Plaxis Solutions DFI 2012, Houston

Jasper Van Der Bruggen Representative (based in NorCal)

Overview
PLAXIS = finite element geotechnical software for design and analysis

Typical use: analysis of deformation and stability of soil structures

Typical applications: excavation, foundations, embankments, tunnels

Current PLAXIS products:

PLAXIS 2D 2012
PLAXIS 3D 2012
Add-on modules: Dynamics, PlaxFlow

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Overview

- 10,000+ licences world-wide

- 15+ years on US market
- ~20 open training courses globally
- In-house training & mentoring (PLAXIS Consulting Services)
- User-friendly and intuitive workflow
- Close collaboration with academia

PLAXIS 2D
Key features:
- Default: 15-node triangular
elements (4th order interpolation)
- Plane strain or axisymmetric

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 INPUT GEOMETRY: points and lines, plates,
geogrids, interfaces, node-to-node anchors,
fixed-end anchors, tunnels, hinges and
rotation springs, drains and wells

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MATERIAL MODELS: Linear elastic, Mohr-

Coulomb, Hardening Soil (w/ small-strain
stiffness), Soft Soil (Creep), Jointed Rock,
Modified Cam-Clay, NGI-ADP, Hoek-Brown,
and User Defined Soil Models (including MIT
S1, UBC Sand, Anisotropic Clay).

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 SoilTest: simulation of soil lab test,
based on single point algorithm
and materials models
- Triaxial test
- Oedometer
- CRS
- DSS
- General

New in 2012: inverse analysis in SoilTest:

- Derive soil parameters from lab test
- Combine different tests
- Tangent & cotangents lines
- Back-calculation
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Design Approach Facility

Possibility to enter a coherent set of partial factors in one location
(according Eurocode 7, LRFD, etc.)
More structured and efficient way of modeling
Easy exchange of Design Approaches between different projects
Partial factors definition remain the entire responsibility of the user
(no default values for different building codes)

load
Optimum (economical) design:
Load = Strength
strength

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PLAXIS 3D
Key features:
- Full 3D input and output
- 10-node tetrahedral elements
(w/ quadratic interpolation)
- Use boreholes or import to start geometry
- Tools for intersecting, combining and extrusion
- Command line

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 5 November 2012 11

PLAXIS3D2012,extrudealongpolycurve

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PLAXIS3D2012,postprocessing
Contour, shading, iso-surface and vectors plots
Advanced data slicing with movable cross-sections
Straightforward assessment of soil pressure on structures
Generation of failure surface under combined loading
Excess pore pressure generation and associated consolidation time

PLAXIS3D2012,offshoreexample
Suction Anchor Bearing Capacity

B=5
m

D=25 m

40 m

50 m

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PLAXIS3D2012,offshore
Suction Anchor Bearing Capacity