Structural elements in Plaxis

Structural elements in Plaxis

Dennis Waterman
Plaxis B.V.

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Structural elements in Plaxis

• Plates and shells

• Anchors
• Geogrids (geotextiles)
• Interfaces

wall strip footing tunnel

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 1

Structural elements in Plaxis

Structural elements in Plaxis

geotextile wall anchored wall cofferdam

strut ground anchor

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Plates and shells

• 3 or 5 noded line elements

• 3 degrees of freedom per node
• Elastic or elastoplastic behaviour
• To model walls, floors, tunnels

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 2

Structural elements in Plaxis

Input parameters for plates

h3 ⋅ b
• Flexural rigidity EI = E ⋅
12
(b=1 m)

• Axial stiffness EA = E ⋅ h ⋅ b (b=1 m)

EI
• Element thickness d = h = 12
EA

h h
b

b = 1 m in plane strain
b = 1 meter in axisymmetry
b

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Determine weight of plates – in soil

real model

Below GPL
γ soil = γ sat
dreal
Above GPL
γ soil = γ unsat

wreal = γ concrete ⋅ d real wmodel = γ soil ⋅ d real + w plate

wmodel = wreal ⇒ w plate = ( γ concrete - γ soil ) ⋅ d real

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 3

Structural elements in Plaxis

Determine weight of plates - excavation

real model

Below GPL
γ soil = γ sat
dreal
Above GPL
γ soil = γ unsat

1
wreal = γ concrete ⋅ d real wmodel = γ soil ⋅ d real + wplate
2
1
wmodel = wreal ⇒ w plate = (γ concrete − γ soil ) ⋅ d real
2
Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Fixed-end anchors
• To model supports, anchors and struts
• Elasto-plastic spring element
• One end fixed to point in the geometry,
other end is fully fixed for displacement
• Positioning at any angle
• Pre-stressing option

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 4

Structural elements in Plaxis

Node-to-node anchors
• To model anchors, columns and rods
• Elasto-plastic spring element
• Connects two geometry points in
the geometry
• Pre-stressing option

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Anchor material properties

Axial stiffness, EA (for one anchor) [kN]
Spacing, Ls (distance between anchors) [m]
Maximum anchor force for compression
and tension, |Fmax,comp| and |Fmax,tens| [kN]

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 5

Structural elements in Plaxis

Pre-stressing of anchors
• Defined in Staged construction phase
• Both tension (grout anchor) or compression
(strut) possible

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Geogrids
• 3 or 5 noded line element
• Linear elastic behaviour
• No flexural rigidity (EI), only axial stiffness (EA)
• Only allows for tension, not for compression
• Soil/Geogrid interaction may be modelled using
interfaces

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 6

Structural elements in Plaxis

Ground anchors
• Combination of node-to-node anchor and
geogrid
• Node-to-node anchor represents anchor rod
(no interaction with surrounding soil)
• Geogrid represents grout body (full
interaction with grid)
• No interface around grout body; interface
would create unrealistic failure surface

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Ground anchors

Input geometry real distribution of axial forces in ground anchor

axial forces in geotextile element

Axial forces in ground anchors

Generated mesh

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 7

Structural elements in Plaxis

Interfaces
• Soil-structure interaction
• Wall friction
• Slip and gapping between soil and structure
• Soil material properties
• Taken from soil using reduction factor Rinter
Cinter = Rinter * Csoil
tan(φ)inter = Rinter * tan(φ)soil
• Individual material set for interface

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Interfaces
Suggestions for Rinter:
• Interaction sand/steel = Rinter ≈ 0.6 – 0.7
• Interaction clay/steel = Rinter ≈ 0.5
• Interaction sand/concrete = Rinter ≈ 1.0 – 0.8
• Interaction clay/concrete = Rinter ≈ 1.0 – 0.7
• Interaction soil/geogrid = Rinter≈ 1.0
(interface may not be required)
• Interaction soil/geotextile = Rinter≈ 0.9 – 0.5
(foil, textile)

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 8

Structural elements in Plaxis

Interfaces
• Try to omit stress oscillations at corners of
stiff structures

Inflexible
corner points,
causing bad
stress results

Flexible corner
points with
improved stress
results

Course "Computational Geotechnics" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008

Course "CG" - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2008 9