user defined element

[pbeng]

Hi,

Section 4 "Adding New Element to OpenSees" in the OpenSees Dynamic API document says that "an element is responsible for determining its tangent and resisting force given the changes in response at its nodes."

The element I'm working is velocity dependent. Does OpenSees need the element to report back its change in force (or stress) with velocity (or strainRate), or perhaps should I use some negligible displacement dependent pseudo-stiffness to stabilize the element and ignore the viscous dF/dV?

Thanks,

Paul B

[fmk]

you can use the strain rate if you wish. it does not have to be displacement.