# Kangaroo with real life units

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752>\
**Category:** Kangaroo\
**Created:** [August 21, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752 "2019-08-21T00:14:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cameronbehning](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/cameronbehning/32/479348_2.png) [@cameronbehning](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/cameronbehning)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752/1 "2019-08-21T00:14:49Z")

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I am running a form finding analysis for a draped catenary structure fro a solar array. Kangaroo has been great so far, but we are starting to need real life numbers. Mostly, we want to be able to apply real life weight, and tensile strength numbers to our panels so we can accurately model how these panels with drape and then use that geometry to accurately calculate our solar energy output. This is extra important because we are trying to optimism for cost of structure vs energy production.

Can someone explain how the “strength” input works? Like if I wanted to apply gravity (32.2ft/s/s) to a 15lb panel, what strength should I put for the force?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![DanielPiker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/danielpiker/32/666337_2.png) [@DanielPiker](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/DanielPiker)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 8:24am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752/2 "2019-08-21T08:24:07Z")

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Hi Cameron,  
Have a look at this thread:

> [@Analysis of catenary](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/analysis-of-catenary/80806):
>
> Any way to materialize a catenary into a cable with its material properties, such as cross-section area, E-modulus, etc… and then apply a point load at any given point and see deformation?

Which describes how to set the input values for real world units and measure stresses.  
To simplify this process, you could also look at the [K2engineering](https://github.com/CecilieBrandt/K2Engineering) plugin, which does some of this conversion for you.

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**Author:** ![cameronbehning](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/cameronbehning/32/479348_2.png) [@cameronbehning](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/cameronbehning)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752/3 "2019-08-23T16:48:15Z")

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Do you know how to install k2engineering? I can’t seem to figure it out nor can I find a read me with install instructions.

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**Author:** ![DanielPiker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/danielpiker/32/666337_2.png) [@DanielPiker](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/DanielPiker)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752/4 "2019-08-23T17:00:52Z")

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I believe you just need to download the gha from:  
[https://github.com/CecilieBrandt/K2Engineering/releases](http://releases)  
then unblock and drop it in your Grasshopper components folder

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**Author:** ![c.brandtolsen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/c.brandtolsen/32/357505_2.png) [@c.brandtolsen](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/c.brandtolsen)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2019, 9:09am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/kangaroo-with-real-life-units/87752/5 "2019-08-26T09:09:46Z")

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I have now updated the readme file with installation instructions. Hopefully that will help:

> **[CecilieBrandt/K2Engineering](https://github.com/CecilieBrandt/K2Engineering)**
>
> Contribute to CecilieBrandt/K2Engineering development by creating an account on GitHub.