I am analyzing an RCC framed structure but in ETABS it is very much time. This is why want to know whether open sees or any other software takes less time for non-linear time history analysis.
Mohd Ubaid,
It mainly depends on the level of sensitivity you are willing to get, the number of nonlinear hinges that you define, the type of the hinge, and the duration of the earthquake. In addition, the number of fibers in a structural element can significantly affect both the time for analysis and the size of the output file. General, SAP2000 provides good capabilities for scientific purposes over ETABS but getting the data results out of SAP2000 is time-consuming if you are analyzing multiple records. I can say that it is not easy to compare these programs together because if you use Opensees you will have the option to do a distributed plasticity model which will definitely take more time in modeling and analysis as compared to ETABS code-based lumped plasticity model. On the other hand, handling the results for graphical purposes in Opensees is easier than SAP2000 if you already prepared a code in Matlab for making the figures. Thus, it is important to set your priorities and the level of sensitivity required before selecting software for the analysis as each will provide some pros and cons. You may also check Seismostruct as it has good capabilities as well.
In the question, it says "same model" so if ETABS has sufficient capabilities for you case. Then ETABS will be faster in terms of modeling, analysis, and handling of results as compared to both SAP2000 and Opensees.
Dear Mohd Ubaid
Apart from all differences between the softwares, OpenSEES has the highest speed for nonlinear time history analyses.
Dear Mohd Ubaid,
Any analysis in OpenSees plus the same level of post-processed output, that other software packages prepare even if you don't need, is almost as fast as them. But, as you have the freedom to decide for the output in the OpenSees, it usually leads to a considerably faster experience.
It is definetly SAP2000, and this channel will be very helpful for you
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFV4j8TGclSxEdkb6SG8PtA/featured?view_as=subscriber
There may not be a single right answer. It will depend on what kind of non-linear analysis you are doing and what your model is like. Most commercial software uses implicit solvers which are fast for smaller models (both linear and non-linear), but for large models running time domain analyses explicit formulations can be much faster (because of the geometric time associated with inverting a matrix, and for non-linear materials that problem only gets worse). For non-linear problems implicit can sometimes find it difficult to find a solution for a tilmestep, which can slow it down. Explicit solvers are also easier to parallelise, so major speedups can also be obtained that way. Examples of analysis programs that have explicit solvers are LS-Dyna and ABAQUS.
The ETABS FNA solver is great for limited numbers of non-linear elements, but it is not designed for models with hinges everywhere, which will at best slow it down a lot and at worst will not work.
[Disclosure: my company is a distributor and user of LS-Dyna and we contribute code to it and have used it for many large and complex non-linear structural analyses.]
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