The Mechanically Separated Wall

The MVLEM element (and its SFI-MVLEM and E-SFI-MVLEM cousins) has a curious 3D implementation in OpenSees. In plane, the element is a two node link with a fiber section and some rigid beams while out of plane the element is a linear-elastic plate. The mechanics of the in-plane response are separate from the mechanics of … Continue reading The Mechanically Separated Wall →

Murum, cura te ipsum

OpenSees has its fair share of element implementations that are computationally inefficient. Fortunately, most of those elements are never used. But among elements that are used, SFI-MVLEM is the undisputed champion. Whereas the standard MVLEM element uses a uniaxial material in each fiber, the SFI-MVLEM element accounts for the interaction of axial and shear stress ($latex \sigma_{11}$ … Continue reading Murum, cura te ipsum →

Minimal MVLEM Example

Due to its simplicity and efficiency in modeling shear walls, the MVLEM (Multiple Vertical Line Element Model) is among the more frequently asked about elements in OpenSees. The MVLEM is also one of the better documented elements in OpenSees with documentation for both its 2D and 3D versions. Personally, I haven't used the MVLEM for … Continue reading Minimal MVLEM Example →