In this section, we'll cover the following:

• Integrating mesh generation with existing finite element workflows.
• Modifying an OpenSeesPy pipeline to accept custom-generated meshes.
• Using OpenSeesPy results as a validation benchmark.
• Feeding the same mesh into our custom Reissner–Mindlin finite element code.
• Identifying zero-energy (spurious) displacement modes.

In this section, we bring together our earlier work on mesh generation with both our custom finite element implementation and library-based workflows, focusing in particular on integrating our generated meshes into an OpenSeesPy analysis pipeline. We adapt the pipeline so it can accept externally generated mesh data, allowing us to leverage the strengths of both approaches and significantly expand our analysis capabilities.

We then use the OpenSeesPy results as a validation benchmark before applying the same mesh to our custom Reissner–Mindlin finite element code. This comparison reveals an unusual displacement pattern that does not appear in the OpenSeesPy results. This is our first introduction to zero-energy (spurious) displacement modes. We conclude by highlighting the origin of these modes and outlining how we will address them in the final section of the course.

Next up

In the next lecture, we will integrate the custom mesh into an OpenSeesPy analysis pipeline, building a complete model with realistic boundary conditions and loading.