Software Tour
Geotechnical /
Soil-structure modelling
Unlike some
structural analysis software selected LUSAS Civil
& Structural (and LUSAS Bridge) software products, when used with appropriate
geotechnical, nonlinear, dynamic and thermal/field software options, provide a range
of soils-specific and general structural engineering analysis tools to
enable finite element modelling in 2D or 3D of both ground and structure in a
single model.
Multiple and branched
analyses can be solved within each model, and
state-of-the-art linear and quadratic element libraries; advanced
material models; and linear and nonlinear joint models allow a range
of soil-structure engineering problems to be solved.
Model building
LUSAS models are
created using feature-based geometry methods (points, lines, surfaces
and volumes) and built-in associativity - a key feature of the LUSAS
Modeller - ensures that if the model geometry is amended, all assigned
loadings, supports, mesh and other attributes are automatically
updated to suit.
- CAD import / export
facilities permit importing of point and line data from DXF files;
points, lines, surfaces and volumes via IGES/STEP interfaces; and
triangulated surface data through STL. CAD-style drawing tools
provide an array of modelling utilities such as copy, rotate,
scale, transform, extrude etc.
- For 2D modelling,
splines can be created from terrain points data and swept to
create strata. Surfaces can be defined from bounding points and
lines, and swept to define a soil mass. Structural and soil
components can be grouped for modelling purposes. For 3D
modelling, planar or curved surfaces can be swept for multiple
volume creation, and intersection and subtraction commands provide
the means to slice volumes or create voids.
- Automatic 2D meshing
(using quadrilateral/triangular elements) and 3D meshing (using
tetrahedral/pentahedral/hexahedral elements) speeds up the
modelling process. Various mesh refinement methods are provided.
Capabilities
- Constitutive
soils models include Tresca, Von Mises, Drucker Prager, Duncan-Chang,
Hoek-Brown, Mohr Coulomb,
and Modified Cam Clay. Add
two-phase material properties to
selected materials to permit modelling the deformation of
undrained/fully saturated and fully-drained/unsaturated porous media,
and slow consolidation process. Specify draining and filling curves for partially drained materials.
- Residual soil stress varying with depth can be accommodated
providing useful facilities for soil-structure interaction for
integral bridges and culverts. Rock joints, pore water pressure
dissipation, consolidation modelling, geotechnical problems
involving long term excavation, construction in clays, and temporary
works can all be solved.
- Calculate
initial stress states providing K0
data and apply to any ground profile.
- Model the variation of
soil properties with depth by defining soil profile variations, with
LUSAS interpolating between defined locations.
- Use nonlinear
springs to model active/passive soil joints. Interface meshes permit
joining of the soil / structure. Gain / loss of contact, and skin
friction can be considered.
- Specify a matrix of
properties to represent a pilecap sitting on a group of piles in a
3D model.
- Use branched analyses
to carry out Phi-c reduction stability checks at any stage of
construction for soil represented by Mohr-Coulomb or Hoek-Brown material models.
- Use the tri-linear
(active/passive) earth pressure joint material wizard to simplify the modelling of a
variety of soil-structure interaction problems, creating a piecewise
linear joint material attribute with properties that vary with depth.
Define multiple attributes to represent layers of soil or
changes in properties due to the presence of water.
General geotechnical
and soil-structure interaction capabilities include:
-
Construction
sequence modelling - involving excavation / construction with
insertion and removal of temporary members used for propping and
jacking etc.
-
Embankment /slope
stability assessments and stability checks on adjacent structures
due to temporary excavation.
-
Backfilling of
excavations and cut and cover tunnel structures.
-
Settlement and
consolidation including pore water pressure modelling.
-
Dewatering and
seepage modelling of partially saturated fluid flow through porous
media, such as seepage of water through an earth dam, where the
position of the phreatic surface is of interest.
-
Modal and time
history dynamics involving material damping, nonlinear behaviour,
soil plasticity, boundary behaviour and springs/dampers.
-
Soil-structure
interaction analysis including vibration analysis from pile
driving impact assessments on nearby buildings and response of
buildings to emitted vibrations from rail tunnels.
-
Lateral displacement
analysis of piles and pile groups
-
Integral bridges
Application areas
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