed a bug that could cause a Grasshopper error message to be displayed, and the license component to not be shown, on first install. Note that both of these were resolved after Rhino was closed and subsequently re-opened [ref:1855]
• Removed a check that could occasionally cause adjacent 1D domains to not consider themselves as being connected to each other - leading to infeasible solutions being reported [ref:1843]
• Fixed a number of minor bugs in the licensing workflow that could be encountered if the client machine went offline (e.g. a Free license would report an incorrect expiry date) [ref:1841]

v6.0.2 [11780]

22 Dec 2021 | Maintenance Release

Maintenance Release

• Fixed a bug that caused distributed loads to not be scaled correctly when the document units were set to a measure that was not metres [ref:1830]
• Fixed a bug that caused the labels for Line Load component inputs and outputs to be incorrectly displayed (Point Load names were shown instead) [ref:1831]
• Flattened all inputs to the Domain component (apart from Mesh) to ensure that duplicate geometries are not unintentionally created and passed as input to ProbSpec (as this could cause a crash). Note that multiple non-intersecting Domains can still be passed in [ref:1833]
• Fixed a bug that could prevent the software loading if using an Academic license then losing connection to the internet [ref:1834]
• Prevented multiple unit systems being applied to a single problem, which could lead to incorrect volumes being reported in the Gallery of solutions. An error is now given on the View component when this situation is in effect [ref:1835]
• Updated erroneously labelled sliders for Material component inputs for a number of the distributed example files (previously read "Tensile Stress" when they should read "Compressive Stress") [ref:1839]

v6.0.1 [11651 / 11654]

18 Nov 2021 | Maintenance Release

11651 - Rhino 6 | 11654 - Rhino 7

Maintenance release

• Fixed a library compatibility issue that could occur on systems where the Path settings point to a different version of libiomp5md.dll. This would cause Peregrine to display a "LSFORMInterface.dll not found" message on startup and the license component to not load. Peregrine now loads the library provided in the installation folder in preference to any other that may be specified in the Path settings [ref:1826]
• Updated the User Manual and component tooltip entries relating to Nodal Division behavior. Previously the description of the calculation methodology used was slightly incorrect [ref:1804]
• Fixed a bug that could cause Grasshopper to crash when retrieving a Peregrine license (issue particularly affected Academic users) [ref:1805]
• Fixed a number of minor typos in component tooltips [ref:1809]
• Improved the information provided to the user when a Trial license is being used (or has expired). A dialog now informs how long is remaining [ref:1810]
• Updated a number of the distributed example files to improve user experience and understanding [ref:1813]
• Fixed a bug that could cause some components to display an error message while still allowing solve to progress [ref:1816]
• Improved the message text provided when user-defined nodes are used and the AutoNodes setting is set to a value that is out of scope [ref:1818]
• Fixed a bug that could cause files saved in older versions of Peregrine to have mismatched input wires on components that have been updated to include new inputs [ref:1819]
• Fixed a bug that could cause some component names to not update alongside I/O updates [ref:1820]
• Updated the Domain Irregular Mesh example file to work under a Free license. Changes to the way in which node distributions were determined [ref:1658] meant that it passed the 200 node threshold in version 6.0.0 [ref:1821]
• Fixed a bug that could cause Rhino to crash when the internal reference to a material parent is set to null [ref:1822]
• Move a number of v6.0.0 example files from the "Professional" folder to "Free" [ref:1823]

v6.0.0 [11408]

08 Oct 2021 | Major Release

Major Release

Enhanced Self-Weight Modelling

• Set the way in which members carry self-weight and end forces/moments [ref:1642]
  • Lumped (divides the weight of the member between the two end points, but ignores bending effects)
  • Catenary (assumes a catenary subject to axial stresses due to axial load and self-weight)
  • Pinned Beam (enforces only force equilibrium at joints)
  • Rigid Beam (adds moment equilibrium at joints for multiple load case problems)

Beam Grillage Optimization

• Define 2D domains and determine the optimum I-Beam grillage layout required to carry a designated surface load. Optimize entire buildings, containing grillages, columns and trusses [ref:1645]

Load and Support Mirroring

• User-defined planes can now be assigned as a mirror, allowing point and line loads, as well as all support types, to be mirrored [ref:1770]
• For loads, choose from different mirror behaviours: Default, Symmetric and Antisymmetric [ref:1774]
  • Mirroring promotes symmetrical solutions as well as improving computational efficiency when solving

Enhanced Design Domains

• Users can now assign configurable I-Beam and Circular Hollow Section (CHS) cross-section types to Domains [ref:1759]
• Combine multiple 1D, 2D and 3D domains in the same optimization problem to build complex geometries [ref:1683]

Structural Stabilization

• Takes a solution or user-defined structure and attempts to add members to ensure a state of unstable equilibrium is not present [ref:1649]

Licensing

• Added a free 14 day trial using the Professional license. All the features will be available for two weeks from first use. After this time, it will revert back to a "Free" license [ref:1773]

Other Enhancements

• Improved the algorithms for node generation and placement [ref:1658]
• Updated the canvas layouts for existing example files to make them easier to follow [ref:1776]
• Added a number of new example files to demonstrate the updated functionality available in v6 [ref:1776]
• Added new information, warning and error messages to help the user identify potential issues with their model [ref:1710]
• Updated the About text to add names of collaborating organizations [ref:1803]
• Updated the User Manual with improved descriptions and information about the underlying algorithms [ref:1761]
• Added a warning if the solution contains a large number of members (e.g. if the filtering stage at the end o LO does not complete properly). Offer the user the option to not draw the structure in Rhino, as this may take an excessive amount of time or resources [ref: 1790]
• Improved the node merging that occurs after post-LO filtering has occurred. This should reduce the instances of very short members with very high cross-sections [ref:1794]
• Removed filtering and node merging steps from within other post-processing components, as these steps can be applied separately and it was not clear to users when they were being undertaken [ref: 1760]

Bugfixes

• Fixed a bug that could cause a crash in some cases when attaching a wire (internally referencing a solution that already exists) [ref:1788]
• Fixed a bug that could cause solutions to change on "recompute" due to data not being stored as persistent [ref:1750]
• Fixed a bug whereby multiple integer input for the Mode in the Simplify component could be ignored on file open, in favour of just reading the first value [ref:1746]
• Reduced the potential for crashes caused by user interruption (stopping) of the solve process [ref:1784]

v5.0.0 [10453]

24 Mar 2021 | Major Release

Major Release

Functionality Additions / Improvements

• Improved user experience by removing context menus from components and adding input fields. This makes the workflow much clearer as well as e.g. allowing parametric variation of material properties [ref: 1684]
• Moved visualization functionality from the Details component (as this was not a logical location) to reside solely in the View component. Note that the ability to toggle member colors has been removed [ref:1696]
• Added output from the Solution Details component relating to surface location data along members and at joints. This allows a structure defined through the optimization process to be input into e.g. the SubD MultiPipe component of Grasshopper (which provides a smoothed branching pipe around a network of lines or curves) [ref: 1708]
• Added functionality to allow users to define the behaviour when both auto- and user-generated nodes could be utilized as part of the layout optimization process. This allows the default behaviours of both v3.7 and the v4.0 Technology Preview to be replicated [ref: 1726]
• Updated optimization kernel to MOSEK 9.1, providing compatibility for machines running newer generation AMD processors [ref: 1609]
• Added functionality to ensure component compatibility with files saved in prior versions of the software [ref: 1736]

GUI

• Unified Load Case and Support component message behaviour. Now shows an error in both when no input is detected [ref:1651]
• Reviewed and updated naming for all components, descriptions and input/output fields in order to aid user understanding of the optimization workflow and functionality provided [ref: 1681]
• Modified the ribbon bar to improve icon layout. Order and spacing have been updated [ref:1692]
• Updated icons provide a more logical and coherent workflow and improve the user experience [ref:1712]
• Link to website added to licensing component [ref:1731]

Licensing

• Introduced license "Editions", which control the available functionality. "Free" provides core functionality with some restrictions; "Standard" provides unrestricted access to the most popular functionality and "Professional" provides users with advanced optimization and post-processing controls (see limitstate.com/peregrine for more information) [ref: 1702]
• Incorporated Cloud Zoo and RLM licensing methods [ref: 1661]

Other Enhancements

• Updated the User Manual to reflect improvements and changes in software behaviour [ref: 1694]
• Example files folder structure has been updated to reflect the different license editions [ref:1697]
• Moved User Manual from installer to limitstate.com [ref:1709]

Bugfixes

• Fixed a bug that would cause nodes to be added along the internal (triangle) boundaries of planar domains. This could promote inefficient nodal distribution and lead to substandard solutions [ref: 1657]
• Suppress consideration of beam elements while conducting (Heaviside) simplification operations. This fixes a bug that could cause structures to have erroneous volumes calculated when simplified [ref: 1679]

v4.0.0 [9661]

20 Oct 2020 | Technology Preview

Technology preview

• Release made available to attendees of an online hands-on workshop held in October 2020. Provided access to a number of features subsequently made available in v5.

v3.7.0 [8930]

23 Jun 2020 | Maintenance Release

Maintenance release and license update

• Fixed a bug in the calculation of inward normal directions for vertices. Previously this could prevent models with curved domains from solving [ref:1537]
• Updated the built-in license. Free license now runs until 1st January 2021.

v3.6.0 [8642]

30 Apr 2020 | Maintenance Release

Minor bug fixes and enhancements

• Fixed a bug that prevented gravitational accelerations from being considered [ref:1497]
• Improved setup speeds for problems involving convex domains and/or very large numbers of nodes [re:1505]
• Memory usage when solving many problems within a session has been reduced [ref:1505]
• Added references to the location of the Example Files in the User Manual [ref:1510]

v3.5.0 [8043]

20 Nov 2019 | Technology Preview

First public release of Peregrine

Key features include:

• Rapid problem definition and solution
• Structural rationalization and simplification components