OpenSees has been around, solving various earthquake engineering and other problems, for over 20 years. So, I become skeptical when someone reports an error in the fundamental mathematical formulations of OpenSees. Source: https://screenrant.com/the-office-uk-best-quotes/ Typically, the "error" comes down to misalignment of what you think OpenSees should do, e.g., based on your experience with another structural … Continue reading Misalignment with OpenSees
Category: Random Bits
CyclopSees
I first came to know The Postman as a failed motion picture from the late 1990s. The movie starred Kevin Costner, who also starred in Bull Durham, the blog's most frequently referenced movie. Although I've never watched The Postman (not to be confused with Il Postino), I have read the original novel, written by David … Continue reading CyclopSees
A Lovely Little Mystery
Most comments in the OpenSees source code convey the purpose of an if-statement, loop, function call, etc. Other comments convey frustration with the author's implementation choices. I have addressed and/or deleted the gentle yet passive aggressive comments Frank left for me in the various places of OpenSees that I have touched. So, while making some … Continue reading A Lovely Little Mystery
OpenSees Scattergories
This is the blog's 200th post, which I will celebrate by not writing something technical. Instead, I will let you know that I organized the other 199 posts into the following Categories: Community - how to be a good OpenSees citizen; modeling challengesConstitutive Models - material, fiber, and section modelsElement Formulations - frame and solid … Continue reading OpenSees Scattergories
Major League
I refer to Bull Durham in more posts than in any other blog about OpenSees. I own up to that. After all, Bull Durham was an excellent movie--favorably-reviewed by critics and a box office success, grossing well more than its budget. The movie also won a few awards and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay … Continue reading Major League
Start Over Again
This week is International Blog Delurking Week. If you read the blog but never comment, please say Hello in the Comments section below and let us know how you came across the blog. Don't be shy. Frequent and infrequent commenters are also welcome to say Hello and give their back stories. Now, on to important … Continue reading Start Over Again
NaBloPoMo Recap
I made it through my second NaBloPoMo. 30 posts in November by strong equilibrium (one every day), not weak equilibrium (average one per day). Motivation bottomed out on November 18 when I squeaked out this post. I'm glad I managed to keep going. 15 posts contained technical information about OpenSees. The other 15 were some … Continue reading NaBloPoMo Recap
Work on Your Cliches
Before you tell your supervisor what you've done with OpenSees, you gotta work on your cliches. Cliches don't come from nowhere. For instance, Nuke learned his cliches from Crash before he used them in The Show. https://youtu.be/SB_LjL0lUJ4 Cliches for baseball, OpenSees, and life: Play them one day at a timeI'm just happy to be hereHope … Continue reading Work on Your Cliches
Happy Franksgiving
OpenSees is the result of Frank's giving. So send him an e-mail to say thank you. I knew this portmanteau would not be novel. After a quick Google search, I was surprised to learn that Franksgiving was an episode in United States history, ultimately leading to Thanksgiving being celebrated on the fourth, instead of last, … Continue reading Happy Franksgiving
Earthquake Songs
You can find several lists of earthquake songs--mostly about shaking one thing or another, almost all non-structural. For example, here's a list of songs compiled in 2011. The list has the standard fare like AC/DC and Carole King, along with 90s nostalgia like Wreckx-N-Effect. If the list were updated today, Tyler the Creator's Earfquake from … Continue reading Earthquake Songs
Portwood Digital 