Interactive real-time finite element analysis for structural mechanics education and experimentation.
ObjectiveFrame lets you build beam and frame structures, apply loads and boundary conditions, and explore deformation, internal forces, and eigenmodes with immediate visual feedback. It is designed for structural mechanics teaching, finite element experimentation, and lightweight open-source FEA workflows.
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- Real-time structural feedback while exploring loads and deformation.
- Interactive beam and frame modelling for structural mechanics education.
- Quick supports and forces painted onto the structure, and self-weight as a single switch.
- Geometry commands — move, scale, rotate, taper, smooth, mirror and arrays — on a whole selection, with a live preview.
- Eigenmode visualization for understanding unstable or under-constrained models.
- A Simple interface for first-time users and an Advanced one that hides nothing.
- Lightweight C++ and OpenGL desktop application.
- Open-source codebase with a long research lineage.
- Scriptable workflows using ChaiScript plugins, and a local HTTP API for driving it from Python.
- CALFEM-oriented export path for teaching and Python-based analysis workflows.
- Download the latest release from GitHub Releases.
- Pick the Simple or Advanced interface on the start page, and open one of the included example models from
bin/examples. - Add or modify loads and boundary conditions, or drag them on with the quick support and quick force tools.
- Run the analysis and inspect deformation, normal force, moment, or eigenmode behavior.
- Enable feedback mode to move a force and see the structure update interactively.
See the full Quick Start guide for a screenshot-based walkthrough.
ObjectiveFrame ships with example .df3 models for bridges, buildings, domes, masts, space frames, and multiple load cases. These are useful for demos, classroom exercises, regression checks, and learning finite element modelling step by step.
See the examples gallery.
| Capability | ObjectiveFrame | Typical commercial FEA |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes | Usually no |
| Real-time interaction | Core workflow | Often limited |
| Educational FEM focus | Strong | Varies |
| Lightweight desktop use | Yes | Often heavier |
| Beam/frame exploration | Primary use case | One feature among many |
| Scriptable examples | Yes | Varies |
| Research lineage | Explicit | Usually product-focused |
ObjectiveFrame is not trying to replace large industrial FEA suites. Its strength is interactive structural understanding: fast modelling, visual intuition, and immediate feedback for beam and frame behavior.
ObjectiveFrame is well suited for teaching topics such as:
- Beam and frame deformation.
- Load paths and support reactions.
- Boundary condition modelling.
- Section forces and moments.
- Eigenmodes and unstable structures.
- The relationship between finite element models and structural intuition.
Start with Learning FEM with ObjectiveFrame.
ObjectiveFrame is implemented in C++ using OpenGL for hardware-accelerated rendering. The current user interface uses Dear ImGui with GLFW. Structural analysis uses Eigen, and beam/truss structures can be generated from points using TetGen.
The project also builds on the Interactive Visualisation Framework - Ivf++.
ObjectiveFrame was originally developed at Structural Mechanics at Lund University by Jonas Lindemann as part of PhD work on real-time explorable finite element analysis and direct feedback methods.
- Objective Frame - An educational tool for understanding the behavior of structures
- Techniques for distributed access and visualisation computational mechanics
- CORBA in distributed finite element applications
- Using 3D gesture controls for interacting with mechanical models
Pierre Olsson developed routines and user interfaces for computing section properties. Daniel Akesson implemented 3D gesture controls using a Leap Motion controller for interacting with finite element models.
The short-term roadmap focuses on onboarding, examples, educational workflows, scripting, CALFEM integration, solver improvements, and broader platform support. See the project roadmap.
Issues, examples, documentation improvements, and educational exercises are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md for the current contribution guide.
If ObjectiveFrame supports teaching, research, or published work, please cite the project. See CITATION.cff and the citation guide.
ObjectiveFrame is distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.
ObjectiveFrame generates beam and truss structures from points with TetGen by Hang Si, Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS). TetGen is not covered by the MIT License: it is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.
ObjectiveFrame does not link against TetGen. It runs it as a separate program (tetgen, tetgen.exe), which the installers ship alongside the application. The build downloads TetGen 1.6.1 from the official repository and compiles it unmodified; see src/tetgen/CMakeLists.txt.
TetGen's source code is available from:
- GitHub: https://github.com/TetGen/Tetgen (the version used is release v1.6.1)
- WIAS: https://www.wias-berlin.de/software/index.jsp?id=TetGen&lang=1