| Program Name: |
FEM - Modelling of various geotechnical problems by the finite element method (FEM)
| Developer/Owner: |
Fine Ltd.
| Contact name: |
Jakub Netik
| Contact e-mail: |
| World Wide Web Address: |
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| Platform: |
Underground construction & Tunneling
| Category: |
| Program description: |
The program can model a wide range of geotechnical problems including terrain settlement, sheet
piling/diaphragm walls, underpinning of structures, slope stability, beams on foundation, excavation, 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 current release offers the following models:
Built-in geometrical model correction, automatic mesh generation
The program includes built-in correction of the input geometrical model. All material interfaces, new structures
or construction stages (tunnel excavation, excavation of a foundation ditch) can be specified independently
from each other. Before running the mesh generator the program automatically locates the intersections of all
specified lines and all closed regions, creating a corresponding geometrical model. Introducing even a fairly
complicated structure into the program thus becomes a relatively simple task.
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 but it can easily be refined in local areas as required.
Preparing an effective 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.
In most applications the user does not have to worry about this task. 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 lining or sheeting structures into the analysis. As a result of
the analysis, the program gives the distribution of internal forces (bending moment, normal and shear forces)
along the beam. Beam elements are specified along lines already existing in the topology. The beam
parameters can, however, be adjusted in individual stages (e.g., gradually increasing beam thickness) or the
beam can be completely removed in one step.
Anchors, geotextiles, geogrids
The program allows the introduction of any number of anchors into the analysis. Each anchor is fully
determined by its starting point, end point and its stiffness. The anchor end points are automatically mapped
onto the existing finite element mesh, so that an anchor can be placed anywhere within the soil body. To
further simplify input, the anchor starting point can be placed on the terrain or on an individual interface.
Surcharge
The program allows any number of surcharges (strip, trapezoidal, line loading). The surcharge can act either
on a specified interface or anywhere in the soil/rock body. In a subsequent stage the existing surcharge can
be either modified by changing its magnitude or entirely removed from the analysis.
Water
Water can be introduced into the analysis in the following ways:
Presentation of results The program allows visualization of the:
Either the total values of individual variables or their changes from stage to stage can be displayed.
Stability analysis
At each stage of construction the program can run a slope stability analysis. The program gradually reduces
the basic strength parameters of the soil until failure. As a result, it provides a factor of safety corresponding
to that obtained by classical analyses.
The program has been developed in collaboration with team of specialists from the Faculty of Civil Engineering
of CTU in Prague. Technical guarantor of the project is Doc. Ing. Michal Sejnoha, Ph.D.
piling/diaphragm walls, underpinning of structures, slope stability, beams on foundation, excavation, 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 current release offers the following models:
- Linear elastic model
- Modified linear elastic model
- Mohr-Coulomb model
- Drucker-Prager model
- Cam Clay model
Built-in geometrical model correction, automatic mesh generation
The program includes built-in correction of the input geometrical model. All material interfaces, new structures
or construction stages (tunnel excavation, excavation of a foundation ditch) can be specified independently
from each other. Before running the mesh generator the program automatically locates the intersections of all
specified lines and all closed regions, creating a corresponding geometrical model. Introducing even a fairly
complicated structure into the program thus becomes a relatively simple task.
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 but it can easily be refined in local areas as required.
Preparing an effective 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.
In most applications the user does not have to worry about this task. 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 lining or sheeting structures into the analysis. As a result of
the analysis, the program gives the distribution of internal forces (bending moment, normal and shear forces)
along the beam. Beam elements are specified along lines already existing in the topology. The beam
parameters can, however, be adjusted in individual stages (e.g., gradually increasing beam thickness) or the
beam can be completely removed in one step.
Anchors, geotextiles, geogrids
The program allows the introduction of any number of anchors into the analysis. Each anchor is fully
determined by its starting point, end point and its stiffness. The anchor end points are automatically mapped
onto the existing finite element mesh, so that an anchor can be placed anywhere within the soil body. To
further simplify input, the anchor starting point can be placed on the terrain or on an individual interface.
Surcharge
The program allows any number of surcharges (strip, trapezoidal, line loading). The surcharge can act either
on a specified interface or anywhere in the soil/rock body. In a subsequent stage the existing surcharge can
be either modified by changing its magnitude or entirely removed from the analysis.
Water
Water can be introduced into the analysis in the following ways:
- The ground water table is input as a continuous interface above or below the terrain.
- The pore pressure values (or values of coefficient Ru) are provided by pore pressure isolines. The first
isoline always coincides with the terrain, the others 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 the:
- scalar variables in the form of isosurfaces 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 changes from stage to stage can be displayed.
Stability analysis
At each stage of construction the program can run a slope stability analysis. The program gradually reduces
the basic strength parameters of the soil until failure. As a result, it provides a factor of safety corresponding
to that obtained by classical analyses.
The program has been developed in collaboration with team of specialists from the Faculty of Civil Engineering
of CTU in Prague. Technical guarantor of the project is Doc. Ing. Michal Sejnoha, Ph.D.
FEM - Modelling of various geotechnical problems by the finite element method (FEM)
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