A web-based platform for computer simulation of seismic ground response

  • Authors:

  • Zhaohui Yang;Jinchi Lu;Ahmed Elgamal

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Structural Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA;Department of Structural Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA;Department of Structural Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA

  • Venue:
  • Advances in Engineering Software
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

The Internet provides an open environment for more efficient development and utilization of engineering software. This article presents a generic web-based platform for conducting model-based numerical simulations online. The platform distributes pre- and post-processing components to the user computer, and only retains core computational functions on the server machine. Design of this platform addresses Internet-specific issues such as supports for multiple users, integration of various programming languages or modules on both client and server sides, and the concerns of Internet traffic/security. As an implementation of this platform, a web site is developed for online execution of a solid-fluid fully coupled nonlinear Finite Element code, to conduct simulations of seismic ground response and liquefaction effects. At this web site, users can select the soil composition and input seismic excitation from built-in material/motion libraries, or define their own material properties and/or input motions. The output interface allows graphical rendering of simulation results, animations, and automated report generation. All software packages employed in this work are well tested and documented freeware, and can be easily adapted for execution of other computational codes.