OpenSees-on-DesignSafe Training

by Silvia Mazzoni
Applications Specialist @ DesignSafe
July 2025

As a unified platform for natural hazards engineering, DesignSafe supports the full research lifecycle by integrating interactive tools, data management services, and high-performance computing resources. Whether you’re developing models, running large-scale simulations, or conducting detailed post-processing, DesignSafe provides the infrastructure to streamline and scale your workflow.

In this training module we will focus on OpenSees. Not just because of its power and popularity in earthquake engineering, but because it provides an ideal case study for scalable computational workflows. Built from the ground up for parallel execution and flexible scripting, OpenSees illustrates many common challenges and opportunities faced by researchers in other fields — such as managing complex input files, launching parameter studies, and organizing results across systems.

While OpenSees is the featured example throughout this module, the real emphasis is on the complete Scientific Workflow lifecycle. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the tools and strategies required to build, manage, submit, monitor, and scale computational research — from small exploratory runs to fully automated HPC pipelines. The goal is to help you understand and orchestrate every step of the workflow, regardless of the specific application.

These foundational concepts are widely transferable: whether you’re working with CFD solvers, climate models, structural simulations, or your own custom software, DesignSafe’s workflow infrastructure enables scalable, reproducible, and automated research.

:::{dropdown} Disclaimer

This content is provided for educational and training purposes only, it is intended as a flexible foundation for your own workflows and adaptation. It is not guaranteed to reflect the most current practices, system configurations, or tool versions. Always verify and test workflows in your target environment. Please keep the following in mind:

  1. Some content was generated with the assistance of AI tools. While reviewed for accuracy, occasional inconsistencies or oversights may remain.
  2. Technical specifications, environments, and application details may change over time. Material that was functional when this module was created may become outdated, so you may need to adjust scripts, commands, or settings to reflect current systems. :::

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