Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy
Lumped plasticity models available in commercial software offer a limited resolution of damage distribution along structural members. This study presents an open-source workflow that combines force-based fiber elements in OpenSeesPy with automated 3D post-processing for visualizing distributed plast...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8004 |
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| author | Juan-Carlos Pantoja Joaquim Tinoco Jhon Paul Smith-Pardo Gustavo Boada-Parra José Matos |
| author_facet | Juan-Carlos Pantoja Joaquim Tinoco Jhon Paul Smith-Pardo Gustavo Boada-Parra José Matos |
| author_sort | Juan-Carlos Pantoja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lumped plasticity models available in commercial software offer a limited resolution of damage distribution along structural members. This study presents an open-source workflow that combines force-based fiber elements in OpenSeesPy with automated 3D post-processing for visualizing distributed plasticity in reinforced concrete piles. A 60 cm diameter pile subjected to monotonic lateral loading is analyzed using both SAP2000’s default plastic hinges and OpenSeesPy fiber sections (Concrete02/Steel02). Although the fiber model incurs a runtime approximately 2.5 times greater, it captures the gradual spread of yielding and deterioration with improved fidelity. The presented workflow includes Python routines for interactive stress–strain visualization, facilitating the identification of critical sections and verification of strain limits. This approach offers a computationally feasible alternative for performance-based analysis with enhanced insight into member-level behavior. Because the entire workflow—from model definition through post-processing—is fully scripted in Python, any change to geometry, materials, or loading can be re-run in seconds, dramatically reducing the time taken to execute sensitivity analyses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e2a58b93feb411b86a6d918dacd7296 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e2a58b93feb411b86a6d918dacd72962025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514800410.3390/app15148004Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPyJuan-Carlos Pantoja0Joaquim Tinoco1Jhon Paul Smith-Pardo2Gustavo Boada-Parra3José Matos4Department of Civil Engineering, Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalDepartment of Civil Engineering, Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seattle University, Seattle, WA 98122, USADepartamento de Ingeniería Del Transporte, Territorio y Urbanismo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Profesor Aranguren 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Civil Engineering, Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalLumped plasticity models available in commercial software offer a limited resolution of damage distribution along structural members. This study presents an open-source workflow that combines force-based fiber elements in OpenSeesPy with automated 3D post-processing for visualizing distributed plasticity in reinforced concrete piles. A 60 cm diameter pile subjected to monotonic lateral loading is analyzed using both SAP2000’s default plastic hinges and OpenSeesPy fiber sections (Concrete02/Steel02). Although the fiber model incurs a runtime approximately 2.5 times greater, it captures the gradual spread of yielding and deterioration with improved fidelity. The presented workflow includes Python routines for interactive stress–strain visualization, facilitating the identification of critical sections and verification of strain limits. This approach offers a computationally feasible alternative for performance-based analysis with enhanced insight into member-level behavior. Because the entire workflow—from model definition through post-processing—is fully scripted in Python, any change to geometry, materials, or loading can be re-run in seconds, dramatically reducing the time taken to execute sensitivity analyses.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8004visualization and post-processingstructural analysisnonlinear structural modelingsoil–structure interaction (SSI)fiber elementsdistributed plasticity |
| spellingShingle | Juan-Carlos Pantoja Joaquim Tinoco Jhon Paul Smith-Pardo Gustavo Boada-Parra José Matos Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy Applied Sciences visualization and post-processing structural analysis nonlinear structural modeling soil–structure interaction (SSI) fiber elements distributed plasticity |
| title | Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy |
| title_full | Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy |
| title_fullStr | Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy |
| title_short | Visualization of Distributed Plasticity in Concrete Piles Using OpenSeesPy |
| title_sort | visualization of distributed plasticity in concrete piles using openseespy |
| topic | visualization and post-processing structural analysis nonlinear structural modeling soil–structure interaction (SSI) fiber elements distributed plasticity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/8004 |
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