Parallel scalability of OpenSees for 2D and 3D ground response analysis problems

Abstract

This study investigates the parallel scalability of the OpenSees finite element analysis platform in the context of 2D and 3D ground response analyses. A series of 2D and 3D models ranging from 7500 to 480000 elements are developed and analysed using National e-Science Infrastructure (NeSI) high-performance computing (HPC) resources. These models are analysed using two different approaches for running large models in parallel in OpenSees: OpenSeesSP, which performs the parallel domain decomposition as part of the analysis, and OpenSeesMP, which requires the domain decomposition in the input model file. It is demonstrated that the OpenSeesMP tool results in reduced analysis times and increased parallel efficiencies relative to OpenSeesSP for both simple 2D and 3D problems. Trends in the parallel scaling and efficiency are also analysed and recommendations are made for running parallel OpenSees analyses on NeSI HPC resources.