Soil testing is an essential component of geotechnical engineering, as it helps engineers determine soil properties and assess its behavior under different loading conditions. In recent years, the use of numerical simulations has become a key component, as it allows engineers to predict the behavior of soil in complex situations without the need for expensive physical testing.
One widely-used numerical platform in the geotechnical community and industry is the finite difference numerical software FLAC3D. However, using FLAC3D can be challenging, especially for beginners who are not familiar with the programming languages used in the software. To address this issue, the Soil-simulator scripts were developed by SRK Consulting to provide an open source and convenient solution for simulating basic and advanced soil lab tests using a single element in FLAC3D. These scripts do not require prior knowledge of Python or FISH, the programming languages of FLAC3D, making it accessible to beginners and advanced users.
One of the unique features of the Soil-Simulator scripts is the ability to run multiple simulations consecutively, which is useful to assess post-liquefaction strength or re-liquefaction scenarios. The package also allows users to compare laboratory test results with the results obtain using the Soil-Simulator script. To demonstrate the capabilities of the Soil-Simulator scripts, a series of examples were conducted using a cube element subjected to monotonic drained and undrained compression using conventional triaxial and direct simple shear configurations. The cube was later subjected to undrained cyclic shear, followed by a monotonic undrained compression to assess post liquefaction strength. Numerical simulations results were compared with experimental laboratory results.
Overall, the paper provides a clear and concise introduction to the use of Soil-Simulator scripts to simulate the soil responses at the element test level under various loading and drainage conditions, allowing for the assessment of characteristic properties of soils.
Presenter:
Andres Barrero | SRK Consulting, Canada
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