Syllabus by Blogging

Since joining the faculty at Eastchester, I’ve taught nonlinear structural analysis many times. The course content is shaped by what I learned, and continue to learn, from Frank, Greg, Filip, and Silvia.

The blog is another outcropping of what I’ve learned. So I’ve integrated many of the posts into the course, which consists of the nine modules listed below.

1 – Overview of Nonlinear Structural Analysis

• OpenSees Is Simple (nonlinear structural analysis in general, not just OpenSees)

2 – Equilibrium Solution Algorithms

• Better than Ideal Conditions
• Variations on Modified Newton
• Don’t Try This at Home

3 – Load Incrementation Strategies

• Load Patterns and Time Series
• It’s Not Load Control
• Its Power and Its Problem

4 – OpenSees Finite Element Framework

• A Vector in the x-z Plane
• No CAPS When You Spell the Framework’s Name
• How to Cite OpenSees
• A Semi-Blind Kind of Contest / Semi-Blind Kind of Contest Results
• A New Challenge / Results of a New Challenge

5 – Numerical Integration

• Nonlinear Elements, Elastic Sections
• Force-Based Beam-Column Integration Options
• Heavy as a Chebyshev

6 – Section Analysis

• Uniaxial Multi-Tool
• Close to the Edge
• Fiber Section Centroids
• Torsion with Fiber Sections

7 – Material Nonlinear Frame Element Formulations

• A Tale of Two Element Formulations
• The Basics of Frame Element Localization
• When a Deal Breaker Is Not a Deal Breaker
• Integration Points with Negative Weight

8 – Geometric Nonlinear Frame Element Formulations

• Meshing for Column Loads
• One Iteration of a Second Order Analysis
• A Very Stable Challenge / Stability Challenge Results

9 – Nonlinear Structural Dynamics

• Mass and Weight
• Rayleigh Damping Coefficients
• Modal Participation Factors
• Be Careful with Modal Damping

There’s much more to nonlinear structural analysis than these nine modules. Covering all the material in a single academic quarter would be impossible. That would take years–and many more blog posts.