User’s Guide 1

PRECIS
This volume is the user’s guide to FLAC. This guide contains general information on the operation
of FLAC for engineering mechanics computation.
Section 1 gives an introduction to the capabilities and applications of FLAC. An overview of the
new features in the latest version of FLAC is also provided.
The first-time user should consult Section 2 for an introduction to the operation of FLAC. The
installation and operation procedures are given along with a simple tutorial to guide the new user
through a FLAC analysis.
Section 3 provides general guidance in the use of FLAC in problem solving for static mechanical
analysis for geotechnical engineering.
An introduction to the built-in programming language, FISH, is given in Section 4. This includes
a tutorial on the use of the FISH language. Note that no programming experience is assumed.
Various items of interest to FLAC users are contained in Section 5, including a FLAC runtime
benchmark on several different types of computers, procedures for reporting errors and requesting
technical assistance, and a listing of utility files to assist operating FLAC.
Section 6 contains a bibliography of published papers describing some applications of FLAC in
different fields of engineering.
The FLAC Manual consists of thirteen documents. The following list of volumes, which comprise
the FLAC Manual, are available. (The titles in parentheses below are the names used to refer to the
volumes in the text.)
USER’S GUIDE — (User’s Guide) — an introduction to FLAC and its capabilities
COMMAND REFERENCE — (Command Reference) — descriptions of all FLAC commands
FISH in FLAC — (FISH volume) — a complete guide to FISH as applied in FLAC
THEORY AND BACKGROUND — (Theory and Background) — thorough discussions of the
built-in features in FLAC
FLUID-MECHANICAL INTERACTION — (Fluid-Mechanical Interaction) — discussion of the
formulation and examples of the groundwater flow model; description of the optional two-phase
flow model
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS — (Structural Elements) — descriptions for the four types of struc-
tural elements in FLAC: beams, cables, piles and supports
OPTIONAL FEATURES — (Optional Features) — detailed descriptions of the optional features:
thermal analysis, creep models and dynamic analysis
VERIFICATION PROBLEMS — (Verifications volume) — a collection of verification problems
EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS — (Examples volume) — a collection of example applications

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COMMAND AND FISH REFERENCE SUMMARY — (Command and FISH Reference Sum-
mary) — a quick summary of all FLAC commands and FISH statements
FLAC-GIIC REFERENCE — (GIIC Reference) — describes all the components of the GIIC
FLAC/SLOPE USER’S GUIDE — (FLAC/Slope) — a guide to FLAC/Slope and its capabilities
INDEX — (Index volume) — a subject index for all of the volumes of the FLAC Manual

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