Thanks to my involvement with OpenSees, I have been asked to review several manuscripts on nonlinear dynamic structural analysis. It's always wonderful to see what other researchers are up to and how they use OpenSees or other software to achieve their research objectives. A brief overview of the governing dynamic equilibrium equation, i.e., the equation … Continue reading Start with the Correct Static Resisting Force
Month: January 2020
Incompetence, Not Malice
"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence" is a form of Hanlan's razor, an aphorism that explains many actions in academia and elsewhere. For example, we often perceive omissions of important details in published work as intentional acts to prevent reproduction of the research. In some cases, this is true, while … Continue reading Incompetence, Not Malice
Recognizable Dates as Self-Imposed Deadlines
A few years ago, a colleague in Eastchester pointed out the July 4 submission date of an article they had just read. We thought it was a bold move for the author to have submitted a manuscript on a national holiday, in the summertime, when very few US academics are working. But perhaps there was … Continue reading Recognizable Dates as Self-Imposed Deadlines
Blog Delurking Week
I found out that this week, the first full week of January, is International Blog Delurking Week. Go ahead, Google it. This is a week where followers of a blog are asked to say "Hello" and comment on what they hope to see from the blog in the new year. Besides a GUI that does … Continue reading Blog Delurking Week
The Fiber Content of OpenSees
Although fiber sections are not unique to OpenSees, where else can you choose from 23 uniaxial concrete models and 18 uniaxial steel models to define a reinforced concrete section? There's also a handful of multiaxial material models that capture the interaction of axial and shear stresses in beam fibers, as well as fiber models for … Continue reading The Fiber Content of OpenSees
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