Getting Started with OpenSees -- Model Builder

• GettingStarted Manual
  • Introduction
  • Download OpenSees
  • Run OpenSees
  • Problem Definition
  • Model Builder
  • Nodes
  • Elements
  • Recorders
  • Summary of Model-Building Input File
  • Loads and Analysis
  • Gravity Loads
  • Summary of Gravity Loads
  • Lateral Loads -- Static Pushover
  • Lateral Loads -- Cyclic Lateral Load
  • Lateral Loads -- Dynamic ground motion

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Defining the model builder using the OpenSees model command expands the Tcl command library to include OpenSees-specific commands, such as node and element definition, etc. Currently, there is only one model builder available, basic model builder, this is the model builder that includes all the commands presented in this library.

The model builder also defines the number of dimensions (ndm) and degrees of freedom per node (ndf):

model BasicBuilder -ndm $ndm <-ndf $ndf>

For a 2-D problem, you really only need three degrees of freedom at each node, the two translations in the plane and the rotation about the plane's normal:

model basic -ndm 2 -ndf 3

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