Introduction to OpenSees for Structural-Engineering Professionals

OpenSees for Structural-Engineering Professionals is a two-hour, practice-oriented introduction to nonlinear structural analysis using the OpenSees framework. Participants will learn how modern finite-element modeling concepts—materials, sections, geometric transformations, and beam-column formulations—translate directly into OpenSees’ scripting workflow. Through examples drawn from reinforced-concrete and steel systems, the webinar shows how axial–moment interaction, plastic-hinge formation, distributed plasticity, and fiber-section discretization influence both model fidelity and computational performance.

In addition to core modeling mechanics, the session will present the different ways engineers can run OpenSees, including the Tcl interpreter, the Python interpreter (OpenSeesPy), and hybrid workflows that blend interactive notebooks with scripted simulations. Participants will also see how these models scale from laptops to distributed high-performance computing (HPC) systems, enabling large, multi-record, or parametric studies to run efficiently across many processors.