1.1.2. Install on MacOS

1.1.2.1. Install Python 3.9

SimCenter tools require an x86-based Python 3.9 installation. To check if your current Python installation is compatible, follow Steps 1 and 2 below. If it is incompatible, proceed with Steps 3 through 6 below to install a compatible version.

1. Open a Terminal Window. To do this on your Mac:

   1) Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search
   2) Type “Terminal” and press Enter in Spotlight Search.
   

2. To check if your Python version is compatible, run the following commands in your terminal window:

   python3
   import platform
   platform.uname()
   exit()
   

   Ensure the output indicates Python 3.9 and machine=’x86_64’, as shown in the screenshot below. If your python installation does not meet these requirements, proceed with the installation outlined in steps 3 and 4 below. If your system does meet the requirements, skip to step 5.

   

   Fig. 1.1.2.1.1 Python: Kernel Version

3. Clink on the this link -> WE-UQ Download. On the browser page that this brings up, you will find various files and directories available for download. Locate the file named python-3.9.13-macosx10.9.pkg, which we copied from Python.org. Proceed to download this installer file.

4. Locate this installer file on your system and double click on it to start the installation process. Upon completion, a folder with several files will open, as shown in the figure below. Execute Update Shell Profile.command.sh and Install CertificateCommand.sh by double-clicking each.

   

   Fig. 1.1.2.1.2 Python: Folder Displayed at Conclusion of Install

5. In the terminal window you have opened in step 1, you need to issue the following 2 commands to ensure the command line tools for x-code and some additional python modules are installed:

   xcode-select --install
   python3 -m pip3 install --upgrade nheri_simcenter
   

6. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to ensure that python was correctly installed. See note below if you still see the incorrect version and platform in the NEW terminal window.

Note

If you still have the incorrect version of python installed after following the above steps, it probably means you forget to invoke the Update Shell Profile Command.command script at the end of step 4. You can still do it using Finder. Open Finder and navigate to the /Applications/Python 3.9 folder. Here you will see a number of files, including the two you forgot to run: Install Cerificates Command.command and Update Shell Profile Command.commnd. Double click on these files to run them. Finally repeat steps 1 and 2 again. If this still fails to produce the correct output for step 2, please contact us for direct support.

1.1.2.3. Install OpenFOAM for macOS

This version of the WE-UQ app uses OpenFOAM for pre-processing the CFD model. At the backend, the mesh generation and visualization in the GUI utilize OpenFOAM-10 built-in meshing tools.

Note

The packaged distribution of OpenFOAM is only available for Linux systems. To install OpenFOAM on macOS, the user needs to use Docker for Mac. Docker will provide a virtual environment for running Linux applications on macOS.

To download and install Docker for macOS from the following site Docker for macOS .

Note

Make sure to download Docker distribution that maches your machine requirements (Apple or Intel chip).

1.1.2.5. Download the Application

To download the WE-UQ app, navigate to the WE-UQ Download page which should resemble Fig. 1.1.2.5.4. The download page contains a list of downloadable files and directories.

Fig. 1.1.2.5.4 WE-UQ download page.

Click on the file with a name ending with Mac_Download.dmg to download the WE-UQ app. In the pop-up window, click on the Download button in the bottom right corner. After the download is completed, open the dmg file and copy the WE-UQ app to a location in your filesystem.

Note

We suggest copying the application to your Desktop. After copying the application, you can move the dmg file to the trash or eject it.

1.1.2.6. Test the Installation

Once the installation procedure has been completed, it is a good practice to run some basic checks. Navigate to the location where you placed the application and open it by running the WE-UQ.exe executable.

Note

SimCenter apps are code-signed and notarized, but because they are not downloaded from the operating system’s app store, they may not be recognized as safe applications. Depending on your security settings, when you start a SimCenter app for the first time, your operating system may show a dialog box indicating it is unsafe. If this dialog appears, choose the cancel button. Try to start the app again, this time by right-clicking on it and selecting open.

If the app still fails to open. You need to go to System Settings->Privacy and Security. Under the Security section, you need to at least temporarily select the option to allow applications downloaded from the App Store and Identified Developers. With this checked try again. If it fails again, go back to System Settings->Privacy and Security. Just below the section you just checked, there should be some text about why the app was stopped and an option to Open Anyway, as shown in the figure below. Click on the button and the app should start.

Once the application starts, verify the setup by running an example problem 9 Story Building: Sampling Analysis, see Fig. 1.1.2.6.4.

Fig. 1.1.2.6.4 WE-UQ application on startup.

Note

When the WE-UQ app is running, open the app/preferences or File/Preferences and make sure that python3 appears under External Applications:Python, as shown in the figure below. If you used older versions of SimCenter tools this was not the default. The exact location of Python3 that you installed can be found by opening the terminal application and executing the which python3 command. Enter the path shown as a response in the Preferences panel under Python and then press the Save button.

Fig. 1.1.2.6.7 Set Python Preferences.