Key Features
- Leverage a database of material models to accurately represent soil or rock mass properties
- Model ground water conditions by defining the ground water table (GWT) or the pore water pressure distribution
- Construct problems in axisymmetric or plane strain space
- Utilize time-saving input of project information using DXF file format and automatic mesh generator
- Generate boundary conditions automatically or through individual specification
- Specify analysis for stress distribution, stability, fluid flow, and tunnels
- Specify regional design standards for concrete (e.g., ACI) and steel structures
- Accurately model complex multi-stage construction projects
- Analyze an unlimited number of anchor, geogrid, and geotextile elements
- Analyze an unlimited number of surcharge loads
- Analyze project for stability throughout construction sequence to identify safety concerns
Material Models
reliable and accurate response for soil or rock can be obtained by using the appropriate material model for analyses. Material models available include elastic, Mohr-Coulomb (and modified Mohr-Coulomb), Drucker-Prager, and Modified Cam Clay. Parameters specified include modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, angle of internal friction, cohesion, and angle of dilation, among others. Rigid bodies that are infinitely stiff can also be specified. The interface contact elements can be defined to be linear or non-linear.
Rapid Model Drawing Capability
A built-in model drawing capability and the ability to import DXF files enables you to quickly create accurate models of conditions throughout a project. The FEM module creates a geometric model using the intersections of all specified lines and closed regions, which enables user-friendly model-creation, even for complex structures. Flexibility is provided such that each component can be specified independently from any other, including all material interfaces as well as new structures and construction stages.
Automatic Mesh Generation
Once the geometric model is created, an automatic mesh generation routine using 3-node and 6-node triangular finite elements is implemented. The user is given flexibility to refine the density and size of the triangular elements in regions where stress concentrations are anticipated.
Boundary Conditions
The Advanced GeoStructural Analysis FEM module provides a capability to generate boundary conditions automatically for most routine geotechnical applications. Alternatively, boundary conditions such as hinge, fixed, spring, or forced displacement can be specified easily by the user throughout the soil body.
Beam Elements
The beam elements feature allows the user to introduce rigid structures, such as beams, sheeting structures, or tunnel linings, into your analysis. With this capability it is possible to analyze the distribution of internal forces along the beam, including bending moment, shear, and normal forces. While specification of the initial placement for beam elements is required, you can also adjust the beam parameters in individual stages or even completely remove the beam.
Anchors, Geogrids and Geotextiles
An unlimited number of anchor, geogrid and geotextile elements can be included into the analysis with this module. Each anchor is determined by its starting point, end point, and stiffness. The anchor end points are mapped onto the finite element mesh automatically, allowing you to place an anchor anywhere within the soil body.
Surcharge Loads
An unlimited number of surcharge loads, including trapezoidal, strip, and line loading distributions can be applied and analyzed. Surcharge loads can also be applied and removed within individual construction stages and at any point during the analysis. The surcharge can act on specified interfaces or anywhere in the soil or rock body.
Ground Water Modeling
Ground water conditions can be modeled by either specifying the elevation of the ground water table profile or the pore water pressure distribution. The ground water table can be input as a continuous interface above or below the surface terrain. Alternatively, the pore pressure values or excess pore pressure coefficient (Ru) values are provided by pore pressure isolines. The first isoline always coincides with the surface terrain, while the other isolines are placed within the soil body. Linear interpolation determines the values between individual isolines.
Stability Analyses During Construction
This module can also be used to perform slope stability analysis at any or in each construction stage. The soil's strength parameters can be gradually reduced until failure conditions exist. These results can provide direct guidance in identifying the critical safety concerns of the project.
Analysis Output Options
Following the FEM analysis, several options are provided for graphical output and visualization of the data, including:
- Scalar variables in isosurfaces or isolines, such as components of stress/strain fields and their invariants
- Distribution of internal forces along beam elements
- Anchor forces
- Deformed or undeformed structure geometry
- Deformation vectors
In all cases, either the total values of specific variables or their changes between specific construction stages can be displayed and output.
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