The program is suitable
for the modelling of common geotechnical problems such
as terrain settlement , sheeting and supporting
structures, slope stability, beams on elastic
foundation, excavations etc...
Material models
A reliable and accurate response of a given soil or rock
mass can be obtained by using a suitable material model.
The present release offers the following material
models: Linear elastic, Modified linear elastic,
Mohr-Coulomb, Modified Mohr-Coulomb, Modified Cam-Clay.
Corrector of a given
geometrical model
The program contains a built-in corrector of the input
geometrical model. All material interfaces, new
structures or calculation stages (tunnel excavation,
excavation of a foundation ditch) can be specified
independently. Before running the mesh generator, the
program automatically locates intersections of all
specified lines, all closed regions and creates a
corresponding geometrical model. Inputting even a
complicated structure thus becomes a relatively simple
task.
Automatic mesh generator
The program contains a built-in automatic mesh generator
that considerably simplifies construction of the finite
element mesh. Both 3-node and 6-node triangular elements
are available. The density of the finite elements mesh
is assumed constant for the entire model. Nevertheless,
mesh adjustment by local refinement in the vicinity of a
line or a point is available. Preparing a mesh for a
complex structure thus requires only a few minutes of
the user's time.
Boundary conditions
The program contains an automatic generator of boundary
conditions. If needed, additional boundary conditions
(fixed, hinge, spring, forced displacement) can be
introduced anywhere in the soil body.
Beams
Beam elements serve to introduce beams, tunnel linings
or sheeting structures into the analysis. As a result of
the analysis, the program provides distribution of
internal forces (bending moment, normal and shear
forces) along the beams. The beam elements are added to
the topology along existing lines. The beam parameters,
however, can be adjusted in stages (e.g., gradually
increasing beam thickness) or the beam can be terminated
completely.
Anchors, struts, geotextiles, geogrids
The program allows the introduction of an arbitrary number of anchors in
to the analysis. Each anchor is fully determined by its starting and end
points and its stiffness. The anchor end points are automatically mapped
on to the existing finite element mesh, so that the anchor can be placed
anywhere within the soil body. To further simplify its input, the anchor
starting point can be placed on the terrain or individual interfaces.
Surcharge
The program allows specification of an arbitrary number of surcharges
(strip, trapezoidal, line loading). The surcharge can act either on a
specified interface or anywhere in the soil/rock body. In the subsequent
stage the existing surcharge can be either modified by changing its
magnitude or entirely removed from the analysis.
Water
There are three options to introduce water into the analysis:
The ground water table is input as a
continuous interface above or below the terrain.
The pore pressure values are provided
by pore pressure isolines. The first isoline always coincides with
the terrain, the other ones can be placed anywhere in the body. The
values between individual isolines are found through linear
interpolation.
The values of coefficient Ru are
provided by pore pressure isolines. The first isoline always
coincides with the terrain, the other ones can be placed anywhere in
the body. The values between individual isolines are found through
linear interpolation.
Presentation of results
The program allows visualization of: Scalar variables in the form of
isoplane or isolines (e.g., components of stress and strain fields and
their invariants, displacements), deformed or undeformed structure,
distribution of internal forces along the beams, vectors of deformation,
forces in anchors. Either the total values of individual
variables or their change from stage to stage can be displayed.
Stability analysis
At each stage of construction the program can carry out a slope stability analysis. In the course of
the analysis the program gradually reduces the basic strength parameters of
the soil until failure. As a result the program calculates a factor of safety corresponding to the one obtained from classical
approaches.
