5.1.3. Version 3.2.0 (February 27, 2024)

5.1.3.1. New features

  • New multilinear CDF Random Variable allows using the multilinear approximation of any CDF in the tool.

  • Capacity adjustment allows adjusting (scaling or shifting) default capacities (i.e., fragility curves) with factors specific to each Performance Group.

  • Support for multiple definitions of the same component at the same location-direction. This feature facilitates adding components with different block sizes to the same floor or defining multiple tenants on the same floor, each with their own set of components.

  • Support for cloning demands, that is, taking a provided demand dataset, creating a copy and considering it as another demand. For example, you can provide results of seismic response in the X direction and automatically prepare a copy of them to represent results in the Y direction.

  • Models for estimating Environmental Impact (i.e., embodied carbon and energy) of earthquake damage as per FEMA P-58 are included in the DL Model Library and available in this release.

  • “ListAllDamageStates” option allows you to print a comprehensive list of all possible damage states for all components in the columns of the DMG output file. This can make parsing the output easier but increases file size. By default, this option is turned off and only damage states that affect at least one block are printed.

  • Damage and Loss Model Library

    • A collection of parameters and metadata for damage and loss models for performance based engineering. The library is available and updated regularly in the DB_DamageAndLoss GitHub Repository.

    • This and future releases of Pelicun have the latest version of the library at the time of their release bundled with them.

  • DL_calculation tool

    • Support for combination of built-in and user-defined databases for damage and loss models.

    • Results are now also provided in standard SimCenter JSON format besides the existing CSV tables. You can specify the preferred format in the configuration file under Output/Format. The default file format is still CSV.

    • Support running calculations for only a subset of available consequence types.

5.1.3.2. Backwards incompatible changes

  • Unit information is included in every output file. If you parse Pelicun outputs and did not anticipate a Unit entry, your parser might need an update.

  • Decision variable types in the repair consequence outputs are named using CamelCase rather than all capitals to be consistent with other parts of the codebase. For example, we use “Cost” instead of “COST”. This might affect post-processing scripts.

  • For clarity, “ea” units were replaced with “unitless” where appropriate. There should be no practical difference between the calculations due to this change. Interstory drift ratio demand types are one example.

  • Weighted component block assignment is no longer supported. We recommend using more versatile multiple component definitions (see new feature below) to achieve the same effect.

  • Damage functions (i.e., assign quantity of damage as a function of demand) are no longer supported. We recommend using the new multilinear CDF feature to develop theoretically equivalent but more efficient models.

5.1.3.3. Other changes

  • Added a comprehensive suite of more than 140 unit tests that cover more than 93% of the codebase. Tests are automatically executed after every commit using GitHub Actions and coverage is monitored through Codecov.io. Badges at the top of the Readme show the status of tests and coverage. We hope this continuous integration facilitates editing and extending the existing codebase for interested members of the community.

  • Completed a review of the entire codebase using flake8 and pylint to ensure PEP8 compliance. The corresponding changes yielded code that is easier to read and use. See guidance in Readme on linting and how to ensure newly added code is compliant.

  • Several error and warning messages added to provide more meaningful information in the log file when something goes wrong in a simulation.

  • Update dependencies to more recent versions.

5.1.3.4. Remarks

The online documentation is significantly out of date. While we are working on an update, we recommend using the documentation of the DL panel in SimCenter’s PBE Tool as a resource.