OpenSees-SNOPT Framework for Finite-Element-Based Optimization of Structural and Geotechnical Systems
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
The finite-element (FE) method is widely recognized as a powerful tool in modeling structural and geotechnical systems and simulating their response to static and dynamic loads. In addition, numerical optimization is commonly used in many engineering applications, such as structural reliability analysis, FE model updating, structural identification, and structural optimization. This paper focuses on the extension of Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees, an existing software framework for nonlinear FE analysis) using Sparse Nonlinear Optimization (SNOPT, a state-of-the-art numerical optimization software). The extended OpenSees-SNOPT framework is general and flexible and can be used to solve a wide range of FE-based optimization problems in structural and geotechnical engineering. It has several distinguishing features: (1) advanced capabilities in solving optimization problems involving complex structural/geotechnical engineering systems; (2) versatility in modeling a very wide range of structural and/or geotechnical systems; (3) computational efficiency; (4) flexibility to easily accommodate and benefit from new developments in FE structural modeling and analysis, computational optimization, and probabilistic modeling and analysis; and (5) capabilities of exploring new optimization-based problems and solution methods. The use of this coupled framework is illustrated through three representative application examples, i.e., a FE reliability analysis of a reinforced concrete frame, a FE structural optimization problem of an electrical transmission steel tower, and a FE model updating the problem of a geotechnical system.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the support of this research by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center’s Transportation Systems Research Program under Award No. 00006493; the Longwell’s Family Foundation through the Fund for Innovation in Engineering Research (FIER) Program; the LSU Council on Research through the 2009–2010 Faculty Research Grant Program; the Louisiana Board of Regents (LA BoR) through the Louisiana Board of Regents Research and Development Program, Research Competitiveness (RCS) subprogram under Award No. LESQSF(2010–13)-RD-A-01; the National Science Foundation under Award DMS-0915220; and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China under Award No. 2010111075. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 822 - 834
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 24, 2011
Accepted: Sep 23, 2011
Published online: Sep 26, 2011
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
Published ahead of production: Jun 15, 2012
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