SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA for Personal Computers. Report 1. Visual Modeler

摘要

The SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA for Personal Computers analysis package comprises three separate stages: the Visual Modeler, the SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA Finite Element Analysis Program, and the Visual Postprocessor. This report describes how the SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA Visual Modeler (i.e., a preprocessor) is used, applying it to the suggested work flow of a typical project as an example. This report is intended to serve as a user's guide and not as a reference manual defining each specific command. SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA is a special-purpose finite element program for two-dimensional, plane strain analysis of soil-structure interaction problems. SOILSTRUCT calculates displacements and stresses resulting from incremental construction, backfilling, excavation, dewatering, rising water table, and/or load application. Nonlinear, stress-path-dependent, stress-strain behavior of the backfill was approximated in the finite element analysis using the tangent modulus method. In the tangent modulus method, new values of tangent moduli are assigned to each soil element at each increment of loading (i.e., dewatering, lock construction, and backfilling) or unloading (i.e., excavation, rising water table). The modulus values assigned to each element are adjusted in accordance with their stresses to simulate nonlinear behavior. The Visual Modeler is designed to facilitate the development of a finite element mesh for SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA in a timely manner. The modeler comprises two parts, a computer-aided design tool for the actual creation and refinement of a mesh, including four-noded two-dimensional continua and interface elements, and a computer-aided design tool for the application of loads to the mesh and the creation of one-dimensional, two-noded bar elements. These tools expedite the creation and refinement of the often extensive input data to SOILSTRUCT-ALPHA.