OpenSeesPL

(If you fail to start OpenSeesPL after installation and you encounter error message "This application has failed to start...Reinstalling the application may fix this problem", please install Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86) and then install OpenSeesPL again)

OpenSeesPL is a graphical user interface (GUI) for three dimensional (3D) ground and ground-structure response. The OpenSees Finite Element Computational Analysis framework (http://opensees.berkeley.edu) is employed to conduct all analyses. The OpenSeesPL graphical interface (pre- and post-processor) is focused on facilitating a wide class of 3D studies (with additional capabilities yet under development). In the current version, OpenSeesPL may be employed to study a number of geometries and configurations of interest including:

- Linear and nonlinear (incremental plasticity based) 3D ground seismic response with capabilities for 3 dimensional excitation, and multi-layered soil strata. Multi-yield surface cohesionless (Drucker-Prager cone model), and (Mises or J2) soil models are available. The coupled solid-fluid analysis option allows for conducting liquefaction studies.

- Inclusion of a pile or shaft in the above 3D ground mesh (circular or square pile in a soil island). The pile can extend above ground and can support a bridge deck, or a point mass at the pile top. The bridge deck can be specified to only translate laterally, or to undergo both lateral translation and rotation. In addition to the seismic excitation option, the pile system may be subjected to monotonic or cyclic lateral push-over loading (in prescribed displacement or prescribed force modes). Soil within the zone occupied by the pile (as specified by pile diameter for instance can be specified independently, allowing for a variety of useful modeling scenarios.

- Various Ground Modification scenarios may be studied by appropriate specification of the material within the pile zone. For instance, liquefaction countermeasures in the form of gravel drains, stone columns, and solidification/cementation may all be analyzed. Of particular importance and significance in these scenarios is the ability to include the effect of mild infinite-slope inclination (i.e., allowing estimates of accumulated ground deformation, effect of liquefaction countermeasures, pile-pinning effects, and liquefaction-induced lateral loading).

- Slopes and pile systems embedded in sloping ground are also currently being simulated.

OpenSeesPL is compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista/XP/2K/NT/9x.