7 Educational Resources for OpenSees

1) OpenSees Home Training Courses

2) Other Books and Training Courses

3) OpenSeesWiki

4) Practical Workshops Held at the Side of Scientific Seminars

5) Student Theses

6) Scientific Articles

7) Reference Books on Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis

Review of OpenSees Learning Resources

Previously, we discussed the challenges of nonlinear structural analysis. In that context, we aimed to show how important it is to understand the theory behind various modeling and analysis methods, as well as to compare their applications. We reiterate that gaining scientific expertise is a crucial requirement for effectively defending research findings, interpreting them, and fostering research creativity. Alongside scientific assumptions, there are many subtle details that only become apparent through practical experience. In fact, these details manifest differently for each research path, which is why they are not universal and often cannot be considered as scientific findings.

For a thorough review, we will start by introducing the features of the weakest category of OpenSees training resources. By doing so, when we reach the stronger references, the reasons for their strength will become more apparent.

Reference Books on Finite Elements

The seventh category of sources includes nonlinear finite element reference books, which are primarily suitable for doctoral level studies. These resources are compiled with both scientific and practical perspectives, aimed at educational purposes. However, the application of these resources differs from what most researchers need. Essentially, these books focus on the fine computational details required to write a nonlinear analysis program, rather than on the conscious use of such a program. As a result, they delve into the intricacies of software development rather than simply applying it. This approach can be frustrating for a researcher who doesn’t wish to reinvent the wheel from scratch. Nevertheless, due to the valuable theoretical details they provide, these resources should not be excluded from the OpenSees learning materials. In many cases, referring to these resources is essential for a proper understanding of structural behavior and the response of numerical models.

Scientific Briefs and Detailed Reports

The sources in the sixth group (i.e., scientific articles) focus solely on reporting scientific findings, often in a very concise manner. These sources do not have an educational nature and do not delve into the details of practical steps. This is significant because most of the time spent in a research project involves very fine operational details. Even from a scientific perspective, this category does not provide a comprehensive explanation, as it is not intended to be educational. Instead, it merely touches on theoretical aspects within the context of justifying their findings.

The fifth category, consisting of academic theses, is more detailed than scientific articles, but still lacks an educational approach. In other words, they only report the research questions, hypotheses, and methods from a scientific perspective. It is natural that many practical questions remain in the minds of software users even after studying these sources, as they do not address the operational details that are crucial for effective use of the software.

OpenSees Training in Workshops and Seminars

The fourth group in the OpenSees training resource list includes practical workshops related to OpenSees. Although these resources are designed to focus on the details, they are often overly brief. The reason for this brevity can be understood by examining the motivations of the presenters. That’s right! Naturally, researchers are not eager to freely disclose their knowledge. As a result, these resources do not delve deeply enough into the details. It is clear that in just a few pages or minutes, it is impossible to convey the details of efforts that may have taken years to develop. In fact, the lack of financial support for these presentations, along with their non-financial motivations, limits the depth and richness of these resources.

The shallowest OpenSees training resource

Among the resources listed above, the third resource, the software manual, is the most famous and at the same time the most concise. This manual focuses solely on the grammar (syntax) and spelling of OpenSees commands, and is almost devoid of scientific explanations. However, due to its inclusion of simple examples and links to other references, it offers an advantage over the other resources.

Books and OpenSees Courses

The second category of resources is considered the best among all the groups mentioned. The financial incentives, practical experience, and the effort to satisfy the audience contribute to the richness of these resources. However, these courses are typically offered by graduates who have experience in only one or two research topics. The scientific level of these resources also depends on the curiosity and interests of the presenter. The key point, however, is that the future of serious researchers in the field is often tied to academic positions. Therefore, a significant issue with this category of resources is that they are not sufficiently professional or comprehensive, and their scope of application is limited. In other words, they are not advanced or all-encompassing enough.

Features of OpenSees House Training

By examining the characteristics of these 6 groups of OpenSees educational resources, we can outline the features of an ideal resource:

• It should address the scientific aspects related to different modeling methods and compare their applications and weaknesses.
• It should avoid unnecessary scientific details that are not required by a user of nonlinear analysis software.
• It should take the practical aspects of working with the software, which are not necessarily scientific, very seriously.
• It should be presented by someone who has successfully completed the entire research process from start to finish with excellent results.
• The presenter should have sufficient motivation to share the results of their years of effort.

Considering these essential characteristics, it must be said that the most comprehensive OpenSees learning resources are currently provided by House of OpenSees. These trainings are the result of years of successful research efforts alongside audiences, which is why they encompass all of the above-mentioned features.

We hope that with God’s help and the support of our audience, we can take successful steps on this path.