1. & BuildingTcl & BuildingTclViewer Getting Started Guide
powered by OpenSees
BuildingTcl & BuildingTclViewer
Getting Started Guide
Release 1.8, October 2009
Silvia Mazzoni
University of California, Berkeley

2. BuildingTcl Installation
Download & Install Tcl (may have done so already):
Download & Extract file: BuildingTcl.zip
The “C:/Program Files/BuildingTcl”
folder is recommended
The extracted BuildingTcl folder will contain:
Double-click installation file
Make sure that the latest versions of OpenSees.exe and OpenSeesTk.exe are stored in OpenSeesProgramFiles folder. The names must be exact.
Working Files, these files specify the path of the program set up specifically on YOUR computer:
MyBuildingTcl.tcl:
Copy this file into working directory -- where input files are located
Source this file from within OpenSees.exe or OpenSeesTk.exe
MyBuildingTclViewer.tcl
Source this file from within OpenSeesTk.exe, or
MyBuildingTclViewer.bat
Double-click to start-up BuildingTclViewer directly
This batch file starts up OpenSeesTk, sources MyBuildingTclViewer.tcl and starts up the BuildingTclViewer program. It can be copied into the working directory, or can be executed directly in the program directory.
Installation File
Documentation Files:
Demo & Documents
Do NOT touch
Working Files:
Copy into the working directory
Double-click to run BuildingTclViewer
Copy these files into each and every working directory !

3. Introduction BuildingTcl Commands
BuildingTcl is a library of Tcl procedures (commands) used to build a database for numerical simulation of building frames. Structural model, loading and analysis data are included in this database. Structural models can be Elevations, Plans, or 3DModels which combine elevations and plans. Procedures are included to perform the numerical simulation using OpenSees.
BuildingTclViewer is a Tcl/Tk widget (program) that provides a graphical user interface to view the BuildingTcl database, run the numerical simulations using OpenSees interactively, and view the results interactively.
BuildingTcl Commands
# SET UP
source myBuildingTcl.tcl
<setDataDir Data>
<setUnits -Length $BasicLengthUnit -Force $BasicForceUnit -Time BasicTimeUnit>
# DEFINE INPUT DATA
addMaterialData …..
addMaterial
addSectionData …..
addSection
addElementModelData …..
addElementModel
addAnalysisModelData …..
addAnalysisModel
addModelData …..
addModel
addLoadData …..
addLoad
addLoadCombinationData …..
addLoadCombination
# BUILD AND ANALYZE
SelectModel …..
SelectLoadCombination …..
BuildAndAnalyze
# Define Materials Library
# Define Sections Library
BuildingTcl Script
# Define ElementModel Library
# Define AnalysisModel Library
# Define Structural-Models Library:
Elevations, Plans, 3DModels
# Define Loads Library
# Define Load-Combinations Library
This is done via a BuildingTcl script, or interactively using BuidingTclViewer

4. Run BuildingTclViewer
myBuildingTcl.tcl – no graphics
Incorporates BuildingTcl commands into the Tcl Interpreter
The BuildingTcl commands are used within OpenSees.exe or OpenSeesTk.exe.
Run:
Run OpenSees.exe or OpenSeesTk.exe
Source myBuildingTcl.tcl at OpenSees prompt
Source input and analysis files at OpenSees prompt
C:> cd BuildingTclGettingStartedFiles
C:> OpenSees ..
OpenSees > source myBuildingTcl.tcl
OpenSees > source GettingStartedDataFile.tcl
OpenSees > source GettingStartedRunFile.tcl
Run BuildingTclViewer
myBuildingTclviewer.tcl – BuildingTcl with graphical interface
Incorporates BuildingTcl & BuildingTclviewer commands into the Tcl/Tk Interpreter
This file needs to be sourced from the OpenSeesTk.exe prompt, or by double-clicking on the BuildingTclViewer.bat file
Run from OpenSees Prompt:
Run OpenSeesTk.exe – a Tk window opens up (do not close it).
Source myBuildingTclviewer.tcl at the OpenSees prompt
-- the Tk window becomes the BuildingTclviewer Or
Double-click on myBuildingTclviewer.bat
OpenSees > source myBuildingTclViewer.tcl

5. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Setup & Materials
This file contains all the input data for the building model and simulation. It is used by both BuildingTcl and the BuildingTclViewer.
BuildingTcl:
OpenSees > source myBuildingTcl.tcl
OpenSees > source GettingStartedInputFile.tcl
To perform the analyses:
OpenSees > source GettingStartedBuildindAndAnalyze.tcl
BuildingTclViewer:
OpenSees > source myBuildingTclViewer.tcl
BuildingTclViewer menu: File>Load> GettingStartedInputFile.tcl
BuildingTclViewer menu: Models and Load Combinations
BuildingTclViewer menu: Analysis>Analyze

6. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Element Section

7. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Gravity Loads
Gravity-Load Labels are used for the values gravity-load cases in the definition of the models.
They are then used in the LoadCombinations as well.

8. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Structural Models: Elevations

9. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Structural Models: Plan & 3DFrame

10. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl – Lateral Loads

11. GettingStartedInputFile.tcl –Load Combinations

12. GettingStartedBuildAndAnalyze.tcl
This file is used by BuildingTcl without the interactive capabilities of BuildingTclViewer. Because there are no graphics, these simulations will run faster. BuildingTcl does post-process the analysis data. The results of these simulations can then be viewed using BuildingTclViewer as a subsequent step.

13. BuildingTclViewer Overview
1b. Companion OpenSees Window:
1a. BuildingTclViewer Window
Interactive Window:
Non-interactive window: error warnings and communication
2. Load Main Input File: GettingStartedInputFile.tcl
3. Select Models & LoadCombinations
4. Analyze
5a. View Results
5b. Click on individual element:
6. Play