ISSN 2319-8885

Vol.04,Issue.18,
June-2015,
Pages:3496-3501
www.ijsetr.com

Design Optimization of Steel Truss using OpenSees and SAP2000

RAHUL N. BAGAL1, DR.VAGEESHA S. MATHADA2
1
PG Scholar, SVERI’s Collage of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India.
2
Professor, SVERI’s Collage of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract: There are the different software’s available for the modeling and analysis of structures. In the present paper Open
System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees) software is used for the development and validation of the basic
models of Truss and Frame using limit state approach. OpenSees in short, is a software platform for research and application of
simulation for structural and geotechnical systems. In the present paper OpenSees Navigator is used as it is more flexible and user
friendly graphical user interface. It is easy way to study the material property, section and element or system behavior by using
the OpenSees Navigator.In the present paper optimization of truss is performed in SAP2000 with the help of Demand Capacity
ratios. In the present paper different sections are used in the optimization of the actual structures with maintaining the D/C ratios.
Actual structures and optimized structures are compared with considering weights of structures and also results of the optimized
structures and actual structures in the OpenSees are plotted with graphical and tabular forms.
.
Keywords: OpenSees, Simulation, Tcl, OpenSees Navigator, SAP2000, Optimization.

I. INTRODUCTION sometimes building code based analysis is not sufficient for

In structural engineering, it is necessary to design structures
by satisfying pre-defined performance objectives most
economically. Optimization methods are usually utilized to
perform this task by identifying a suitable balance between
safety and economy. Deterministic optimization methods do
not consider uncertainties within the optimization process.
Therefore, many methods may lead to unreliable designs. A
new reliability-based optimization method for structural
design is developed through a software application. It
employs a genetic algorithm for optimization of cost of the
design combined with finite element reliability analysis for
evaluation of reliability constraints. Opensees is a general
purpose Finite Element analysis software package. In
OpenSees, users build models and perform structural
analyses using the scripting language Tcl. OpenSees software
frame work is an appropriate tool due to its versatile
approach to analyzing structures. OpenSees is an open
source, object-oriented finite element based software frame
work that has been developed for earthquake and structural
engineering applications. OpenSees Navigator will create
the OpenSees model and graphically display the results before,
during or after a test. It was written in MATLAB, but can be
run as a stand-alone application. Firstly it creates the model
then done the analysis and at last it display the results.
It is flexible to use and requires no programming skill. By
using Opensees Navigator we can creates the any type of
model like 2D, 3D & also we get the animated or graphical
response of results. Most of the civil structural designers
consider the effects of earthquakes using IS codes or any
other similar codes for design of these structures. However,
getting detailed insight of complicated civil engineering
structures. Some of the user friendly commercial software’s
such as STAAD-Pro, ETAB, MATLAB and SAP which are
available in the market, the limitations of these software’s are
high cost, non availability of open source, no flexibility to
connect other user codes which are required for various
applications viz. reliability analysis, optimization etc. These
tasks can only be achieved with the help of open source
software’s (such as OPENSEES) which makes it easy for
further development of these codes, modification and
attachment of new codes as per user requirements.
II. OPENSEES NAVIGATOR AND SAP2000
A. Opensees Navigator
Opensees Navigator software is mainly divided in to the
three parts. They are as follows:
 Model Builder
 Analysis
 Output/Recorder
Opensees is comprised of a set of modules to perform
creation of the finite element model, specification of an
analysis procedure, selection o quantities to be monitored
during the analysis, and the output of results. In each finite
element analysis, an analysis is used to construct four main
types of objects, as shown in Fig1.
1. Model Builder Object is responsible for building the
objects in the model and adding them to the domain.
2. Domain Object is responsible for storing the objects
created by the Model Builder object and for providing the
Analysis and Recorder objects access to these objects.

Copyright @ 2015 IJSETR. All rights reserved.

 RAHUL N. BAGAL, DR.VAGEESHA S. MATHADA
3. Analysis Object is responsible for performing the
analysis.
4. Recorder Object monitors user-specified objects of the
model during the analysis.

Fig2. TRUSS 1.

A. Assigning Opensees Path

Starting with the initial step to assign the opensees path
same as in frame problem.

Fig1. Main Abstractions in OpenSees Framework.

B. Analysis
The Analysis objects are responsible for performing the
analysis. The analysis moves the model along from state at
time T to state at time T + DT. This may vary from a simple
static linear analysis to a transient (Transient Analysis,
Variable Transient Analysis) non-linear analysis. In
OpenSees each Analysis object is composed of several
component objects, which define the type of analysis how the
analysis is performed. The analysis object contains the
following command:
 Constraints Command Fig3. OpenSees Path.
 Numberer Command
 Analysis Command Then add the single node by giving the coordinates as
 Algorithm Command origin then to create other nodes, specify proper coordinates
 Integrator Command of the other node. Fig:2 show the window in which we can
 System Command add more coordinates.
 Test Command
 Analyze Command
 Rayleigh Command
 Eigen Command
 Database Commands

The following steps are involved in analyzing the through

element using the finite element software package Opensees:
 Element selection Fig4. Edit Node.
 Defining material properties
 Model creation
 Applying boundary conditions and loading
 Analysis
 Viewing results

III PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Problem Statement for TRUSS1, Analyze the truss as shown
in fig below. The truss is having three different sectional
areas as shown in fig. Height of the truss is 4m. Consider E =
2 x 1011 N/m2. Fig5. Add Node.

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research

Volume.04, IssueNo.18, June-2015, Pages: 3496-3501
 Design Optimization of Steel Truss using OpenSees and SAP2000

Fig6. Add Element. Fig9.-Define Line Element.

After adding the nodes and elements like as shown in the

problem fig then we will have truss as shown in fig below:

Fig10.-Define Elastic Material.

Fig7. Created Model. 3. Assigning SP and MP Constraints

Every structure has its own boundary conditions so to
In the above figure node numbers are indicated which define this we need these two particular options. SP indicates
generates automatically by the software, no of nodes is “Single Point” constraint and MP constraint to “Multiple
depend upon which element we added first or sequentially. Constraint”.

B. Defining Line Element

After defining geometrical data we need to define material
properties and line elements. The definition of the material is
same as that of frame problem. In frame problem we have
assigned it as fiber element but in truss problem we will
assign it as truss element.

Fig11. Assign SP Constraints.

Fig12. Support Condition.

Fig8. Define Material.
Define the material with three different cross sectional
areas i.e. 10cm2, 8cm2 6cm2 respectively as shown in figure
below. We have assigned three materials as TRUSS8,
TRUSS6 and TRUSS4 with above mentioned cross sectional
areas.
D. Assigning Element Properties
Assigning element types helps us to use the predefined line
section and element. To attempt this go to assign then
element type and enter the element number whichever we
want to assign the properties. By clicking on display it will
shows which member is assigned to which property.

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research

Volume.04, IssueNo.18, June-2015, Pages: 3496-3501
 RAHUL N. BAGAL, DR.VAGEESHA S. MATHADA
E. Defining Line Element

Fig16.-Define New Analysis Case.

Fig 17 shows the all assignment to the structure like type

Fig13. Define Line Element Truss. of element, type of section, node numbers and element
numbers etc.

Fig17. Final Model.

G. Writing Tcl Files

After completing all requirements of the structural
properties and load cases we need to write the Tcl file. Tcl
Fig14. Assign Nodal Loads. file saves the input data given from graphical user interface.
In Fig 18 we can see that each file contains different input
In the frame problem we have assigned UDL on the data. It is mandatory to write the Tcl file before analyzing the
beams whereas in the truss we have two nodal loads to assign structure.
i.e. 4000N. At bottom two nodes. Enter the value of 4000N in
the toolbox of force Fy as shown in Fig below. After click on
Add button click on display to show the applied load on the
truss. Refer Fig no 15 & Fig no 17 shows the loading details
and support conditions respectively.

Fig15. Model.

F. Defining New Analysis Case

Defining analysis case for gravity, select static default
case for the truss loading, and enter the number of load steps
to one. The recorders which we have already defined will
display in the recorders. Select the drop down list Figure 18:-Tcl Files.

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research

Volume.04, IssueNo.18, June-2015, Pages: 3496-3501
 Design Optimization of Steel Truss using OpenSees and SAP2000
Above Fig shows the number of Tcl files generated each A. Trial section and optimized section of TRUSS 1
file gives us the detailed information of all assignments

H. OpenSees Output Files

Fig19. Tcl Output Files.

.
Fig22. Before Optimization TRUSS 1.

Above Fig 19 shows the assigned areas of elements i.e. 8,

6, 4 cm2 after analysis and steel design the truss shows the
demand capacity ratio as shown below. In Fig 23 demand
capacity ratio is shown for different members. After no of
iterations of analysis and design, the demand capacity ratios
increased to optimum ratios which are shown in Fig No 24.

Fig20. Deformed Shape.

Fig23. Trail D/C Ratio.

Fig21.-Basic Forces.

IV. OPTIMIZATION OF TRUSS STRUCTURE

Optimization of the truss is performed in SAP2000. After
analysis and design of the truss it will display the demand
capacity ratio for each element. This ratio indicates the
amount of strength utilized of the section. For e.g. if section
is having D/C ratio as 0.8 that is 8/10, which indicates
demand is 8 and capacity of the section as 10 Which means
extra two unit of strength is not utilized. So we will again
replace the section by reduced dimensions to utilize the more
strength. Following example illustrates how optimization
takes place. Fig24. Final D/C Ratio.

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research

Volume.04, IssueNo.18, June-2015, Pages: 3496-3501
 RAHUL N. BAGAL, DR.VAGEESHA S. MATHADA
Fig25 shows us the representation of final optimized
sections. These sections are more economical than the other
sections.
Fig25. After Optimization TRUSS 1.
V . RESULT
The comparison between the weights of the actual steel
truss taken in the problem and optimized steel truss is shown 61-73.
in following graph
(Ph.D.thesis), University of California, Berkeley, California,
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Fig26. Comparison of actual & optimized weight of

TRUSS 1.
VI. CONCLUSION
With the help of OpenSees navigator we can develop and
validate the basic models of different types of trusses. We
can optimize the structures in Sap2000 with the help of
demand capacity ratio by simple way. By performing the
optimization of structures we can achieve the safety and
economy. Considering the weight reduction in the optimized
structure compared to actual structure, optimization of
structure has great importance especially in the case of
structures constructed with materials like steel etc.

VII. REFERENCES
[1]C. Dimou, V.Koumousis, Competitive genetic algorithms
with application to reliability optimal design, Adv. Eng.
Softw.34 (2003)773–785.
[2]F.McKenna, Object-oriented finite-element programming:
Frameworks for analysis, algorithms, and parallel computing

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research

Volume.04, IssueNo.18, June-2015, Pages: 3496-3501