# Introduction to OpenSees

__NOTOC__

Context for Simulation in Earthquake Engineering

What is OpenSees?

Why is OpenSees OpenSource?

Simulation Framework

Computation
Algorithms
Solvers
Parallel/distributed computing
Information Technology
Software framework
Databases
Visualization
Internet/grid computation
Models
Simulation models
Performance models
Limit state models
Material
component
system models

OpenSees Approach to Simulation

Basic approach
Modular software design for implementing and integrating modeling, numerical methods, and IT for scalable, robust simulation
Focus on capabilities needed for performance-based engineering
Programmable interfaces
Most users
a “code” for nonlinear analysis
Fully scriptable.
Generally
a software framework for developing simulation applications

Remember OpenSees is a Software Framework

Basics of Object-Oriented Programming

IS-A (Truss is an Element)
KNOWS-A (Truss knows a Node)
HAS-A (Truss has a Material)

How People Use OpenSees

What is Tcl

Tcl is a programming language.

command arg1 arg2 …

What is an interpreter

Example Tcl

>set a 1 >1 >set b a >a >set b $a >1

>expr 2 + 3 > 5 >set b [expr 2 + $b] > 3

>set fileId [open tmp w] >?? >puts $fileId “hello” >close $fileID >type tmp hello

>source Example1.tcl

for {set i 1} {$i < 10} {incr i 1} { puts “i equals $i” } set sum 0 foreach value {1 2 3 4} { set sum [expr $sum + $value] } set $ sum >10 >proc guess {value} { global sum if {$value < $sum} { puts “too low” } else { if {$value > $sum} { puts “too high” } else { puts “you got it!”} } } > guess 9 too low

Main Abstractions in OpenSees Framework

ModelBuilder
Constructs the objects in the model and adds them to the domain.
Domain (Central component)
Holds the state of the model at time t and (t + dt)
Analysis
Moves the model from state at time t to state at time (t + dt)
Recorder
Monitors user defined parameters in the model during the analysis

OpenSees Interpreters

The OpenSees interpreters are tcl interpreters which have been extended to include commands for finite element analysis:

1. Modeling - create nodes, elements, loads and constraints
2. Analysis - specify the analysis procedure.
3. Output specification - specify what it is you want to monitor during the analysis.

Being interpreters, this means that the files you create and submit to the OpenSees interpreters are not input files. You are creating and submitting PROGRAMS. The OpenSees model Command adds the OpenSees modeling commands to the Tcl interpreter.

Modeling Features

Modeling Features are used to define the model and the loads held in the domain

Model
The OpenSees model command enables the model definition
Nodes
The OpenSees node command
Masses
The OpenSees mass Command
Nodal constraints & Boundary Conditions
The OpenSees constraints commands defines the constraints between degrees of freedom.
Materials
There are two types of materials
The OpenSees uniaxialMaterial Command defines materials with a unique one-dimensional stress-strain (force-deformation) relationship
The OpenSees nDMaterial Command defines multi-dimensional materials
Sections
The OpenSees section Command defines different types of element cross-sections, ranging from uniaxial elastic sections to fiber sections\
Elements
The OpenSees element Command defines element types and element connectivity within the model
Block-generation of elements
The OpenSees block Command generates meshes of quadrilateral or brick finite element
Node & Element Regions
The OpenSees region Command labels a group of nodes and elements
Geometric Transformation
The OpenSees Geometric Transformation Command is used to define the relationtionship between element force and deformation quantities from the global coordinate system to the element basic system (local coordinates)
Time Series
The OpenSees Time Series Command defines a time series that is used within the load pattern
Load Pattern
The OpenSees pattern Command imposes element and/or nodal loads and/or constraints
Damping
The OpenSees Rayleigh Damping Command defines the mass and stiffness-proportional damping parameters

Analysis definition and features

The analysis-definition part of OpenSees allows the user to define the different linear and nonlinear analysis tools available. For each analysis, the following items need to be defined, preferably in this order:

constraints : The OpenSees constraints Command is used to construct the ConstraintHandler object. Constraints enforce a relationship between degrees-of-freedom. The ConstraintHandler object determines how the constraint equations are enforced in the analysis.
numberer : The OpenSees numberer Command is used to construct the DOF_Numberer object. The DOF_Numberer object determines the mapping between equation numbers and degrees-of-freedom -- how degrees-of-freedom are numbered.
system : The OpenSees system Command is used to construct the LinearSOE and LinearSolver objects to store and solve the system of equations in the analysis.
test : The OpenSees test Command is used to construct a ConvergenceTest object. Certain SolutionAlgorithm objects require a ConvergenceTest object to determine if convergence has been achieved at the end of an iteration step.
algorithm : The OpenSees algorithm Command is used to construct a SolutionAlgorithm object, which determines the sequence of steps taken to solve the non-linear equation.
integrator : The OpenSees integrator Command is used to construct the Integrator object. The Integrator object determines the meaning of the terms in the system of equation object. The Integrator object is used for the following:

::*determine the predictive step for time t+dt

::*specify the tangent matrix and residual vector at any iteration

::*determine the corrective step based on the displacement increment dU

analysis : The OpenSees analysis Command is used to construct the Analysis object. This analysis object is constructed with the component objects previously created by the analyst. All currently-available analysis objects employ incremental solution strategies. There are three types of analysis currently available:

::*Static - for static analysis

::*Transient - for transient analysis with constant time step

::*VariableTransient - for transient analysis with variable time step

Analysis execution

analyze
The analysis is executed using the OpenSees analyze Command.
This command moves the analysis forward by the specified number of steps.

Output Features

The OpenSees output features are used to monitor the model during analysis. There are two types of output:

Recorders
The OpenSees Recorder Command specifies the location (Element or Node) and response type (deformation or force) to record into a file throughtout the analysis.
The recorder data is only available after the analysis has been terminated and the wipe Command is invoked or the OpenSees program is closed
Real-Time data
A series of RealTime Output Commands are used to monitor the state of the model at any time during the simulation

Example OpenSees Input

<h3>Truss Example</h3> FranksTrussExample.jpg

Build Model

```Tcl model Basic -ndm 2 -ndf 2 node 1 0.0 0.0 node 2 144.0 0.0 node 3 168.0 0.0 node 4 72.0 96.0 fix 1 1 1 fix 2 1 1 fix 3 1 1 uniaxialMaterial Elastic 1 3000.0 element truss 1 1 4 10.0 1 element truss 2 2 4 5.0 1 element truss 3 3 4 5.0 1 pattern Plain 1 “Linear” { load 4 100.0 -50.0 } ```

Static Nonlinear Analysis with LoadControl

```Tcl constraints Transformation numberer RCM system BandGeneral test NormDispIncr 1.0e-6 6 2 algorithm Newton integrator LoadControl 0.1 analysis Static analyze 10 ```

Transient Nonlinear Analysis with Newmark

```Tcl constraints Transformation numberer RCM system BandGeneral test NormDispIncr 1.0e-6 6 2 algorithm Newton integrator Newmark 0.5 0.25 analysis Transient analyze 2000 0.01 ``` GettingStartedGeometry.jpg <h3>Plane Frame</h3>

Build Model

```Tcl model Basic -ndm 2 -ndf 3 node 1 0.0 0.0 node 2 504.0 0.0 node 3 0.0 432.0 node 4 504.0 432.0 fix 1 1 1 1 fix 2 1 1 1 mass 3 5.18 0.0 0.0 mass 4 5.18 0.0 0.0 geomTransf Linear 1 element elasticBeamColumn 1 1 3 3600.0 4227.0 1080000.0 1 element elasticBeamColumn 1 4 3 3600.0 4227.0 1080000.0 1 element elasticBeamColumn 3 3 4 5760.0 4227.0 4423680.0 1 pattern Plain 1 Linear { load 3 0.0 -2000.0 -168074.0 load 4 0.0 -2000.0 168074.0 }

```

Gravity-Load Analysis

```Tcl

  1. create analysis & perform analysis

constraints transformation numberer RCM system BandGeneral test NormDispIncr 1.0e-6 6 2 algorithm Newton integrator LoadControl 0.1 analysis Static analyze 10

  1. look at what happened to node 3

print node 3 ```

Cyclic Lateral Load Analysis

```Tcl

  1. set gravity loads constant & reset time in domain

loadConst -time 0.0

  1. create load pattern for lateral loads

pattern Plain 2 Linear { load 3 200.0 0.0 0.0 load 4 200.0 0.0 0.0 }

  1. do some cyclic analysis

foreach {numSteps stepSize} {10 0.1 10 -0.1 10 -0.1 10 0.1 10 0.1} { integrator LoadControl $stepSize analyze $numSteps set time [getTime] set disp [nodeDisp 3 1] puts “Time: $time Displacement $disp” } ```