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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
FLAC 3D is a three-dimensional explicit finite-difference program for engineering mechanics computation. The basis for this program is the well-established numerical formulation used by our
two-dimensional program, FLAC.* FLAC 3D extends the analysis capability of FLAC into three
dimensions, simulating the behavior of three-dimensional structures built of soil, rock or other
materials that undergo plastic flow when their yield limits are reached. Materials are represented
by polyhedral elements within a three-dimensional grid that is adjusted by the user to fit the shape
of the object to be modeled. Each element behaves according to a prescribed linear or nonlinear
stress/strain law in response to applied forces or boundary restraints. The material can yield and
flow, and the grid can deform (in large-strain mode) and move with the material that is represented.
The explicit, Lagrangian, calculation scheme and the mixed-discretization zoning technique used
in FLAC 3D ensure that plastic collapse and flow are modeled very accurately. Because no matrices
are formed, large three-dimensional calculations can be made without excessive memory requirements. The drawbacks of the explicit formulation (i.e., small timestep limitation and the question of
required damping) are overcome by automatic inertia scaling and automatic damping that does not
influence the mode of failure. FLAC 3D offers an ideal analysis tool for solution of three-dimensional
problems in geotechnical engineering.
FLAC 3D is designed specifically to operate on IBM-compatible microcomputers running Windows
98 and later operating systems. Calculations on realistically sized three-dimensional models in
geo-engineering can be made in a reasonable time period. For example, models containing up to
approximately 140,000 elements can be generated within 128 MB RAM. The runtime to perform
5000 calculation steps for a 10,000 element model of Mohr-Coulomb material is roughly 18 minutes
on a 2.4 GHz Pentium IV microcomputer. The number of calculational steps required to reach a
solution state with the explicit-calculation scheme can vary, but a solution typically can be reached
within 3000 to 5000 steps for models containing up to 10,000 elements, regardless of material type.
(The explicit-solution scheme is explained in Section 1 in Theory and Background.) With the
advancements in floating-point operation speed, and the ability to install additional RAM at low
cost, it should be possible to solve increasingly larger three-dimensional problems with FLAC 3D.
FLAC 3D can be operated from either a command-driven mode or graphics menu-driven mode. The
default command-driven mode is very similar to that used by other Itasca software products. You
will find that most of the commands are the same as, or three-dimensional extensions of, those in
FLAC. A menu-driven, graphical user interface is also available in FLAC 3D for performing plotting,
printing and file access.
* Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua.), Version 5.0, 2005.
See Section 5 for a comparison of FLAC 3D runtimes on various computer systems.
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With the graphics facilities* built into FLAC 3D, high-resolution, color-rendered plots are generated
quite rapidly. We have developed a graphics screen-plotting facility that allows you to instantly
view the model during creation from either command-mode or graphics menu-mode. The model
can be translated, rotated and magnified on the screen for better viewing. Color-rendered plots
of surfaces showing vectors or contours can be made in 3D, and a two-dimensional plane can be
located at any orientation and location in the model for the purpose of viewing vector or contour
output on the plane. All output can be directed to a black-and-white or color hardcopy device, to
the Windows clipboard, or to a file.
You will find that FLAC 3D offers a facility for problem solving similar to that in FLAC. A comparison
of FLAC 3D to other numerical methods, a description of general features and updates in FLAC 3D
Version 3.0, and a discussion of fields of application are provided in the following sections. If
you wish to try FLAC 3D right away, the program installation instructions and a simple tutorial are
provided in Section 2.
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Structures, such as tunnel liners, piles, sheet piles, cables, rock bolts or geotextiles, that interact
with the surrounding rock or soil, may be modeled with the structural element logic in FLAC 3D. It is
possible to either examine the stabilizing effects of supported excavations, or to study the effects of
soil or rock instability on surface structures. The different types of structural elements are described
in Section 1 in Structural Elements.
A factor of safety can be calculated automatically for any FLAC 3D model composed of MohrCoulomb material. The calculation is based on a strength reduction technique that performs a
series of simulations while changing the strength properties to determine the condition at which an
unstable state exists. A factor of safety which corresponds to the point of instability is found, and
the critical failure surface is located in the model. The factor-of-safety algorithm is described in
Section 3.8.
FLAC 3D also contains a powerful built-in programming language, FISH, that enables the user to
define new variables and functions. FISH offers a unique capability to users who wish to tailor
analyses to suit their specific needs. For example, FISH permits:
user-prescribed property variations in the grid (e.g., nonlinear increase in modulus with
depth);
plotting and printing of user-defined variables (i.e., custom-designed plots);
implementation of special grid generators;
servo-control of numerical tests;
specification of unusual boundary conditions; variations in time and space; and
automation of parameter studies.
An introduction to FISH is given in Section 4. See Section 2 in the FISH volume for a detailed
reference to the FISH language.
FLAC 3D contains extensive graphics facilities for generating plots of virtually any problem variable.
Three-dimensional graphics rendering is provided in high-resolution video modes. Plotting features
include hidden surface plots, surface contour plots and vector plots. Plotted variables can be viewed
in front of, behind, or on an arbitrary cross-section plane through, the model. This version of FLAC 3D
has been compiled as a native Windows executable using the WIN32 API to support execution under
Windows 98 and later operating systems. The program has the look and feel of a typical Windows
program; however, most modeling operations are performed in the command-driven mode, while
the graphical user interface supports file-handling, model and response visualization (plotting),
and printing (using standard Windows file-handling and printing facilities). Plotting operations are
described in Section 1 in the Command Reference under the PLOT command.
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User-defined constitutive models can be written in C++ and compiled as DLL (dynamic link library)
files that can be loaded whenever needed with this optional feature. A Visual C++ Version 7.1
compiler is used to compile the DLL files. The procedure to write new constitutive models and
create DLLs is described in Section 4 in Optional Features.
1.3.3 Modeling Physical Processes and Interactions
The default calculation mode in FLAC 3D is for static mechanical analysis. Alternatively, a groundwater flow analysis or a heat-transfer analysis can be performed, independent of the mechanical
calculation. Both the groundwater flow and thermal models may be coupled to the mechanical stress
model and to each other. Because the full equations of motion are used in FLAC 3D, the coupling
mechanisms operate in dynamic analyses as well as static analyses.
The coupling mechanisms are divided into three types of interaction: mechanical and groundwater
flow; mechanical and thermal; and thermal and groundwater flow. The level of interaction modeled
in FLAC 3D for each type is described below.
Mechanical-Groundwater Flow Coupling Several types of fluid/solid interaction can be specified in FLAC 3D. One type of interaction is consolidation, in which the slow dissipation of pore
pressure causes displacements to occur in the solid (e.g., soil). Two mechanical effects are at work
in this case: (1) the fluid in a zone reacts to mechanical volume changes by a change in the pore
pressure; and (2) the pore-pressure change causes changes in the effective stress that affect the response of the solid (e.g., a reduction in effective stress may induce plastic yield). Coupling between
fluid and solid due to deformable grains can also be specified.
FLAC 3D can calculate pore-pressure effects, with or without pore-pressure dissipation, simply by
setting the flow calculation on or off. Also, dynamic pore-pressure generation (e.g., related to
liquefaction) can be modeled by accounting for irreversible volume strain in the constitutive model.
This is done with two different built-in constitutive models: the Finn model, and the Byrne
model. Both models are provided with the dynamic option.
By default, porosity and permeability are assumed constant. However, these properties can be
made a function of volumetric strain via a FISH function. As a consequence, two-way coupling of
mechanical stress and groundwater flow can be modeled with FLAC 3D.
Other types of interaction, such as capillary, electrical or chemical forces between particles of a
partially saturated material are not modeled directly by FLAC 3D, but some of the effects may be
included by providing suitable FISH functions. Similarly, a FISH function may be used to vary the
local fluid modulus as a function of other quantities such as pressure or time.
Thermal-Mechanical Coupling The thermal-mechanical coupling in FLAC 3D is one-way: temperature change may induce a mechanical stress change as a function of the thermal-expansion
coefficient. Mechanical changes in the body, however, do not result in temperature change or
changes to thermal properties. Additionally, mechanical properties can be made a function of
temperature change, since FISH permits access to both temperatures and properties.
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Thermal-Groundwater Flow Coupling The thermal calculation may be coupled to the groundwater flow calculation by making pore pressures a function of temperature change. Volumetric
strain can arise from thermal expansion of both the fluid and the grains within a saturated matrix.
Pore pressure change results from this volumetric strain, as well as from mechanical volumetric strain. Groundwater flow can also influence heat transfer; an advection model that takes the
transport of heat by convection into account is provided. The advection model can also simulate
temperature-dependent fluid density and thermal advection in the fluid.
As with mechanical properties, groundwater properties can be made a function of temperature
change by accessing temperature and property values via FISH.
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do update
gp dynmul
z dynmul
z facenorm
z fri
z frr
z inimodel
z pstress
z sonplane
GENERATE separate
separates a group of zones from the grid by duplicating gridpoints at
shared boundaries
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GROUP
none
unassigns a group name from zones
GROUP
remainder
allows assignment of a group name to all zones that belong to the null
group
IMPGRID
EXPGRID
INTERFACE wrap
simplifies creation of interfaces on group boundaries
MOVIE
PDELETE
PLOT
block state
state colors are now based on the state flags and no longer change
when the view is changed
PLOT
extract
allows extraction of numerical values from the grid into a FISH array
SOLVE
shhalt
allows user to specify termination criteria for solving through a FISH
function
TRACK
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Introduction
This section introduces you to FLAC 3D and its capabilities and features. An overview
of the new features in the latest version of FLAC 3D is also provided.
Section 2
Getting Started
If you are just beginning to use FLAC 3D, or use it occasionally, we recommend that
you read Section 2. This section provides instructions on installation and operation
of the program, as well as recommended procedures for running FLAC 3D analyses.
Section 3
Problem Solving
Section 3 is a guide to practical problem solving. Turn to this section once you are
familiar with the program operation. Each step in a FLAC 3D analysis is discussed in
detail, and advice is given on the most effective procedures to follow when creating,
solving and interpreting a FLAC 3D model simulation.
Section 4
* Acrobat(R) Reader copyright (C) 1987-1999, Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
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Miscellaneous
Various information is contained in this section, including the FLAC 3D runtime
benchmark and procedures for reporting errors and requesting technical support.
Descriptions of utility files to assist with FLAC 3D operation are also given.
Section 6
Bibliography
This section contains a bibliography of published papers describing some uses of
FLAC 3D.
Command Reference
Section 1
Command Reference
All the commands that can be entered in the command-driven mode in FLAC 3D are
described in Section 1 in the Command Reference.
FISH in FLAC 3D
Section 1
Section 2
FISH Reference
Section 2 in the FISH volume contains a detailed reference to the FISH language.
All FISH statements, variables and functions are explained and examples given.
Section 3
Theoretical Background
The theoretical formulation for FLAC 3D is described in detail in Section 1 in Theory
and Background. This includes both the description of the mathematical model
that describes the mechanics of a system and the numerical implementation.
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Section 3
Interfaces
The interface logic is described and example applications are given in Section 3 in
Theory and Background. A discussion on interface properties is also provided.
Fluid-Mechanical Interaction
Section 1
Fluid-Mechanical Interaction
The formulation for the fluid-flow model is described, and the various ways to model
fluid flow, both with and without solid interaction, are illustrated in Section 1 in
Fluid-Mechanical Interaction.
Structural Elements
Section 1
Structural Elements
Section 1 in Structural Elements describes the various structural element models
available in FLAC 3D. These include beams, cables, piles, shells, liners and geogrids.
Optional Features
Section 1
Thermal Option
Section 1 in Optional Features describes the thermal model option, and presents
several verification problems that illustrate its application both with and without
interaction with mechanical stress and pore pressure.
Section 2
Section 3
Dynamic Analysis
The dynamic analysis option is described, and considerations for running a dynamic
model are provided in Section 3 in Optional Features. Several verification examples
are also included in this section.
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3DShop
3DShop is a hexahedral-meshing preprocessor that enables the creation of complex
meshes for FLAC 3D. 3DShop uncouples the model building from the meshing process. The model is built via a menu-driven graphical interface, and then meshed using
a fully automatic all-hexahedral mesh generator. See Section 1 in the HexahedralMeshing Preprocessor 3DShop volume for details.
Verification Problems
This volume contains a collection of FLAC 3D verification problems. These are tests
in which a FLAC 3D solution is compared directly to an analytical (i.e., closed-form)
solution. See Table 1 in the Verifications volume for a list of the verification
problems.
Example Applications
This volume contains example applications of FLAC 3D that demonstrate the various
classes of problems to which FLAC 3D may be applied. See Table 1 in the Examples
volume for a list of the example applications.
Command and FISH Reference Summary
A quick summary of all FLAC 3D commands and FISH statements is contained in the
Command and FISH Reference Summary.
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(+1) 612-371-4711
(+1) 6123714717
software@itascacg.com
www.itascacg.com
We also have a worldwide network of code agents who provide local technical support. Details
may be obtained from Itasca.
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1.9 References
Byrne, P. A Cyclic Shear-Volume Coupling and Pore-Pressure Model for Sand, in Proceedings:
Second International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
and Soil Dynamics (St. Louis, Missouri, March, 1991), Paper No. 1.24, 47-55.
Marti, J., and P. A. Cundall. Mixed Discretization Procedure for Accurate Solution of Plasticity
Problems, Int. J. Num. Methods and Anal. Methods in Geomech., 6, 129-139, 1982.