opstool: A Python library for OpenSeesPy analysis automation, streamlined pre- and post-processing, and enhanced data visualization

Abstract

This paper presents opstool, a Python package designed to enhance the pre- and post-processing capabilities of OpenSees and OpenSeesPy. It simplifies structural analysis workflows by automating tasks such as mesh generation, data management, and data visualization. The package efficiently manages large-scale simulation results, enabling the structured extraction of system, nodal, and element responses. In addition, it integrates adaptive iteration algorithms to improve convergence issues in nonlinear static and dynamic response analyses. By reducing manual modeling effort and enhancing model accuracy, opstool improves workflow efficiency and enables researchers and practitioners to conduct more effective computational simulations using OpenSees and OpenSeesPy, which further supports various task forces in earthquake engineering, such as performance-based design of new structures and regional seismic risk assessment of existing infrastructure systems.