"What are the columns of output for a section force / section deformation element recorder?" is a frequently asked OpenSees question. The correct answer is "It depends on the type of element and section model." But a much better answer is "Apply simple loads to a cantilever and figure it out." Consider the cantilever and … Continue reading Simple Loads on a Cantilever →

A question posted the other day in the OpenSees Facebook group asked how to add self-weight to elements. I gave the easy I-can-answer-this-in-under-two-seconds answer of "use the eleLoad command". It turns out the complete answer is not so simple as it depends on the type of element to which you want to apply self-weight. The … Continue reading Element Self-Weight →