Efficient performance‐based design using parallel and cloud computing

Summary Performance-based design offers a more direct, non-prescriptive and rational approach over more traditional approaches used for the design of buildings and other structures. However, performance-based design requires the use of extensive nonlinear analyses on three-dimensional building models and typically requires significant computational capabilities and/or time to conduct such analyses. A practical way to overcome these limitations is to utilize recent advantages in parallel computing using cloud-based servers to conduct the necessary analyses. This approach can be used as a cost-effective way to conduct structural analyses in a fraction of the time compared with traditional computational methods. This paper explores the use of parallel and cloud computing in the performance-based design and analysis of tall buildings. Two case studies are presented that highlight the application of high-performance computing for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of a detailed 52-story building model. These case studies highlight both the cost and time benefits provided by high-performance computing for performance-based earthquake engineering. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.