Sensitivity Analysis

Created by: Quan Gu (Xiamen University, China), Joel P. Conte (UCSD), Michele Barbato (LSU), Yong Li (UCSD)

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This manual is intended to outline the basic commands currently available within the OpenSees interpreter for performing DDM (Direct Differentiation Method)-based response sensitivity analysis. This interpreter is an extension of the Tcl/Tk language for use with OpenSees. The existing Tcl commands for Finite Element response-only computation are described in the OpenSees user’s guide available online at http://opensees.berkeley.edu and, thus, are not repeated in this document. The notation used herein is the same as that used in the Tcl commands manual for response-only computation. Only new Tcl commands for DDM-based response sensitivity computation are presented and explained in detail.

This manual is subdivided as follows:

1. DDM-Based Response Sensitivity Computation Tcl Commands: commands added to the interpreter for response sensitivity computation.
2. Demonstration Examples: four demonstration examples used to illustrate and validate the DDM-based response sensitivity analysis components implemented in OpenSees.
3. Extension of an existing material,cross section, and element for DDM-based: the necessary functions needed for implementation of the DDM-based response sensitivity computation are listed and explained.
4. Tcl input files for the provided application examples: Tcl input files for the above four application examples.

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