FLAC-GIIC REFERENCE

FLACFast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua

FLAC-GIIC REFERENCE

©2002

Itasca Consulting Group, Inc. Phone: (1) 612-371-4711

Thresher Square East Fax: (1) 612·371·4717

708 South Third Street, Suite 310 E-Mail: [email protected]

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415 USA Web: www.itascacg.com

First Edition December 2002

Contents - 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 FLAC-GIIC Reference1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1

1.1.1 Start-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 11.1.2 GIIC Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 21.1.3 Model Options Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 31.1.4 Changing and Saving GIIC Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 51.1.5 Modeling-Stage Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 5

1.2 Model-Tool Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 71.2.1 Build Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 7

1.2.1.1 Grid Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 71.2.1.2 Simple , Block and Radial Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 71.2.1.3 Slope Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 101.2.1.4 Library Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 10

1.2.2 Alter Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 121.2.2.1 Mark Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 121.2.2.2 Shape Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 131.2.2.3 Attach Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 231.2.2.4 Interface Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 30

1.2.3 Material Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 321.2.3.1 Assign Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 331.2.3.2 Material Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 351.2.3.3 Cut&Fill Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 371.2.3.4 GWProp Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 381.2.3.5 Model Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 391.2.3.6 Property Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 401.2.3.7 FISH Constitutive Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 421.2.3.8 LoadModel Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 441.2.3.9 Thermal Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 45

1.2.4 In Situ Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 461.2.4.1 Apply Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 461.2.4.2 Fix Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 491.2.4.3 Initial Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 501.2.4.4 Interior Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 53

1.2.5 Structure Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 541.2.5.1 Beam Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 551.2.5.2 Beam+ Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 571.2.5.3 Connecting Beams to Grids using an Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 591.2.5.4 Cable Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 611.2.5.5 Pile Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 63

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1.2.5.6 Segment Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 641.2.5.7 Node Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 651.2.5.8 SEProp Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 66

1.2.6 Utility Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 681.2.6.1 History Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 681.2.6.2 Table Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 691.2.6.3 Info Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 711.2.6.4 FishLib Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 73

1.2.7 Settings Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 751.2.7.1 Gravity Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 751.2.7.2 Mech Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 761.2.7.3 GW Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 771.2.7.4 Solve Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 781.2.7.5 Misc Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 791.2.7.6 Dyna Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 801.2.7.7 Creep Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 811.2.7.8 Therm Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 82

1.2.8 Plot Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 831.2.8.1 Model Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 831.2.8.2 Plotting Structural Elements and Interfaces in the Model Tool . . 1 - 841.2.8.3 Table Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 871.2.8.4 History Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 881.2.8.5 Profile Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 891.2.8.6 Fail Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 901.2.8.7 Quick Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 921.2.8.8 ScLine Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 931.2.8.9 Color Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 941.2.8.10 DXF Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 95

1.2.9 Run Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 961.2.9.1 SaveState Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 961.2.9.2 RestoreState Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 961.2.9.3 Call Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 971.2.9.4 Movie Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 971.2.9.5 Solve Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 981.2.9.6 Cycle Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 991.2.9.7 SolveFoS Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1001.2.9.8 PlotFoS Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 100

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1.3 Resource Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1011.3.1 Record Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 101

1.3.1.1 Project List Record Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1021.3.1.2 Project Tree Record Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1031.3.1.3 Editing Commands in the Record Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 106

1.3.2 Console Pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 107

1.4 Model-View/Plots Panes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1081.4.1 Model View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 108

1.4.1.1 Model-view Pop-up Draw Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1081.4.1.2 Overlaying Images on the Model View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 109

1.4.2 Plot Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1121.4.2.1 Plot-view Pop-up Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 112

1.5 FISH Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 113

1.6 Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1161.6.1 File Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1161.6.2 Show Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1201.6.3 Tools Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1211.6.4 View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 1221.6.5 Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 124

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FIGURES

Figure 1.1 The GIIC main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 2Figure 1.2 The Model Options dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 4Figure 1.3 Simple dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 7Figure 1.4 Block dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 8Figure 1.5 Radial dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 8Figure 1.6 Grid plot for the Simple tool with Corners mode active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 9Figure 1.7 Slope dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 10Figure 1.8 Library dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 11Figure 1.9 Grid tool for thin seam with fault object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 11Figure 1.10 Mark tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 13Figure 1.11 Shape tool with Bad Zone Geometry active

(Gridpoint moved to illustrate bad-zone condition.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 14Figure 1.12 GIIC virtual grid with Circle button active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 15Figure 1.13 GIIC virtual grid altered to fit Circle shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 15Figure 1.14 Table highlighted (yellow line) when Table button active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 16Figure 1.15 GIIC virtual grid altered to fit Table line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 17Figure 1.16 Adjust end gridpoints with the Point mode in the Shape tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 18Figure 1.17 Mark the end gridpoints from the Mark tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 18Figure 1.18 Model view with regions active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 19Figure 1.19 Highlighting a portion of grid to reposition using the Range mode . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 20Figure 1.20 Distorted grid formed with Range mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 21Figure 1.21 Two sub-grids separated by vertical column of null zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 22Figure 1.22 Shift right sub-grid to the left with Region mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 22Figure 1.23 Sub-grid boundaries to be attached using the Attach tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 23Figure 1.24 Attached gridpoints identified by yellow marks

after Assign is pressed in the Attach tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 24Figure 1.25 Two sub-grids with unequal boundary segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 25Figure 1.26 Attached gridpoints identified by yellow marks and connecting lines using the

Attach tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 25Figure 1.27 Moving corner gridpoints of the upper sub-grid using the Range mode in the

Shape tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 26Figure 1.28 Final position of two attached sub-grids with unequal boundary segments . . 1 - 26Figure 1.29 Initial grid divided into large sub-grid with null-zone regions plus three separate

sub-grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 28Figure 1.30 Moving sub-grids using the Shape tool in Range mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 28Figure 1.31 Attaching the bottom and right-side boundaries of a sub-grid inside a sub-grid

using the Attach tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 29Figure 1.32 Attaching the left-side and top boundaries of a sub-grid inside a sub-grid using

the Attach tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 29

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Figure 1.33 Three fine-zone sub-grids attached to a coarse sub-grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 30Figure 1.34 Creating an interface with the Interface tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 31Figure 1.35 Interface identified by white line with marks and ID number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 31Figure 1.36 Assign tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 33Figure 1.37 Define Material dialog in the Assign tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 34Figure 1.38 Assign materials using the Layer mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 35Figure 1.39 Material database dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 36Figure 1.40 Edit tab in the material database dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 36Figure 1.41 Cut&Fill tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 37Figure 1.42 GWProp tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 38Figure 1.43 Model tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 39Figure 1.44 Property tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 41Figure 1.45 Plot of variation in cohesion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 41Figure 1.46 “MDUNCAN.FIS” model added to FishLib library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 42Figure 1.47 User Fish button added to Model tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 43Figure 1.48 User C++ models added from LoadModel tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 44Figure 1.49 Thermal tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 45Figure 1.50 Apply tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 46Figure 1.51 Spatial variation in the boundary condition value assigned with the Apply tool 1 - 47Figure 1.52 History multiplier assigned with the Apply tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 48Figure 1.53 Fix tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 49Figure 1.54 Assigning gridpoint values with the Initial tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 50Figure 1.55 Assigning zone values with the Initial tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 51Figure 1.56 Checking assigned values with Plot values in the Initial tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 52Figure 1.57 Interior tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 53Figure 1.58 Interior tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 54Figure 1.59 Beam tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 55Figure 1.60 Beam tool — assigning property identification numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 56Figure 1.61 Connecting beams rigidly to the grid using the Beam+ tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 57Figure 1.62 Connecting beams to the grid with an interface using the Beam+ tool . . . . . . . . 1 - 58Figure 1.63 Create wall as beam elements in Beam tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 59Figure 1.64 Attach A-side of interface to beam nodes in the Interface tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 60Figure 1.65 Attach B-side of interface to gridpoints in the Interface tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 61Figure 1.66 Cable tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 62Figure 1.67 Pile tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 63Figure 1.68 Segment tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 64Figure 1.69 Node tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 65Figure 1.70 Node tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 66Figure 1.71 Beam Element Properties dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 66Figure 1.72 Cable Element Properties dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 67

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Figure 1.73 Pile Element Properties dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 67Figure 1.74 History tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 68Figure 1.75 Table tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 70Figure 1.76 Edit Table Points dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 71Figure 1.77 Info tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 72Figure 1.78 FishLib tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 73Figure 1.79 Fish Call Input dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 74Figure 1.80 Grid with interface produced by gentableinterface function . . . . . . . . 1 - 74Figure 1.81 Gravity Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 75Figure 1.82 Mechanical Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 76Figure 1.83 Mechanical Settings dialog (with structural elements) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 76Figure 1.84 GW (Noflow) Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 77Figure 1.85 GW (Flow) Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 77Figure 1.86 GW (Two-phase flow) Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 78Figure 1.87 Solve Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 78Figure 1.88 Miscellaneous Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 79Figure 1.89 Dynamic Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 80Figure 1.90 Creep Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 81Figure 1.91 Thermal Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 82Figure 1.92 Plot Items dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 83Figure 1.93 Plot Item Switches dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 84Figure 1.94 Structural Plot Selection dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 85Figure 1.95 Interface Selection dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 85Figure 1.96 Moment plot for tunnel lining composed of three structures, #1, #2 and #3 . 1 - 86Figure 1.97 Plot item dialog showing max switch used to change sense of moments . . . . 1 - 86Figure 1.98 Moment plot with sense reversed for structures#1 and #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 87Figure 1.99 Table Plot dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 88Figure 1.100 History Plot dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 88Figure 1.101 Profile tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 89Figure 1.102 yy-stress profile plot created with Profile tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 90Figure 1.103 Fail tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 91Figure 1.104 Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope created with the Fail tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 91Figure 1.105 Quick-plot menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 92Figure 1.106 ScLine tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 93Figure 1.107 Scan line created in ScLine tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 94Figure 1.108 Color tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 94Figure 1.109 DXF tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 95Figure 1.110 DXF file translated to fit within FLAC grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 95Figure 1.111 SaveState Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 96Figure 1.112 Movie tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 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Figure 1.113 Solve tool for mechanical analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 98Figure 1.114 Solve tool for dynamic, thermal, creep,

groundwater flow, and coupled analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 99Figure 1.115 Cycle tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 99Figure 1.116 SolveFoS tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 100Figure 1.117 PlotFoS tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 100Figure 1.118 Project File (*.prj) dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 101Figure 1.119 Project List Record pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 102Figure 1.120 Project Tree Record pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 103Figure 1.121 Project Tree Record pane — project tree with two branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 105Figure 1.122 Project Tree Record pane — cloned branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 105Figure 1.123 Project Tree Record pane — editing commands at a selected state . . . . . . . . . 1 - 106Figure 1.124 console pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 107Figure 1.125 Model-view Pop-up Draw Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 108Figure 1.126 FLAC grid overlays a bitmap image of a slope — step 1: reposition the grid 1 - 110Figure 1.127 FLAC grid overlays a bitmap image of a slope — step 2: use the Alter / Shape

tool to conform the grid to the image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 111Figure 1.128 Plot-view Pop-up Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 112Figure 1.129 FISH Editor pane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 113Figure 1.130 Input Parameters dialog and Input Parameter data dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 114Figure 1.131 Fish Call Input dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 115Figure 1.132 File Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 116Figure 1.133 Print Setup dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 117Figure 1.134 Plot Item Color Library dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 118Figure 1.135 Geometric table view settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 119Figure 1.136 Confirmation message settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 119Figure 1.137 Model- and plot-view text size settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 119Figure 1.138 Help file browser type settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 119Figure 1.139 Show Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 120Figure 1.140 Tools Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 121Figure 1.141 View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 122Figure 1.142 View Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 122Figure 1.143 Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 124

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1 FLAC-GIIC Reference

1.1 Introduction

The Graphical Interface for Itasca Codes (GIIC) is a menu-driven graphical interface developed toassist users in operating Itasca codes. The FLAC-GIIC is easy to use with a point-and-click operationthat accesses all commands and facilities in FLAC. The structure of the GIIC is specifically designedto emulate expected Windows features and allows general mouse manipulation of displayed itemsthat correspond to FLAC operations. You should be able to begin solving problems with FLACimmediately, without the need to wade through commands to select those necessary for your desiredanalysis.

This volume is a reference manual for the GIIC and describes all the individual components: menus,tools and dialogs used in the operation of the GIIC. The following sections in this introduction(Sections 1.1.1 through 1.1.5) provide an overview of the GIIC layout and operation. The GIICconsists of four components: model-tool panes, resource panes, model-view/plots panes and FISHEditor pane. Section 1.2 lists and describes the model-tool panes, which are provided in the GIICto access FLAC commands. This section also includes simple tutorials to help you understandthe operation of the model tools. Sections 1.3 and 1.4 describe the resource panes and model-view/plots panes, respectively. Section 1.3 also includes a recommended procedure for setting upand organizing a FLAC project in the GIIC. This includes the creation of a project tree for accessingresults at any stage of the project analysis. Section 1.5 describes the FISH Editor, which allowscreation of FISH functions within the GIIC. In addition to these components, several menus areprovided in the GIIC to facilitate model and plot manipulation and file control; these are describedin Section 1.6.

You will notice that a Help menu is provided in the main menu bar for the GIIC. Help buttons arealso included with each tool in the GIIC, and Help panes can be opened by right-clicking on modeltooltabs. Consult these Help views for information when you are using a GIIC tool.

1.1.1 Start-Up

The FLAC installation procedure (see Section 2.1.2 in the User’s Guide) creates an “Itasca Codes”group with icons for the double-precision and single-precision versions of FLAC. (See Section 2.9in the User’s Guide for a description of the differences between the double-precision and single-precision versions.) Click on either the “FLAC v4.0(Double Precision)” or “FLAC v4.0(SinglePrecision)” icon. The code will start up and the GIIC main window will appear, as shown inFigure 1.1.

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Figure 1.1 The GIIC main window

1.1.2 GIIC Layout

The code name, current version number and precision type are printed in the title bar at the top ofthe GIIC main window, and a main menu bar is positioned just below the title bar. The main menucontains File, Show, Tools, View and Help menus. These menus are described in Section 1.6.

Beneath the main menu bar are two windows: one window contains resource panes and the othera model-view pane. Two tabbed resource panes are provided and display text-based information.A console pane shows text output and allows command-line input (at the bottom of the pane).* Arecord pane shows a record of FLAC commands associated with the current model project state.This record can be exported to a data file and thus provides a list of FLAC commands that representthe problem being analyzed. The record pane also shows a “project tree” that displays a tree list

* The text field with the flac: prompt located at the bottom of the console pane allows you to enterFLAC commands directly from the GIIC. The console pane will echo the commands that you enter.(Note that the GIIC model-view pane is not automatically updated when commands are executedmanually from the command line. Either select View / Refresh or type ! at the command line toupdate the model view.) You should not need to use the command line at all; it is provided as ashortcut if you prefer to type a command rather than use the graphical interface.

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of the saved states created for a model. See Section 1.3 for descriptions of the console pane andrecord pane.

The model-view pane shows a graphical view of the model. Additional tabbed views can be added tothis window; these views display user-created plots. The model view and plot views are describedin detail in Section 1.4.

A status bar is located at the bottom of the main window and displays information related to thecurrently active view or tool.

At the top of the model-view pane is a tab bar containing modeling-stage tabs for each of the stages:Build , Alter , Material , In Situ , Utility , Settings , Plot and Run . The Structure tab can also be added to thetab bar by checking this option in the Model Options dialog box (see Section 1.1.3, below). Whenyou click on a modeling-stage tab, a tool bar will open; this contains buttons that access model-toolpanes. The tool bar for the model Build tool is shown in Figure 1.1. When you click on a button,this opens a model-tool pane; these panes contain all the tools you will need to create and run yourmodel. Each of the model tools are described in Section 1.2.

You can use the View menu to manipulate any view pane (e.g., translate or rotate the view, increaseor decrease the size of the view, turn on and off the model axes). The View menu is also available asa tool bar that can be turned on from the Show menu. The View tool bar is shown on the model-viewpane in Figure 1.1. See Section 1.6.4 for further information on the View menu.

There is also a Fish Editor pane available in the GIIC that allows you to create new FISH functions,edit existing functions and specify FISH parameters. This window can be opened from the Showmenu. See Section 1.5 for additional information on the operation of the Fish Editor.

An overview of the GIIC operation is provided in the Help menu. The menu contains a listof Frequently Asked Questions about the GIIC and an index to all GIIC Help files. Additionalinformation on the Help menu is given in Section 1.6.5.

1.1.3 Model Options Dialog

A Model Options dialog box will appear every time you start the GIIC or begin a new model project.The dialog is shown along with the GIIC main window in Figure 1.1. This dialog identifies whichoptional modes of analysis are available to you in your version of FLAC. (Note that dynamicanalysis, thermal analysis, two-phase flow analysis, creep models and C++ user-defined models areseparate modules that can be activated at an additional cost per module.) The FLAC ConfigurationOptions must be selected at the beginning of a new analysis, while the User Interface Options(structural elements, advanced material models and factor-of-safety calculation) can be included atany time in the model run.

You can select a system of units for your analysis in the Model Options dialog. Many parameterswill then be labeled with the corresponding units, and predefined values, such as gravitationalmagnitude and properties within the material database, will be converted to the selected system.The selection for system of units must be done at the beginning of the analysis.

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If you are a new user, or only intend to perform a simple static analysis, we recommend that youclick the Ok button in the Model Options dialog to access the basic FLAC features. In this case, onlythe null, isotropic elastic and Mohr-Coulomb models are active, and a static, plane-strain analysisis performed in the GIIC. If you wish to come back later in the analysis and, for example, addstructural elements, click File / Model Options in the main menu. This will reopen the ModelOptions dialog. Check Include Structural Elements? and click Ok . A Structure tab will be added tothe modeling-stage tab bar, and structural elements can now be included in your model.

The final model option that can be selected is the format for the project record that is used in therecord pane. Two types of format are provided: a Project List Record format and a Project TreeRecord format. The Project List format is a simple record with independent save files. Each savefile includes a record of all the commands needed to generate the state. The Project Tree formatshows changes between saved states. Saved-state filenames are displayed in a tree structure. Thetwo formats are explained in detail in Section 1.3.

The Model Options dialog is shown below in Figure 1.2 with the following model options selected:groundwater configuration option with automatic adjustment of total stresses for external pore-pressure change (CONFIG gw ats), structural elements user-interface option, Project Tree Recordformat and SI system of units.

Figure 1.2 The Model Options dialog box

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1.1.4 Changing and Saving GIIC Preferences

After you have selected which Model Options you wish to have operating during your analysis, youcan save these preferences, so that these selections are active each time you enter the GIIC. Forexample, if you typically use the Imperial (foot-slug-seconds) system of units, you can save thispreference so that this is the default on start-up. After selecting the preferences, click File / SavePreferences in the main menu to save the preference settings. The GIIC start-up preferences arestored in the file “STARTUP.GPF,” located in the “ITASCA\FLAC\GUI” directory.

You can also change the appearance of the GIIC on start-up and save these preferences. For example,you can select which resource pane you wish to have open, as well as the size of this pane and themodel-view pane. Also, by opening the Show menu in the main menu, you can select which panesand/or toolbars are visible in the GIIC. Use File / Color Preference Settings if you wish tochange the background colors for the GIIC main window. Once you are satisfied, use File / SavePreferences to save these preferences.

1.1.5 Modeling-Stage Tabs

The full command set of FLAC is accessed through a series of model-tool panes that group commandstogether to facilitate the sequential process of running a FLAC analysis. The model tools are accessedfrom the modeling-stage tab bar located above the model-view pane. The tabs are arranged in alogical progression for building and solving your model:

The order follows the recommended procedure for problem solving discussed in Section 2.6 in theUser’s Guide:

• The first two modeling-stage tabs contain tools to generate and shape the gridto fit the problem domain. The grid is first created via the Build tab, and

• then shaped to fit the problem geometry via the Alter tab.

• Next, material models and properties are assigned to the zones in the model,using the tools accessed from the Material tab.

• Boundary and initial conditions are applied via the In Situ tab.

• If you select structural elements in the Model Options dialog, a Structure tabwill be included in the modeling-stage tab bar to access structural support forthe model.

• The Utility tab provides tools to monitor model variables and access existingFISH functions.

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• The Settings tab allows model global conditions to be set or changed duringthe analysis.

• All plotting facilities in FLAC are accessible via the Plot tab.

• Calculations are performed using tools from the Run tab.

Note that model conditions can be changed at any point in the solution process by re-entering amodeling-stage tab. For example, model properties can be changed at any time via the Material tab,and pressure or stress alterations can be made via the In Situ tab.

When you click on each of the modeling-stage tabs, a tool bar will appear that provides access tomodel-tool panes in which you can perform operations related to that tool. The Build tab tool bar isshown in Figure 1.1. Each of model-building tools are described individually in Section 1.2.

The actions taken in each of the model-building tools are executed in FLAC by pressing the Execute

button at the bottom of each tool pane. When this is done, the GIIC returns to the main view, themodel-view pane is updated showing the result of the action taken, and the corresponding FLACcommands are displayed in the resource pane. See Section 1 in the Command Reference for fulldescriptions of all FLAC commands.

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1.2 Model-Tool Panes

1.2.1 Build Tools

Several grid-generation tools are available to help you create your model grid. These tools definethe general shape, spatial dimensions, and zoning density and gradation for the main grid. Clickthe Build tab to access the available tools. Six tools are provided on the Build tool bar:

1.2.1.1 Grid Tool

The Grid button accesses the GRID command and creates a rectangular grid with a specified numberof columns and rows of zones. You probably will not use the Grid tool often because the otherBuild tools provide more versatility in grid generation. The Grid tool is included as a quick meansto create a simple grid.

1.2.1.2 Simple , Block and Radial Tools

Three, more advanced, grid-generation tools are provided via the Simple , Block and Radial buttons.These tools primarily create FLAC GENERATE commands.

When you press the Simple button, a dialog will open to allow you to specify the x- and y-rangedimensions for the grid. You can also select the number of zones and the grid ratios in this menu.This dialog is shown in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3 Simple dialog

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The Block button allows you to first divide the problem region into separate rectangular domains(blocks); the dimensions, number of zones and grid ratios are then specified for each block individ-ually. A dialog appears first for you to select the number of blocks in which to divide the problemregion. Up to 25 blocks can be specified in both the x- and y-directions. After selecting the numberof blocks, a second dialog appears to allow you to specify dimensional and zoning parameters foreach of the blocks. The dialog for a 2 × 2 block grid is shown in Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4 Block dialog

With the Radial tool, you can create a radially-graded mesh that wraps around a central mesh.ATTACH commands are assigned automatically to connect the radially-graded meshes. The Radial

dialog is shown in Figure 1.5. Note that any of the four radially-graded meshes, surrounding thecentral mesh, can be hidden from view. This facilitates the creation of a free surface or a symmetryplane in a radially-graded mesh.

Figure 1.5 Radial dialog

After you have selected parameters for one of the dialogs shown in Figures 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5, andpressed OK , a plot of the grid will appear. A grid plot for the Simple tool is shown in Figure 1.6. Youcan now manipulate this grid by selecting one of the grid-manipulation modes listed to the right ofthe plot. You can reposition the edges or corners of the grid, change the grid ratio and mesh density,

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and hide different regions of zones within the grid by clicking on the associated radio button. Thesemanipulations can all be done using the mouse. For example, after clicking on the Corners radiobutton, red boxes will appear over each of the grid corners. Click and hold the left mouse buttonon one of the red boxes to drag a grid corner to a new position, or click the right mouse buttonafter positioning the mouse on the grid corner to open a menu to enter new values for the cornercoordinates. As an illustration, by pressing the right mouse button with the mouse positioned overthe top-left corner of the mesh shown in Figure 1.6, the Vertex #1 dialog opens so that new valuescan be given for the coordinates.

Note that you can also return to the parameters dialog by pressing the Edit button, shown in thebottom right corner of Figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6 Grid plot for the Simple tool with Corners mode active

When you are satisfied with the grid, press Execute and a set of FLAC commands that correspond toyour grid manipulations will be sent from the GIIC to FLAC. The GIIC will return to the model-viewpane, and a FLAC grid plot will be displayed.

The three grid-generation tools can be used for a variety of problem geometries. Use the Simple

tool for simple, regular shapes; use the Block tool when you need a variation in zoning — e.g., alinearly-graded mesh; use the Radial tool to grade the mesh radially.

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1.2.1.3 Slope Tool

Simple slope shapes are created by using the Slope tool. Figure 1.7 shows the Slope dialog. Theslope geometry parameters are entered in the boxes on the left side of the dialog. The diagram onthe right side illustrates the parameters. Note that for shallow slopes (i.e., with a slope angle smallerthan approximately 30◦) an “expanded-grid” zoning is recommended and can be selected from thedialog. For steep slopes, a “step-grid” is recommended. When OK is pressed, a grid plot appears,similar to that shown previously in Figure 1.6, and the grid can be manipulated further.

For more complex slope geometries, such as bench cuts, dams, or slopes with an irregular surface,FLAC/Slope is recommended. See Section 1 in the FLAC/Slope User’s Guide for a guide to thisprogram. Note that FLAC/Slope can be applied as a grid-generation pre-processor for FLAC. Adata file for a model built in FLAC/Slope can be exported from this program and then imported intoFLAC (using File / Import Record).

Figure 1.7 Slope dialog

1.2.1.4 Library Tool

This tool provides access to an advanced set of library grid objects commonly used in geomechanics:dam, retaining wall, tunnel, etc. You may find these objects useful as a template to construct yourown model. We envision that this grid library will be expanded to include other commonly requestedgrid objects in future versions of the GIIC.

When the Library button is pressed, a Grid Library dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.8. Currentlyavailable grid objects are listed on the left pane of the dialog. By clicking on each object name,information is displayed for that object in the right pane of the dialog. For example, Figure 1.8displays the “thin seam with fault” grid object.

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Figure 1.8 Library dialog

Select the grid object you wish to use and press Ok . A dialog will then open to input an x- andy-dimension range for the object. After the range is selected, a grid-plot tool will open, and the gridcan be manipulated. Figure 1.9 shows the grid-plot tool for the “thin seam with fault” grid object.The library object can be manipulated in the same manner as the other grid tools. For example,you can easily increase the mesh density in the region of interest by using the Mesh Density mode.By right-clicking on one of the red boxes, a dialog will open, as shown in Figure 1.9, to specify adifferent zone density for a given grid block.

Figure 1.9 Grid tool for thin seam with fault object

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The grid object files are written in JAVA, and the class files and source code files for all of thegrid objects in the Library are stored in the “ITASCA\FLAC\GUI\Gridlib” directory. If you wish,you can create your own grid object; use the source-code files provided in the directory as a guideto create your grid-object template. You can add your grid to the Library by copying your JAVA“*.CLASS” file to the “ITASCA\FLAC\GUI\Gridlib” directory, and then pressing the Refresh

button in the Library dialog (see Figure 1.8). The library list will be updated to include the new gridobject.

1.2.2 Alter Tools

After you have completed the Build operation and created the grid to fit the problem domain, clickon the Alter tab to access tools that you can use to define sub-regions or add additional shapes —e.g., excavation boundaries, layered materials or discontinuous features, to the grid. Four Alter

tools are provided to alter or shape the grid:

1.2.2.1 Mark Tool

You can mark gridpoints to delimit regions in your model by pressing the Mark button; you will thenenter the Mark-tool pane. This tool is useful, for example, to define layered materials in a model.You can mark a gridpoint simply by moving the mouse to that gridpoint and pressing the left mousebutton. Be sure that the Set radio button is checked before marking a gridpoint. Note that whenyou mark a gridpoint, a MARK command will be created in the Changes sub-pane to the left of theMark pane. See Figure 1.10*. Commands in the Changes pane have not yet been sent to FLAC.You can clear these commands with the arrow buttons located at the top of the Changes pane. Onceyou are satisfied with your selections, press the Execute button and the commands will then be sent toFLAC. This approach allows you to change your selections and view the results in the GIIC beforesending the commands to FLAC. This applies for several of the tools in the model-tool panes.

You can return to this tool at any time and mark new gridpoints or un-mark a marked gridpoint. Inorder to un-mark, check the Clear radio button and then click on the gridpoint you wish to un-mark.The UNMARK command is created for the specified gridpoint.

* The View / Show axis values menu item is selected to display x- and y-coordinate axes on the leftand bottom borders of the model view. See Section 1.6.4 for further information on manipulatingthe model view.

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Figure 1.10 Mark tool

1.2.2.2 Shape Tool

The Shape tool is mainly used to conform the grid to specified shapes, such as tunnels, geologicalboundaries and construction boundaries. Note that if a construction sequence is to be modeled(e.g., emplacement of layers in an earth dam), the grid should be adjusted to conform to all futuregeometrical stages at the start. The grid should not be adjusted with the Shape tool after the solutionprocess has begun.

When using the Shape tool, it is recommended that the Bad Zone Geometry menu setting be active. (Thisis the default setting for the Shape tool.) Bad Zone Geometry is set from a pop-up menu in the Shape tool. Inorder to open this menu, position the mouse within the grid-plot view in the Shape tool, and press theright button. The pop-up menu will appear, as shown in Figure 1.11. (See Section 1.4.1.1 for moreinformation on the pop-up menu.) When distorting the grid in the Shape tool, you will be able to seeimmediately if you have created a bad-geometry condition (as defined by the criteria illustrated inFigure 2.31 of Section 2.6.4 in the User’s Guide). You can then correct the bad geometry conditionbefore the calculation starts.

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Figure 1.11 Shape tool with Bad Zone Geometry active(Gridpoint moved to illustrate bad-zone condition.)

You can conform the grid to fit given shapes, such as circles, arcs and lines, with the Shape tool.The various shape modes are listed to the right of the grid-plot view pane, as shown in Figure 1.12.Click on the radio button corresponding to the shape mode you wish to apply, then drag the mouseto the position in the grid to apply the shape. When you hold the left mouse button and drag themouse, the shape will appear on the grid. After you release the mouse button, click on the Generate

button and the grid will conform to the shape. Note that this is a “virtual” grid; the commands havenot yet been sent to FLAC. You can press Clear to remove the shape from the virtual grid. Whenyou are satisfied, press Execute to send the corresponding commands to FLAC.

For example, click on the Circle radio button, then move the mouse to the position on the gridcorresponding to the center of the circle, press the left mouse button and drag the mouse to theposition of the circle periphery. A circle tool will appear with two red boxes, one at the centroidand one along the circle periphery (see Figure 1.12). You can move the circle and adjust its radiusby pressing and holding the left mouse button while the mouse is positioned within each box.Alternatively, you can select values for the center coordinates and the circle radius with dialogsthat open when you right-click the mouse while it is positioned within each box. When you clickGenerate , the virtual grid is adjusted to fit the circular shape, as shown in Figure 1.13. If you aresatisfied, click Execute to send the corresponding GENERATE circle command to FLAC.

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Figure 1.12 GIIC virtual grid with Circle button active

Figure 1.13 GIIC virtual grid altered to fit Circle shape

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The Line and Arc modes are implemented in the same way as the Circle mode. When you click oneach of these modes, a corresponding tool will be available to adjust the grid to fit each shape. Onceexecuted, Line and Arc modes send GENERATE line and GENERATE arc commands, respectively, toFLAC. The Point mode allows you to move individual gridpoints. This mode creates INITIAL x andINITIAL y commands to reposition gridpoints in the FLAC mesh.

For the Table mode, a table must first be created from the Utility / Table tool.* (See Section 1.2.6for the procedure to create a geometric table.) Tables are assigned identification numbers. Afteryou click on the Table radio button in the Shape tool, select the ID number of the table you wishto generate and then point and click the mouse on the table in the grid plot. The table line willturn yellow, as shown in Figure 1.14. Press Generate to conform the grid to fit the table line (seeFigure 1.15).

Figure 1.14 Table highlighted (yellow line) when Table button active

* A table can also be read into FLAC by pressing the ? button located to the right of the ID numberbox that appears when the Table radio button is pressed. The table file must be an ASCII file in theformat of a TABLE command, as described in Section 1 in the Command Reference.

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Figure 1.15 GIIC virtual grid altered to fit Table line

You will note in Figure 1.15 that the gridpoints at the ends of the line were not adjusted to fit the line.This can happen if the table line does not extend far enough, or if the grid is too coarse. Press thePoint radio button to move the end gridpoints, as shown in Figure 1.16. By right-clicking on eachend gridpoint, a dialog opens to specify new x- and y-coordinates for these gridpoints. This createsthe INITIAL commands to reposition the gridpoints, as shown in the Changes pane in Figure 1.16.

Now, it is necessary to mark these end gridpoints; this is done with the Mark tool, as shown inFigure 1.17. In order to define two separate regions in the FLAC model, a contiguous line ofmarked gridpoints must be delineated. The regions can be viewed in the model-view pane byturning on the regions-view mode. This is done from the model-view pop-up menu. Position themouse anywhere within the model-view pane and press the right button. The pop-up menu willappear as shown in Figure 1.18. See Section 1.4.1.1 for more information on the model-view pop-upmenu.

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Figure 1.16 Adjust end gridpoints with the Point mode in the Shape tool

Figure 1.17 Mark the end gridpoints from the Mark tool

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Figure 1.18 Model view with regions active

You can reposition the entire grid or portions of the grid by using the Range mode in the Shape

tool. Drag the mouse over the portion of the grid that you wish to reposition. This portion willbecome highlighted and red boxes will appear at the corner gridpoints of the highlighted region.See Figure 1.19. If you press the left mouse button over one of the red boxes and drag the mouse,the highlighted region will be distorted, with all gridpoints within the region adjusted to maintainthe original zone spacing. The highlighted portion can also be repositioned by right-clicking themouse over each corner red box, which causes a dialog to open to enter new x- and y-coordinatesfor the corner gridpoint. Note that a red box also appears in the center of the highlighted region;this box can be used to change the grid ratio for the highlighted zones.

For example, if you wish to distort a 20 × 20 zone grid to form a rectangular opening, first highlightthe right half of the grid, as shown in Figure 1.19. Then right-click on each of the four corners ofthe highlighted region. Enter the following coordinates, beginning with Corner 4:

Corner 4 : x=5.0, y=0.0;Corner 3 : x=20.0, y=0.0;Corner 2 : x=20.0, y=20.0;Corner 1 : x=5.0, y=5.0.

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Then, press Generate . Now highlight the left half of the grid and enter the new coordinates, beginningwith Corner 4:

Corner 4 : x=5.0, y=5.0;Corner 3 : x=20.0, y=20.0;Corner 2 : x=0.0, y=20.0;Corner 1 : x=0.0, y=5.0.

Press Generate again, and the distorted mesh will be formed as shown in Figure 1.20. TwoGENERATEcommands are created; these are the same as those issued for the command-line example given inExample 2.3 in Section 2.6.1 in the User’s Guide.

Figure 1.19 Highlighting a portion of grid to reposition using the Range mode

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Figure 1.20 Distorted grid formed with Range mode

The Region mode in the Shape tool is used to move the entire grid, or sub-grids, by a specifieddisplacement. This mode creates INITIAL x add and INITIAL y add commands for FLAC. Clickon the Region radio button, then click on a gridpoint within the sub-grid you wish to move, anddrag-and-drop the sub-grid to a new location. Alternatively, right-click the mouse over the grid; adialog will open to enter x- and y-displacement values to move the sub-grid.

Sub-grids are separated by null zones. In order to apply the Region mode to a sub-grid, null zonesmust first be created, using the Material / Assign tool. (See Section 1.2.3 for the procedure to createnull zones.) For example, Figure 1.21 shows a model with two sub-grids separated by a verticalcolumn of null zones. In order to close the gap between the two sub-grids, first click on the Region

radio button. Now, left-click on the bottom left corner of the right sub-grid. While holding downthe <Ctrl> key on your keyboard, drag the bottom left corner node toward the bottom right cornerof the left sub-grid. The node will snap to this location, because the <Ctrl> key is depressed.When the left mouse button is released, the right sub-grid will be shifted to the left and an INITIALx add command will be created, as shown in Figure 1.22. Note that even though the boundaries ofthe two sub-grids are now at the same location, the sub-grids will not interact. It is necessary toeither attach the sub-grids, or add an interface along the boundaries, for interaction to occur. Thisis accomplished with either the Attach and Interface tools, described below, in Sections 1.2.2.3 and1.2.2.4, respectively,

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Figure 1.21 Two sub-grids separated by vertical column of null zones

Figure 1.22 Shift right sub-grid to the left with Region mode

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1.2.2.3 Attach Tool

The ATTACH command is implemented via the Attach tool. When in this tool, select the A-side radiobutton and drag the mouse, while holding down the left button, along one boundary of a sub-gridyou wish to attach. A red bar will be drawn along this boundary when you release the button. Then,repeat this process with the B-side radio button checked and drag the mouse, in the same direction,along the boundary of the other sub-grid to be attached. A blue bar will appear along this boundarywhen you release the button. Finally, click Assign to create the ATTACH command, and Execute tosend this command to FLAC.

For example, to attach the two sub-grids shown in Figure 1.22, enter the Attach tool, click on theA-side radio button and drag the mouse along the right boundary of the left sub-grid. A red bar willappear along this boundary when you release the mouse button. Click on the B-side radio buttonand drag the mouse along the left boundary of the right sub-grid, in the same direction as that forthe A-side. A blue bar will appear when you lease the button this time. The red and blue bars areshown in Figure 1.23.

Figure 1.23 Sub-grid boundaries to be attached using the Attach tool

When the Assign button is pressed, yellow marks are placed at all attached gridpoints, and anATTACHcommand is shown in the Changes pane. See Figure 1.24.

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Figure 1.24 Attached gridpoints identified by yellow marksafter Assign is pressed in the Attach tool

The Attach tool will attach sub-grids with matching gridpoints and sub-grids with non-matchinggridpoints. However, sub-grids with non-matching gridpoints must have an integral ratio betweengridpoint segments along the two boundaries to be attached. For example, if one boundary has3 segments (4 gridpoints), then the matching boundary must have an integral multiple number ofsegments — e.g., 6 segments (7 gridpoints). The Assign button will only activate if this condition issatisfied. Note that the segment ratio is monitored and printed in the top right corner of the Attach

tool.

As an example, a sub-grid with 20 segments along a boundary is attached to a sub-grid with 10segments along a boundary. The two sub-grids are first created from a 20 × 16 zone grid by nullingzones to separate the sub-grids (using the procedure described in Section 1.2.3). The sub-grids areshown in Figure 1.25. The A-side for the attached boundaries is assigned to the top boundary ofthe lower sub-grid (10 segments), and the B-side is assigned to the bottom boundary of the uppersub-grid (20 segments), as shown in Figure 1.25. The attached gridpoints between the two sub-gridsare identified by connecting yellow lines, as shown in Figure 1.26, when Assign is pressed. After theAttach tool is executed, the Shape tool is used to move the two sub-grids together. The upper sub-gridis positioned on top of the lower sub-grid by using the Range mode. Figure 1.27 shows the uppersub-grid highlighted with its bottom left corner relocated to the position of the top right corner ofthe lower sub-grid. (The <Ctrl> key is held to snap the upper sub-grid corner to the location ofthe lower sub-grid corner.) Figure 1.28 shows the final position of the upper sub-grid after all fourcorners are relocated.

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Figure 1.25 Two sub-grids with unequal boundary segments

Figure 1.26 Attached gridpoints identified by yellow marks and connectinglines using the Attach tool

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Figure 1.27 Moving corner gridpoints of the upper sub-grid using the Range

mode in the Shape tool

Figure 1.28 Final position of two attached sub-grids with unequal boundarysegments

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Note that it does not matter whether the sub-grids are moved together first and then attached(Figures 1.22 through 1.23), or attached first and then moved together (Figures 1.25 through 1.28).However, the directions in which the A-side and B-side of the attached grid are defined does matter.If the B-side of the upper sub-grid is specified by dragging the mouse in the direction opposite tothat for the A-side of the lower sub-grid, the attached gridpoints will not be coincident when thesub-grids are moved together. This can easily be seen when the sub-grids are apart initially becausethe yellow connecting lines will cross. If this happens, press Reset in the Attach tool and re-assignthe A-side and B-side in the same direction.

The ability to match unequal grids provides more flexibility in creating graded meshes. It isconvenient to use the Build / Radial tool to create a radially-graded grid to provide the boundaryconditions for a single tunnel. However, it is difficult to extend this approach to multiple tunnelsthat interact with each other. As an alternative approach, it is possible to insert and completelyattach several fine-zone sub-grids within voids in a coarse-zone sub-grid. In this way, a grid can beconstructed in which each tunnel has its own fine grid for good local accuracy, while the interactionsand boundary conditions make use of a coarse grid.

Figure 1.29 shows an initial grid divided into one large sub-grid, containing three regions of nullzones, plus three smaller, 16 × 16 zone, sub-grids. (See Section 1.2.3 for the procedure to createthe null-zone regions.) The Shape tool in Range mode is used to move each of the three sub-gridsinto the null-zone regions of the large sub-grid. Figure 1.30 shows this operation in progress. Notethat the <Ctrl> key is pressed when each sub-grid corner is dragged so that the corner will besnapped onto the corresponding corner of the null-zone region. Also, note that the integral ratio ofthe boundaries between the smaller sub-grid and the larger sub-grid is 2:1.

After the three subgrids are repositioned inside the larger sub-grid, they are attached to the largersub-grid using the Attach tool. The attachment is done in two steps for each of the three smallsub-grids. First, the A-side is assigned along the bottom and right side of the boundary of the largesub-grid, and the B-side is assigned along the bottom and right side of the adjacent small sub-grid,as shown by the red and blue bars in Figure 1.31.* Note that when the B-side is assigned, theblue bar may switch from the bottom and right-side of the sub-grid to the left-side and top of thesub-grid. In order to change the path direction, check the B-long box, as shown in Figure 1.31. Afterclicking Assign , the procedure is repeated to attach the left-side and top boundaries, see Figure 1.32.The two-step procedure is repeated to attach all three sub-grids inside the large sub-grid. The resultis shown in Figure 1.33.

Tunnels can now be defined within the three fine-grid regions, using the Shape tool. See Example 3.18in Section 3.5 in Theory and Background for a comparison of this model to that for a model createdwith a uniform grid, using the same mesh size throughout as that for the fine-zone region.

* The View / Zoom box menu item is selected to magnify the view of one of the small sub-grids shownin Figures 1.31 and 1.32 to facilitate the use of the Attach tool.

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Figure 1.29 Initial grid divided into large sub-grid with null-zone regions plusthree separate sub-grids

Figure 1.30 Moving sub-grids using the Shape tool in Range mode

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Figure 1.31 Attaching the bottom and right-side boundaries of a sub-gridinside a sub-grid using the Attach tool

Figure 1.32 Attaching the left-side and top boundaries of a sub-grid inside asub-grid using the Attach tool

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Figure 1.33 Three fine-zone sub-grids attached to a coarse sub-grid

1.2.2.4 Interface Tool

An interface between two sub-grids is created in the same manner as an attached grid. An A-side andB-side of the interface are defined by left-clicking and dragging the mouse along the boundariesof the sub-grids that will be assigned an interface. This operation is performed in the Interface

tool. Figure 1.34 illustrates the creation of an interface beginning with the two sub-grids shownpreviously in Figure 1.22. When the Assign button is pressed, an Interface properties dialog opensso that the interface type and properties can be prescribed. See Sections 4.2 and 4.4 in Theory andBackground for information on the interface material model and selection of properties. WhenOK is pressed in the dialog, a white line is drawn along the boundary to denote the location ofthe interface, with white marks indicating the locations of interface nodes. An identification (ID)number circle at one end of the interface identifies the interface. See Figure 1.35. An INTERFACEcommand is created, as shown in the Changes pane in this figure. Note that interface creation doesnot have the same restriction as an attached grid on non-matching gridpoints between sub-grids.An integral ratio between gridpoint segments along the boundaries is not required.

Interface properties can be changed at any stage of a model analysis by first clicking on the Property

radio button in the Interface tool and then pointing and clicking the mouse on the ID number circlein the Interface tool grid plot. This will cause the Interface properties dialog to re-open so thatproperties can be changed.

An interface can also allow interaction between beam elements and a grid. The procedure to createan interface between a beam and grid is described in Section 1.2.5.3.

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Figure 1.34 Creating an interface with the Interface tool

Figure 1.35 Interface identified by white line with marks and ID number

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1.2.3 Material Tools

Material models and properties are assigned to the FLAC model using the Material tools. By default,only two tools are provided: Assign and Cut&Fill . These tools are sufficient for simple static analysesand use only the null, isotropic elastic and Mohr-Coulomb models.

Default material tools

If the GWFlow box is checked in the Model Options dialog, a GWProp tool is added to the Material toolbar. This allows the assignment of groundwater flow properties associated with CONFIG gw.

Default material tools plus groundwater properties tool

If the Include Advanced Constitutive Models? box is checked in the Model Options dialog, then two additionaltools, Model and Property , are made available to implement the advanced constitutive models andproperty variations. Note that if FLAC is configured to include the optional creep-analysis feature,the Include Advanced Constitutive Models? box must be checked in order for the Creep option to be invokedin the Model Options dialog. Creep material models will then be available through the Model tool.

Material tools with advanced constitutive models

If FLAC is configured to include either the thermal-analysis option or the C++ user-defined modeloption, the Include Advanced Constitutive Models? box must be checked to access the Thermal and/or C++ UDMs

check boxes in the Model Options dialog. When these options are invoked, a Thermal tool and LoadModel

tool are added to the Material tool bar.

Material tools with advanced constitutive models plus options forthermal analysis and C++ user-defined models

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1.2.3.1 Assign Tool

The Assign tool is used to create and assign null, isotropic elastic and Mohr-Coulomb materials tozones within the grid. The tool is shown in Figure 1.36.

Figure 1.36 Assign tool

Elastic and Mohr-Coulomb materials are created via a Define Material dialog that is opened bypressing the Create button in the Edit pane of the Assign tool. After the material is created, thematerial name is added to a material List pane in the tool. Materials are then assigned to zonesby first clicking the mouse on a material name in the material List to highlight the name and thenselecting the method in which that material is assigned to zones. Four ways are available to assigna material to zones:

(1) If all zones in the model are to have the same material, click the SetAll button below thematerial List in the Assign tool.

(2) If you wish to assign the material to one zone at a time, click the Rectangle radio button inthe Zone Range mode pane in the upper-right corner of the tool, and then point and clickthe mouse on the zone(s) to be assigned that material.

(3) In order to assign a material to a layer of zones, click the Layer radio button, and left-clickand drag the mouse over one zone in each layer of zones to be assigned the material.

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(4) By clicking the Region radio button, a white line will be drawn around all defined regionsin the model. Point and click the mouse over any zone within the region to assign thematerial to all zones within that region.

When the FLAC grid is first created with one of the Build tools, an isotropic-elastic model (MODELelastic) is automatically assigned to all the non-null zones in the grid.* When you first enter theAssign tool, the null material is the only material available to be assigned, and is listed in the materialList pane, as shown in Figure 1.36. Null zones can then be added to the grid using method (2), (3)or (4) described above. For example, a column of null zones is created to separate two sub-grids,as shown in Figure 1.36, by checking the Rectangle radio button and then holding the left buttonand dragging the mouse over the column of zones to be made null. This is the approach to definesub-grids, as discussed previously for the creation of attached grids (Section 1.2.2.3) and interfaces(Section 1.2.2.4).

New elastic or Mohr-Coulomb materials are created in the Define Material dialog. Figure 1.37shows the Define Material dialog, opened in the Assign tool by pressing the Create button. Withinthis dialog, you can assign a classification and material name, prescribe elastic or Mohr-Coulombconstitutive model type and assign material properties. The classification name is used to helpidentify materials within a Material Database; the database is described below in Section 1.2.3.2.If only a few materials are prescribed for a model, then the classification may not be needed and canbe left blank. The dialog in Figure 1.37 creates a “silty sand” material and assigns a Mohr-Coulombmaterial model with elastic and plastic properties. Note that the dialog provides the option to assigneither bulk and shear moduli or elastic (Young’s) modulus and Poisson’s ratio. The alternativeelastic properties are calculated when the Alternate box is checked.

Figure 1.37 Define Material dialog in the Assign tool

* Note that a model created with one of the Build tools can consist of null-material zones as wellas elastic-material zones. You can distinguish the null and elastic zones in a model by switchingthe model view from “x − y space” to “i − j space.” This is done by right-clicking the mouse inthe model view to open the model-view pop-up menu (see Section 1.4.1.1) and then checking theIJ Space menu item. The model view will switch to i − j space and any null zones will be visible.

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When OK is pressed, the material is created and the material name is added to the material List.Clone and Edit buttons are provided in the Assign tool in order to facilitate creation and modificationof several materials. A Delete button is also available to delete a material from the material list.

After all materials required for the model have been created, they can be assigned to the grid, usingmethods (1), (2), (3) or (4), described above. Figure 1.38 illustrates the assignment of two materialsin three layers in a model, using method (3) with the Layer radio button.

Figure 1.38 Assign materials using the Layer mode

When a material is assigned, a GROUP command is created to associate a group name with amaterial, aMODEL command is created to prescribe the selected constitutive model, and aPROPERTYcommand is created to assign the associated material properties. The commands are listed in theChanges pane in Figure 1.38.

1.2.3.2 Material Database

A material database is provided with the Assign tool and is accessed by pressing the Database buttonin the lower-right corner of the tool. The database contains a list of pre-defined materials basedon the material properties tables contained in Section 3.7 in the User’s Guide. The database listis stored with the preference settings in the “STARTUP.GPF” file. The database is divided intomaterial groups and listed in a collapsible tree structure, as shown in Figure 1.39. In order to selecta material from the database, point and click on the material name in the list and then press the Add

button. The material name will be added to the Selection pane shown on the left side of the dialog.For example, the material Soil-Gravel:uniform has been selected in Figure 1.39.

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After you have selected the material(s) you wish to use in your model, press OK and the materialsin the Selection pane will be added to the material List in the Assign tool. These materials can thenbe assigned to zones using the same procedures described previously.

Figure 1.39 Material database dialog

You can modify the materials in the pre-defined database, or create your own database. Click onthe Edit tab at the top of the database dialog to open the material edit pane for the selected material.For example, Figure 1.40 shows the edit pane for the Soil-Gravel:uniform material. This dialog isidentical to the Define Material dialog shown previously in Figure 1.37.

Figure 1.40 Edit tab in the material database dialog

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If you make changes to a material in the Edit tool, press Apply at the bottom of the tool, and thematerial will be updated. The Create and Clone buttons at the bottom of the Selection pane are usedto create new materials to add to the database. Copy->Database adds the material to the database underthe specified classification name. The material is deleted from the Selection pane using the Delete

button.

The Save , Append and Load buttons beneath the material tree (in Figure 1.39) are used to save-to-file,append to, or load-from-file the database that you create. The Remove button allows you to deletematerials from the database. A user-created database is given the extension “.GMT” when it issaved in a selected directory using the Save button.

1.2.3.3 Cut&Fill Tool

The Cut&Fill tool is used, in conjunction with the Assign tool, for the case in which either elasticor Mohr-Coulomb material is added to the model (fill material) or subtracted from the model(excavated material) during different stages of the analysis — e.g., adding embankment lifts in theconstruction of an earth dam. Note that this tool only applies to elastic or Mohr-Coulomb materialscreated with the Assign tool. The Cut&Fill tool cannot be used, at this time, with advanced materialmodels assigned with the Model tool. The tool is shown in Figure 1.41.

Figure 1.41 Cut&Fill tool

After materials are created in the Assign tool, these materials will be listed in the List pane of theCut&Fill tool, as shown in Figure 1.41. A material is excavated by highlighting the material namein the material List and then clicking on the Excavate button in the bottom right corner of the tool.

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Alternatively, you can right-click the mouse over the material in the model view; a dialog will thenopen and you can click on Excavate in the dialog. If the Show excavations? box is checked, a shadedregion will be shown in the model view to help identify which materials have been excavated.

In order to fill an excavated region, highlight the excavated material name in List and click on Fill .You can also right-click the mouse over the excavated material to open the dialog and click Fill . InFigure 1.41, four materials (Layer 1 through Layer 4) have been excavated, and Layer 1 has beenfilled. The associated MODEL commands are listed in the Changes pane in the Cut&Fill tool whenthe material is either excavated or filled. Note that all material regions in the FLAC grid must bedefined before the FLAC calculation is started. If materials are to be added at a later stage of ananalysis, they can be nulled (excavated) before beginning the calculation and then added (filled) atthe later stage.

1.2.3.4 GWProp Tool

The GWProp tool is used to set the porosity and permeability properties for the groundwater-flowconfiguration (when CONFIG gw is specified). The tool is shown in Figure 1.42. Zones are selectedto assign the groundwater properties in one of four ways, as described previously in Section 1.2.3.1.After the zone selection is made, a Model Groundwater properties dialog will open, as shownin Figure 1.42. Either constant values for porosity and (isotropic or anisotropic) permeability, orvalues that vary as a function of volumetric strain can be specified. See the PROPERTY command inSection 1 in the Command Reference for a description of the porosity and permeability properties.

Figure 1.42 GWProp tool

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1.2.3.5 Model Tool

All material constitutive models are available through the GIIC if the Include Advanced Constitutive Models?

box is checked in the Models Options dialog. Note that this option can be turned on at any stage ofthe FLAC analysis. When this box is checked, the Model and Property buttons are added to the Material

tool bar. The Model tool is shown in Figure 1.43.

Figure 1.43 Model tool

The constitutive models are divided into seven groups and accessed by clicking on one of the radiobuttons: Null , Elastic , Plastic , Creep , Dynamic , User Fish or User C++ . Note that the Creep button, the Dynamic

button and the User C++ button will only be visible if the creep-analysis mode, the dynamic-analysismode or the C++ user-defined model mode, respectively, is checked in the Model Options dialog.The User Fish button will be activated whenever a FISH constitutive model is called into FLAC. (SeeSection 1.2.3.7 for information on implementing FISH constitutive models in FLAC.) Figure 1.43shows the Model tool with all constitutive models available, except for the C++ user-defined models.(See Section 1.2.3.8 for information on implementing C++ user-defined models.)

When you check one of the radio buttons, a list of constitutive models will be shown in the bottomright corner of the Model tool. For example, the Plastic radio button is checked and seven plasticitymodels are listed in Figure 1.43.

In order to assign a constitutive model to the FLAC grid, first click the mouse on one of the modelsin the list to highlight the model name. The ubiquitous-joint model is selected by highlightingubiquitous in Figure 1.43. A constitutive model is assigned to zones in a FLAC model in one of

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four ways, as explained previously in Section 1.2.3.1. When the selection is made (for example, bypressing SetAll to assign the model to all zones), a properties dialog will open to enter propertiesfor the model. The Model ubiquitous properties dialog is shown in Figure 1.43. After enteringthe properties in the dialog, press OK and a MODEL and PROPERTY command will be created andshown in the Changes pane. A group name can be associated with the constitutive model for theselected zone range. Note that the group name must be assigned before the zone range is selected.For example, the group name bedded shale is associated with the ubiquitous-joint model beforeSetAll is pressed. A GROUP command is, then, also created when OK is pressed in the propertiesdialog. After all constitutive models have been assigned to the FLAC grid, press Execute to send thecommands to FLAC and return to the main window. The model-view pane will be updated to showthe assigned constitutive models.

1.2.3.6 Property Tool

The Property tool accesses all material properties associated with the constitutive models provided inthe Model tool. Material properties can be prescribed individually for each zone in a model or over aregion of zones. A linear variation of the property over a given range can also be prescribed, and thevalues of the property can be chosen randomly from a normal (Gaussian) distribution. Figure 1.44shows the Property tool. The cohesion property, used in the ubiquitous-joint model, is highlighted,and the SetAll button is pressed. This causes a dialog to open to specify a value and optional variationfor the cohesion property. A spatial variation in the y-direction is given for cohesion in Figure 1.44.When OK is pressed, a PROPERTY command with a var keyword is created. (See Section 1.1.3.4 inthe Command Reference for the definition of var to apply a spatial variation.) See the PROPERTYcommand description in Section 1 in the Command Reference for descriptions of the differentways material properties can be varied.

After the property change or variation has been made, press Execute to send the PROPERTY com-mand(s) to FLAC. If you wish to confirm the action taken with the PROPERTY command, return tothe Property tool, highlight the property in question, and press the Plot values button. A contour plotof the selected property will appear in the model-view of the Property tool. Figure 1.45 shows thecontour plot of cohesion corresponding to the variation assigned in Figure 1.44.

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Figure 1.44 Property tool

Figure 1.45 Plot of variation in cohesion

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1.2.3.7 FISH Constitutive Models

FISH constitutive models are implemented in FLAC using either the FISH Editor or the Utility / FishLib

tool. See Section 1.5 for information on creating and executing a FISH function using the FISHEditor. Section 1.2.6.4 describes the implementation of FISH functions from the FishLib tool.

For example, the following steps are recommended if you wish to make the hyperbolic Duncan-Chang constitutive model (see “MDUNCAN.FIS” in the FISH library in Section 3 in Theoryand Background) available in the FishLib tool. First, call into the FISH Editor the FISH file“MDUNCAN.FIS” from the “ITASCA\FLAC\FISH\Library” directory. Add any notes you wishto the file, and then save the file in the “ITASCA\FLAC\GUI\Fishlib” directory. You may wishto make a separate sub-directory (e.g., “\ConstitutiveModels”) to store FISH constitutive modelsin the FishLib library. When you press the Refresh button in the FishLib tool, the library list will beupdated to include the name of this file, as shown in Figure 1.46.

Figure 1.46 “MDUNCAN.FIS” model added to FishLib library

The Duncan-Chang model can now be loaded into FLAC by pressing the OK button in the FishLib

tool. Once the model is loaded, the User Fish radio button is added to the Model tool. The FISH modelcan now be applied to the FLAC grid and material properties assigned in the same manner as thatfor the built-in models, as described in Section 1.2.3.5. Figure 1.47 shows the Model m duncanproperties dialog opened to assign properties for this FISH constitutive model.

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Figure 1.47 User Fish button added to Model tool

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1.2.3.8 LoadModel Tool

The LoadModel tool is added to the Material tool bar when the CPP UDMs box is checked in the ModelOptions dialog. This tool is used to load user-defined models, written in C++ and compiled as DLL(dynamic link library) files, into FLAC. See Section 4 in Optional Features for instructions oncreating new constitutive models for FLAC. Once you have created a new model as a DLL, pressthe LoadModel button to open a dialog and load the model into FLAC. Select the directory in which theDLL file is located, and click on the DLL filename. This will create a MODEL load command andload the model into the FLAC executable. The new model can then be assigned to zones in FLAC inexactly the same way as the built-in models. For example, Figure 1.48 shows the Model tool after auser-defined model, usermohr.dll, has been loaded. When the model is assigned to zones, a Modeldll usermohr properties: dialog opens, as shown in the figure, to enter properties for this model.

Note that Version 4.1 of FLAC must be used to implement the CPP UDMs optional feature. See Section 4in Optional Features for details.

Figure 1.48 User C++ models added from LoadModel tool

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1.2.3.9 Thermal Tool

The Thermal tool is added to the Material tool bar when the Thermal box is checked in the Model Optionsdialog. The tool is shown in Figure 1.49. This tool assigns thermal models to a FLAC grid. Themodels (thermal null, isotropic heat conduction, anisotropic heat conduction and isotropic heatconduction with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity) are shown in the Thermal Tool liston the right side of the Thermal tool. If the groundwater-flow configuration is set ( GWFlow checked inthe Model Options dialog), then thermal-GW is added to the Thermal Tool list. In order to assign athermal model to the FLAC grid, highlight the model name in the Thermal Tool list, and then useone of the four methods, discussed in Section 1.2.3.1, to assign the model to specific zones. Afterthe zones are selected, a dialog will open to enter properties corresponding to the chosen thermalmodel. For example, in Figure 1.49 the Model th isotropic properties: dialog is shown to assignproperties for the isotropic heat conduction model.

Figure 1.49 Thermal tool

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1.2.4 In Situ Tools

The In Situ tools assign boundary conditions and initial conditions to the FLAC model. Thereare four tools to assign these conditions. The Apply tool and the Fix tool set boundary conditionsalong the boundary of the model. The Interior tool prescribes an unchanging condition to interiorgridpoints or zones. The Initial tool assigns initial conditions to gridpoints or zones; conditionscan change during the solution process with this tool.

1.2.4.1 Apply Tool

The Apply tool assigns boundary conditions to the FLAC model. The types of boundary conditionsare listed in the B. C. types pane, an expandable tree structure on the right side of the tool, asshown in Figure 1.50. The boundary conditions are divided into six groups: Stress, Velocity, Force,Dynamic, Groundwater and Thermal. The Dynamic, Groundwater and Thermal groups will onlybe visible if the dynamic-analysis mode, the groundwater-flow mode or the thermal-analysis mode,respectively, is checked in the Model Options dialog.

Figure 1.50 Apply tool

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In order to assign a boundary condition, first click and highlight the name of the selected conditionin the B. C. types list. For example, pressure is highlighted in the Stress group in Figure 1.50. Afterhighlighting the condition, click and drag the mouse along the boundary on which the condition isto be applied. A red bar will appear with a red circle denoting the starting gridpoint for the appliedcondition. Next, press the Assign button, which opens an Assign value dialog. Enter the value forthe boundary condition and then press OK to create the APPLY command.

An optional spatial variation can be prescribed in the Assign value dialog when the Variation box ischecked. The spatial variation is assigned using the relation given by Eq. (3.2) in Section 3.3.1.1in the User’s Guide. If a spatial variation is assigned, an arrow will appear along the selectedboundary; the arrow points in the direction of the most positive value. For example, a variationin the y-direction is specified for the xx-stress component in Figure 1.51. The arrow is pointingupward in this figure because the stress varies from a value of -100 at the bottom of the model tozero at the top. (Recall that negative stresses indicate compression.)

Figure 1.51 Spatial variation in the boundary condition value assigned withthe Apply tool

A history multiplier can also be specified for the boundary condition value in order to apply a time-varying boundary condition. The multiplier can be given as a FISH function, an input history or aninput table. The boundary-condition value in the Value box (or adjusted by the X-Y Variation) inthe Assign value dialog is multiplied by the history multiplier. If a FISH function is the multiplier,then the function must first be called into FLAC. See Section 1.5 for instructions on using the FISHEditor to create and execute FISH functions in the GIIC. If the multiplier is an input history, thehistory file must be formatted in the form described for the HISTORY read command as given in

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Section 1 in the Command Reference. If the multiplier is an input table, then the table must beformatted in the form described for the TABLE command as given in Section 1 in the CommandReference. See Section 1.2.6.2 for instructions on creating a table. The input history and inputtable only apply for the dynamic-analysis option.

Figure 1.52 illustrates the specification of an input history as a multiplier. A file, “ACC1.HIS,” isan acceleration record formatted as described for the HISTORY read command. The History radiobutton is pressed in the Multiplier pane of the Assign value dialog. The ? button is then pressedto locate the directory in which the “ACC1.HIS” file is located. When this file is selected, it isassigned a history number, and a HISTORY read command is created. This command is then sent toFLAC and the history file is read into the code. By pressing OK in the Assign value dialog, an APPLYcommand is created with the hist keyword. Finally, when Execute is pressed in the Apply dialog, theAPPLY command is sent to FLAC and the GIIC returns to the main window. The HISTORY read andAPPLY commands are now listed in the resource pane.

Figure 1.52 History multiplier assigned with the Apply tool

Note that the form of the boundary path (short, long or both) can be selected, and the apply conditioncan be removed in the Apply tool. Also, note that a Free-Field button is provided to assign a free-fieldboundary condition for dynamic analysis.

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1.2.4.2 Fix Tool

With the Fix tool, velocity, pore pressure, saturation and temperature (and non-wetting pore pressureand seepage for two-phase flow analysis) can be prevented from changing at selected gridpoints.This tool is typically used to set mechanical, groundwater or thermal boundary conditions for amodel. For example, if a fixed displacement (i.e., roller or pinned) boundary condition is required,the appropriate velocities are first initialized (using the Initial tool; note that zero velocity is thedefault on start-up) and then the selected boundary gridpoints are fixed to prevent movement.Figure 1.53 shows the Fix tool.

Figure 1.53 Fix tool

In order to fix a condition, select the corresponding radio button (e.g., in Figure 1.53 the X&Y gridpointvelocity radio button is selected). Then left-click and drag the mouse over the gridpoints to be fixed.A white circle will appear as the mouse passes over the gridpoint, and a letter designation will appearwhen the mouse button is released. In Figure 1.53, the letter “B” is shown, which designates thatthe gridpoint is fixed in both the x- and y-directions. A FIX command will also be created and listedin the Changes pane. Press Execute to send the FIX command(s) to FLAC. A SetMarked GP button andSet All GP button are provided to apply the fixity condition to multiple gridpoints. A fixity conditioncan also be removed in this tool by first selecting the Free radio button and then dragging the mouseover the gridpoints to be “freed.”

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1.2.4.3 Initial Tool

Certain gridpoint or zone variables can be assigned initial values using the Initial tool. The gridpointvariables and zone variables are grouped separately in expandable tree lists on the right-hand sideof the tool; the gridpoint list is shown in Figure 1.54 and the zone list is shown in Figure 1.55.In order to assign initial values to a selected variable, first highlight the variable name in the list.Next, press the left mouse button and drag the mouse over the gridpoints (or zones) that are tobe assigned initial values. For example, in Figure 1.54, gridpoint pore pressure* is selected byhighlighting pp, and the mouse is dragged over the lower seven rows of gridpoints; these gridpointsare then highlighted with white boxes. Now, press the Assign button. This opens a dialog to inputthe initial value. Several options are available in this dialog to assign initial values. In order toassign a pore pressure distribution that increases with depth, check the Variation box and enter thevariation according to Eq. (3.2) in Section 3.3.1.1 in the User’s Guide. When a spatial variation isassigned, an arrow will appear over the selected gridpoints; the arrow points in the direction of themost positive value. A downward arrow is shown in Figure 1.54 for the variation specified in thedialog. This corresponds to an increasing pore pressure with depth in the model.

Figure 1.54 Assigning gridpoint values with the Initial tool

Note that if a variable is to be assigned initial values for all gridpoints in the model, press Assign

immediately after highlighting the variable name. It is not necessary to drag the mouse over all the

* Note that gridpoint pore pressures are initialized when GWFlow is selected in the Model Options dialog.When GWFlow is not selected, then pore pressures are initialized as zone quantities.

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gridpoints. Also, note that once the gridpoints are selected to initialize one variable, those gridpointsand the selected value and variation will be remembered for the next variable assignment.

Assigning an initial value for zone variables is performed in the same way as for gridpoint variables.In this case, zones are highlighted when the mouse is dragged across the model, as shown inFigure 1.55. This figures illustrates the assignment of a yy-stress distribution, ranging from -107 atthe bottom of the model to zero at the top. The variation is prescribed in accordance with Eq. (3.2)in Section 3.3.1.1 in the User’s Guide. The arrow now points upward in the direction of the mostpositive value.

Two additional radio buttons are provided on the dialog in the Initial tool. The Add button allowsthe specified value, including the variation given, to be added to the existing values at the selectedgridpoints or zones. The Mul button allows the existing value at the gridpoint or zone to be multipliedby the specified value (including any variations).

When the OK button is pressed in the dialog, an INITIAL command (with optional add or multiplykeywords) is added to the Changes pane. These commands are then sent to FLAC when Execute ispressed.

Figure 1.55 Assigning zone values with the Initial tool

After you have assigned initial values in the FLAC model, you can return to the Initial tool andcheck this assignment. By highlighting the variable name and then pressing Plot values , a contourplot of the values assigned for that variable will be plotted. For example, Figure 1.56 shows thepore pressure contours for the distribution assigned previously in Figure 1.54.

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Figure 1.56 Checking assigned values with Plot values in the Initial tool

A Displmt & Velocity button is also provided in the bottom right corner of this tool. Press this but-ton whenever you wish to initialize displacements and velocities in a model. This creates twocommands: INITIAL xdisp 0 ydisp 0 and INITIAL xvel 0 yvel 0 to send to FLAC.

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1.2.4.4 Interior Tool

The Interior tool is used to apply mechanical, groundwater and thermal conditions to any interiorgridpoint or zone in the model. Note that these are fixed conditions within the model. The gridpointinterior conditions and zone interior conditions are grouped separately in expandable tree lists onthe right-hand side of the tool; the gridpoint list is shown in Figure 1.57 and the zone list is shownin Figure 1.58. The application is similar to that for the APPLY tool. Highlight the interior conditionto be applied and then left-click and drag the mouse over the selected gridpoints or zones to applythe condition. Then press Assign to open a dialog to assign the value for the interior condition.Figure 1.57 illustrates the application of an x-acceleration at one gridpoint in the model, andFigure 1.58 shows the application of a groundwater well over two zones. Note that the dialog isidentical to that for the APPLY tool. In Figure 1.57, the acceleration is applied with a history multiplier.In Figure 1.58, the well is applied with a time-varying FISH function. See the discussion for theAPPLY tool in Section 1.2.4.1 for use of the history and FISH multipliers.

Figure 1.57 Interior tool

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Figure 1.58 Interior tool

1.2.5 Structure Tools

The Structure tools define the geometry, properties, and element and nodal conditions for structuralelements. These tools are activated when the Include Structural Elements? box is checked in the ModelOptions dialog. Note that the Structure tool tab can be activated at any time in an analysis; click onFile / Model options to open the Model Options dialog and activate the Structure tools. There areseven Structure tools. Four tools, Beam , Beam+ , Cable and Pile are used to define the geometry of thestructural elements. The Segment tool sets conditions for structural element segments, and the Node

tool sets conditions for structural element nodes. The SEProp tool assigns properties to the structuralelements.

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1.2.5.1 Beam Tool

The Beam tool creates beam elements. Beams are added to the FLAC model by positioning andleft-clicking the mouse at locations corresponding to the endpoints of the beam. A beam is created,defined by one segment and two nodes, when the mouse is pressed, dragged and released. Eachnode, by default, is positioned in x-y space, and a STRUCTURE node n x y command is generatedwhen the mouse is clicked. Alternatively, if the mouse is positioned directly over a gridpoint and the<Ctrl> key is pressed, then the node will be rigidly attached to the gridpoint, and a STRUCTUREnode n grid i j command will be generated when the mouse is clicked. Figure 1.59 shows thecreation of six beam nodes rigidly attached to gridpoints. Note that the nodes are shown as whiteboxes and an “x” is drawn in the box if it is rigidly attached to the gridpoint. Beams can also becreated using the newInput button.

It is possible to change the attachment condition of the node by right-clicking the mouse over thenode. This opens a Node Parameters dialog that allows you to change the node condition to eitherfree or Attach to grid , depending on the radio button selected. The dialog is shown in Figure 1.59.

By default, one beam segment is created between beam node endpoints. The Segments box can beused to create additional segments. Note that if more than one segment is created, additional nodeswill be created between the end-nodes, and these nodes will not be connected to the grid.

When Execute is pressed, a series of STRUCTURE node commands are sent to FLAC, followed by aseries of STRUCTURE beam begin node n1 end node n2 prop 1001 commands which connect allbeam nodes to create the beams. The property identification number 1001 is assigned, by default,to the beam.

Figure 1.59 Beam tool

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Beam property ID numbers can be assigned by checking the PropID radio button. An identificationnumber, “B1,” will then be displayed over each beam segment, as shown in Figure 1.60. “B1”corresponds to beam property identification number 1001. By clicking on an identification number,a dialog will open to assign a new number. Identification numbers are added sequentially — e.g.,“B2” corresponds to ID 1002, “B3” to 1003, etc.

Multiple beams can be created and connected together, or connected to existing beams or piles.If you press the left mouse button over an existing beam or pile node, in order to create a newbeam, the existing node will be defined as an end-node for the new beam. Beam nodes cannot beconnected to existing cable nodes.

By default, moments develop at nodes connecting multiple beam segments. A pin connection (i.e.,free moment) can be established at a node by checking the Pin radio button. Then, by clicking onthe node to be pinned, a blue arrow will be drawn, indicating a pin connection, and a STRUCT noden pin command will be created. Note that structural moments are not transmitted to gridpoints;thus a beam connected to the grid is pin-jointed to the gridpoint at each connection point.

Nodes can be moved and beams can be deleted by checking the Move and Delete radio buttons,respectively. If individual beam segments are to be deleted, the Structure / Segment tool must be used.All beam operations can be removed by pressing the Clear button.

Figure 1.60 Beam tool — assigning property identification numbers

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It is important to remember that all of the actions performed in the Beam tool only apply to thecurrently created beam(s). These actions result in STRUCTURE commands that are sent to FLACwhen the Execute button is pressed. It is not possible to return to the Beam tool and perform operationson previously created beams. The only exception is that you can create a new beam and connectthe new end-node to a previously created beam or pile node.

1.2.5.2 Beam+ Tool

The Beam+ tool is similar to the Beam tool, with the additional feature that allows a series of beamscreated along grid boundaries to have all beam nodes either directly attached to gridpoints orconnected to the grid via an interface, automatically. This feature facilitates, for example, thecreation of tunnel liners and retaining walls.

In order to rigidly attach the beam nodes to gridpoints, first check the Attach nodes to grid radio button.Then, press and hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse along the gridpoints to be connectedto the beam elements. A yellow bar will appear defining the path along which the beams will becreated. When the button is released, white boxes with “x” marks will be shown over the gridpointsattached to beam nodes. If the Long box is checked, the beam nodes will be created and attachedalong the entire boundary when the mouse is pressed over one gridpoint on the boundary. Forexample, in Figure 1.61 a beam-element lining is installed along the boundary of the circular tunnelby selecting the Long check box and clicking on one gridpoint on the tunnel boundary.

Figure 1.61 Connecting beams rigidly to the grid using the Beam+ tool

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Note that by using the Long mode and left-clicking and dragging the mouse over the gridpoints thatwill not be attached to beams, it is easier to assign beams to a large portion of the boundary. Forexample, if the lining is only to be placed along the walls and roof of a tunnel, press the Long boxand drag the mouse along the floor gridpoints. These gridpoints will then not be included when thebeam elements are created.

If the Attach nodes to an interface radio button is selected, an interface will be created between the beamelements and the grid boundary when the beams are created. Beams are created in the same manneras described above for the rigid connection to the grid. This time, when the mouse button is released,an Interface properties dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.62, and the interface properties can beentered. This dialog is the same as that described in Section 1.2.2.4. When the beam with interfaceconnection is executed, INTERFACE commands will be generated in addition to the STRUCT beamcommands.

Connection of beams to the grid via an interface is very straightforward in the Beam+ tool. However,the procedure to connect beams to grids using an interface involves several steps and is describedin detail in the following section, Section 1.2.5.3.

Figure 1.62 Connecting beams to the grid with an interface using the Beam+

tool

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1.2.5.3 Connecting Beams to Grids using an Interface

Beams can interact with the grid or with other beams by placing an interface between the beam andthe grid or between two beams. For example, the recommended approach to simulate a retaining wallis to represent the wall by beam elements with the soil/wall interaction represented by an interface.This model can be created easily by using the Beam+ tool, as described in Section 1.2.5.2. However,there are several steps involved and rules that must be followed in order for the connection to workproperly. The procedure to create the retaining wall manually is outlined below, in Figures 1.63through 1.65, for reference purposes in the event an interface connection is required that the Beam+

tool cannot address.

The wall is first created in the Beam tool as a beam with seven segments located as shown inFigure 1.63. Note that the end-nodes of the beam are positioned at the same locations as thegridpoints at the top and bottom of the wall; however, the nodes are not connected to the gridpoints.

Figure 1.63 Create wall as beam elements in Beam tool

After creating the wall with beam elements, the soil/wall interface is created in the Alter / Interface

tool. Note that the connection of the structural element nodes to the interface nodes is orderdependent. The “active” side of the beam elements is on the left of the direction in which theinterface nodes are assigned. In other words, the contacting grid must be approaching from theleft. In this example, the A-side of the interface is attached to the beam nodes. In Figure 1.64, theA-side and Beam radio buttons are checked, and the mouse is clicked and dragged from the top beamnode to the bottom beam node. A blue circle will appear over the beam segments as the mouse isdragged along the beam to indicate that the beam is being connected to the interface. When the

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mouse button is released, a red hatched pattern will appear on one side of the beam elements; thisindicates the active side of the beam. (Note that the direction of the active side can be reversed bypressing the Reverse Beam button.)

Figure 1.64 Attach A-side of interface to beam nodes in the Interface tool

The B-side is connected to the grid by checking the B-side and Grid buttons and clicking and draggingthe mouse from the top gridpoint to the bottom gridpoint that will be interacting with the beam. Ablue bar will appear along the grid when the mouse button is released, as shown in Figure 1.65.Finally, press the Assign button to assign interface properties and then Execute to send the createdINTERFACE commands to FLAC.

If the wall is embedded on both sides within the grid (e.g., an embedded sheetpile wall), theninterfaces must be attached to both sides of the beam element. The same procedure to attach theinterface between the beam nodes and the gridpoints is followed as before. Remember that theactive side of the beam is reversed when the second interface is connected. It is recommended thatthe Build / Library tool, Retaining wall, 2 interfaces, be used as a template to create a model with anembedded wall.

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Figure 1.65 Attach B-side of interface to gridpoints in the Interface tool

1.2.5.4 Cable Tool

The creation of cable elements is performed in the same manner as beam elements. Cables areadded to the FLAC model by positioning and left-clicking the mouse at locations correspondingto the endpoints of the cable. A cable is created, defined by two end-nodes, when the mouse ispressed, dragged and released. By default, each node is positioned in x-y space, and the cableconsists of 10 segments. It is recommended that the number of segments be chosen such that thereis at least one cable node located within every zone along the length of the cable. For example,Figure 1.66 shows a cable consisting of five segments, passing though five zones in the model.Cable end-nodes can be rigidly connected to gridpoints by holding the <Ctrl> key when pressingthe mouse. When the cable is created, STRUCT node commands define the cable end-nodes, and aSTRUCTURE cable begin node n1 end node n2 seg m prop 2001 command defines the cable. Theproperty identification number 2001 is assigned, by default, to the cable.

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Figure 1.66 Cable tool

Cable property ID numbers are changed with the PropID radio button, cable nodes are moved withthe Move button and cables are deleted with the Delete button in the same manner as that for thebeam elements. In addition, a cable can be pre-tensioned by checking the Tension radio button andthen clicking the mouse on the element. This will cause a Pretension cable dialog to open so thata pre-tension axial force can be assigned.

Cables can be connected to each other, or connected to existing beams or piles. When cables areconnected to other cables, beams or piles, they share the same node.

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1.2.5.5 Pile Tool

The creation of pile elements is performed in the same manner as beam elements. Piles are addedto the FLAC model by positioning and left-clicking the mouse at locations corresponding to theendpoints of the pile. A pile is created, defined by two end-nodes, when the mouse is pressed,dragged and released. By default, each node is positioned in x-y space, and the pile consists of 10segments. It is recommended that the number of segments be chosen such that there is at least onepile node located within every zone along the length of the pile. For example, Figure 1.67 showstwo piles each consisting of 10 segments, passing though 11 zones in the model. Pile end-nodes canbe rigidly connected to gridpoints by holding the <Ctrl> key when pressing the mouse. When thepile is created, STRUCT node commands define the pile end-nodes, and a STRUCTURE pile beginnode n1 end node n2 seg m prop 3001 command defines the pile. The property identificationnumber 3001 is assigned, by default, to the cable.

Figure 1.67 Pile tool

Pile property ID numbers are changed with the PropID radio button, pile nodes are moved with theMove button, and piles are deleted with the Delete button, in the same manner as that for the beamelements.

By default, moments develop at nodes connecting multiple pile segments. A pin connection (i.e.,free moment) can be established at a node by checking the Pin radio button. Then, by clicking onthe node to be pinned, a blue arrow will be drawn, indicating a pin connection, and a STRUCT noden pin command will be created. Note that structural moments are not transmitted to gridpoints;thus a pile rigidly connected to the grid is pin-jointed to the gridpoint at each connection point.

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Piles can be connected to each other or to existing beams. When piles are connected to other pilesor beams, they share the same node. Pile nodes cannot be connected to existing cable nodes.

1.2.5.6 Segment Tool

The Segment tool allows you to either delete individual structural element segments or define plastichinges at nodes connecting element segments. Element segment numbers are shown when youenter this tool. Check the Delete radio button and click on the element segments you wish to delete.Check the Hinge button and click and drag the mouse over the segments to be connected by plastichinges. For example, in Figure 1.68, the mouse is dragged from segment 21 to segment 23 to assignplastic hinges to the connecting nodes. Note that the STRUCT hinge 21 23 command is created as aresult of this operation.

Figure 1.68 Segment tool

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1.2.5.7 Node Tool

Structural node conditions are specified with the Node tool. Structural node numbers are shown whenyou enter this tool. Click on a node number to open a dialog of conditions for that number. Thetranslational and rotational velocity components can be initialized (set values under Initial Velocity )and fixed (check boxes under Fix ). Loads and moments can be assigned (set values under Load ),and nodes can be slaved to other nodes (check boxes under Slave ).

For example, in Figure 1.69, a vertical load is applied to node 25 and node 26. The dialog forNode:26 is shown in the plot.

Figure 1.69 Node tool

In Figure 1.70, node 23 is slaved to node 1. Note that a “+” sign is shown with the node numbersin the Node tool if two nodes are slaved — e.g., 1 + 23.

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Figure 1.70 Node tool

1.2.5.8 SEProp Tool

Structural element properties are assigned with the SEProp tool. Property identification numbers (bydefault, “B1” for beams, “C1” for cables and “P1” for piles) are shown over all structural elementsegments when you enter this tool. Click on any identification number to open a properties dialogand enter or change structural element properties. For example, by clicking on “B1,” the dialogshown in Figure 1.71 will open. If “C1” is clicked, the dialog shown in Figure 1.72 will appear,and if “P1” is clicked, the dialog shown in Figure 1.73 will appear.

Figure 1.71 Beam Element Properties dialog

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New property identification numbers can be created by pressing the New button in the dialog. Forexample, in Figure 1.73, a new pile material property number, “P2,” is created and properties canbe specified for this number. The highlighted property number will be assigned to the selectedstructural element segment when OK is pressed. In this way, properties along a portion of a beam,cable or pile can be changed.

Figure 1.72 Cable Element Properties dialog

Figure 1.73 Pile Element Properties dialog

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1.2.6 Utility Tools

The Utility tools provide access to utilities in FLAC that facilitate the generation of the model andthe monitoring of the simulation. Four tools are provided. The History tool accesses model variablesin order to monitor their response during the calculation cycling. The Table tool sets up a table ofx- and y-values for use by FLAC. The Info tool prints output to the console pane. The FishLib toolprovides direct access to execute FISH functions.

1.2.6.1 History Tool

The History tool accesses FLAC variables to monitor during the calculation cycling. A variable typeand location in the model are selected with the tool. A HISTORY command is then generated to sendto FLAC. The variables are divided into six categories: General , GP , Zone , GW Flow Track , Struct Element

and Struct Node , as shown in the Mode pane in Figure 1.74. By clicking on the radio button foreach category, the History Information pane will change to access specific variables. For example,the Zone radio button is pressed in Figure 1.74 and a list of zone variables appears in the HistoryInformation pane. Click the mouse and highlight the name of the variable to be monitored, and thenclick on a zone in the model in which the history will be recorded. In Figure 1.74, the yy-stress ismonitored in zone i = 10, j = 20. The HISTORY 1 syy i=10 j=20 command is created, as shown inthe Changes pane in the figure, when the mouse is clicked on the selected zone.

Figure 1.74 History tool

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In a similar manner, gridpoint variables can be monitored by selecting the GP radio button, andvariables associated with structural element segments and structural nodes can be monitored byselecting the Struct Element and Struct Node buttons, respectively.

The General category monitors global variables, such as the unbalanced force ratio. For thesevariables, the Add button should be pressed to create the appropriate HISTORY command to monitorthe change in the variable.

The GW Flow Track category permits monitoring of particle transport during a groundwater flow calcu-lation. A dialog opens when the Add button is selected for this category, and parameters can thenbe specified for creating the TRACK command.

Only those histories that correspond to variables that are active for the FLAC model will be madeavailable in the History tool. For example, if the groundwater flow configuration is not selected inthe Model Options dialog, then the GW Flow Track category will be grayed out, and groundwater-relatedvariables will not be shown in the History Information pane.

Histories are assigned history numbers sequentially. Numbers can be specified manually using theID box. The step number at which the variable is recorded can be changed by clicking on the Step

button. Histories can be erased and history numbering reset by pressing the Reset button.

A history can be written to a table by pressing the History->Table button. This opens a dialog toselect an existing history to write its record to a table. The HISTORY write nh table nt command isgenerated.

A history can be recorded for a FISH variable by pressing the Fish->History button. This opens ascroll-down list of all existing FISH variables in the model. When the FISH variable is highlightedand OK is pressed, a HISTORY command will be generated for that variable.

1.2.6.2 Table Tool

The Table tool sets up a table of x- and y-values for use by FLAC. This tool is mainly intended forgeneration of geometric tables, for example, to locate boundaries within the model grid for use bythe Table mode in the Alter / Shape tool (see Section 1.2.2.2), or to locate a water table for use in theSettings / GW tool (see Section 1.2.7.3).

In order to create a geometric table, check the Add/move points radio button in the Mode pane, andpoint and click the mouse at different locations within the model view. Each time you click themouse a blue line will be drawn from the last table point to the current table point. After you havecreated a table point, you can right-click the mouse over the point to open a Table dialog to enterx- and y-coordinate values to locate the point more precisely. Figure 1.75 shows a table created bya series of points located across a grid.

Table points can also be moved when the Add/move points radio button is checked by clicking anddragging the point. Table points can be deleted from the current table by checking the Delete points

button and clicking on the point(s) to be deleted. The last table point entered can also be deletedby pressing the Delete Last button.

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If the Closed? box is checked, the table line will be made into a closed loop by adding a point thatcoincides with the starting point for the table.

All table points for the current table can be cleared and the table removed by pressing the Reset

button.

A TABLE command, with the corresponding x- and y-values, is sent to FLAC when the Execute

button is pressed. Note that the table can be viewed in the model view of the GIIC main window byright-clicking the mouse within the model view. This opens a pop-up menu (see Section 1.4.1.1);select Tables and the table line will appear in the model view.

Existing tables can be edited or deleted by returning to the Table tool. Check the Pick Table box andclick on the table line to be edited. The active table line will turn yellow. Press the Edit Table buttonand table points can be added, moved or deleted as before.

The currently active table data can be saved as a TABLE command with associated points by pressingthe Save button.

Figure 1.75 Table tool

It is also possible to type in a table of x- and y-values using the Edit Table points (x y pairs) dialog(Figure 1.76) by pressing the Edit numerically button. This dialog can be used to import x- and y-valuepairs by cutting and pasting text or by opening a file with pair values (using the File / Open menuitem in the dialog). The file can also be saved by using the File / SaveAs menu item. Figure 1.76shows the dialog with 10 x − y pairs. Note that the text must be in the format of x y values (witha space for a separator between values) on each text line.

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This dialog is recommended for other applications of tables in FLAC, such as assigning a variation instrength properties versus plastic strain for the softening models in the Material / Model tool, assigninga variation in porosity or permeability versus volume strain for these groundwater properties usingthe Material / GWProp tool, or assigning histories for boundary conditions using either the In Situ / Apply

or In Situ / Interior tool.

Note that if the Tables menu item is selected in the model view pop-up menu, then all tables will bevisible. If you only wish to view the geometric tables, you can restrict the view to a range of tableID numbers. For example, if the geometric tables have ID numbers ranging from 1 to 10, selectthe File / Preference Settings menu item, click on the View tab and specify the minimum andmaximum table ID numbers of 1 and 10. Now, only tables with ID numbers in this range will bevisible on the model view.

Figure 1.76 Edit Table Points dialog

1.2.6.3 Info Tool

The Info tool is used to print output of FLAC variables to the console pane. The variables are groupedinto four categories: General , Structures , GPs and Zones , as shown in the Mode pane in Figure 1.77.An expandable list of the variables associated with each group will appear when the radio button isselected for the category. Click and highlight the variable selected for output. If a GPs variable isselected, then the output range can be specified for selected gridpoints by checking the Rectangle radiobutton. Then, click and drag the mouse over the gridpoints selected for output. These gridpointswill be highlighted. Press the Output button and a PRINT command will be generated for the selectedvariable and range. The output will then be printed in the console pane. For example, in Figure 1.77,the y-positions of gridpoints along the left boundary of the model are selected, and a PRINT y i=1j=1,21 command is generated to print these positions in the console pane.

Note that if the All button is selected in the Range pane, the value selected will be output for allgridpoints in the model.

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Figure 1.77 Info tool

Output for zone variables is generated in the same manner as that for gridpoints. In addition, aRegion can be selected for output. If the model contains regions (i.e., groups of zones delineatedby marked gridpoints) then the Region button can be used. A white line will be drawn around allregions in the model when this radio button is pressed. Click the mouse on one zone in the selectedregion, and the output will be printed for all zones within that region.

If structural element output is required, press the Structures radio button and select the output type.For example, if beam information is requested, click on the struct beam list item. When Output ispressed, a PRINT struct beam command will be generated, and beam information will be printed inthe console pane.

The General button allows output of global variables, such as general model settings (e.g., PRINTinfo general) or boundary parameters (e.g., PRINT apply or PRINT interface). Click and highlight theselected general variable and press Output to print the values.

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1.2.6.4 FishLib Tool

FISH functions generated with the FISH Editor (see Section 1.5) can be executed using the FishLib

tool to facilitate their operation. Once a FISH function is created, it should be stored in the“ITASCA\FLAC\GUI\Fishlib” directory. When the FishLib tool is opened, a list of all FISHfunctions in this directory is provided in a tree structure. The structure is shown in the left pane ofthe tool in Figure 1.78. (Note that if you copy a new FISH function to this directory, the structurewill be updated with the new function name by pressing the Refresh button at the bottom of the pane.)

Several commonly used FISH functions are already provided in the FishLib library. In order toaccess a FISH function in the library, highlight the name of the function in the list. A panewill open in the tool explaining the operation of the function. For example, in Figure 1.78, thegentableinterface name is highlighted. As explained in the figure, this function is used totransform the grid to create a nonlinear, horizontal interface defined by a table.

Figure 1.78 FishLib tool

In order to use this FISH function, a grid must first be defined, without null zones, and a table linecreated, beginning at the left boundary of the grid and ending at the right boundary. The table lineshown in Figure 1.75 satisfies this condition. When the OK button is pressed in the FishLib tool, aFish Call Input dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.79. This dialog contains notes and an optionaldiagram to help explain the function, plus a list of input parameters associated with the function.The generation of these components for the FISH function is described in Section 1.5.

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Figure 1.79 Fish Call Input dialog

For example, for thegentableinterface function, the input parameters are the j -zone numberof the row nulled for the interface, the table ID number, the interface ID number, and the option toadd the interface or attach the sub-grids. Parameter selections are shown in Figure 1.79. When OK

is pressed, the FISH file is called into FLAC, the parameters are set and the function is executed.For the selections in Figure 1.79, the resulting grid, with an interface defined by a table, is producedas shown in Figure 1.80.

Figure 1.80 Grid with interface produced by gentableinterface func-tion

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1.2.7 Settings Tools

Global conditions for the FLAC model are set or changed by using the tools in the Settings toolbar.Eight tools are provided. Five tools are shown in the toolbar by default. The Gravity tool addsgravity to the model; the Mech tool specifies mechanical analysis settings; the GW tool specifiesgroundwater settings; the Solve tool sets criteria for the SOLVE command; and the Misc tool specifiesmiscellaneous global settings.

The last three tools are only provided when the associated model configuration is selected in theModel Options dialog. The Dyna tool specifies dynamic analysis settings; the Creep tool specifiescreep analysis settings; and the Therm tool specifies thermal analysis settings.

1.2.7.1 Gravity Tool

The gravitational acceleration vector is specified in the FLAC model by clicking on the Gravity tool.This opens a Gravity Settings dialog, as shown in Figure 1.81. Gravity is specified in terms of amagnitude and direction angle (measured counterclockwise from the negative y-axis). The gravitymagnitude, corresponding to the system of units selected in the Model Options dialog, can also bespecified automatically by clicking on the “world” icon shown in the Gravity Settings dialog. Theangle can be specified by clicking and dragging the mouse on the x − y axis “arrow” icon.

Figure 1.81 Gravity Settings dialog

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1.2.7.2 Mech Tool

Global mechanical settings are specified with the Mech tool. By pressing this button, the MechanicalSettings dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.82. Mechanical calculations are turned on and off bychecking the Perform mechanical calculations? box in this dialog. The damping type for static solution (localor combined) is selected, and the damping value is specified, from the Grid Static Damping settings. Thechoice of small-strain or large-strain solution mode is made from the Coordinate Update settings. Also,if large-strain solution is checked, a “bad geometry” zone limit can be specified (corresponding tothe SET geometry command), and a geometry update frequency (corresponding to the SET updatecommand) can be given.

Figure 1.82 Mechanical Settings dialog

If structural elements are specified in the Model Options dialog, then structural element settings areadded to the Mechanical Settings dialog, as shown in Figure 1.83. Additional settings are providedto specify static damping conditions for the structural elements.

Figure 1.83 Mechanical Settings dialog (with structural elements)

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1.2.7.3 GW Tool

Groundwater settings are specified from the GW tool. If the groundwater configuration is not selectedin the Model Options dialog, then the GW (Noflow) Settings dialog will open when GW is selected, asshown in Figure 1.84. In this case, the water density can be specified in the dialog, if gravitationalloading is applied to the model. Also, if a water table line is created, using the Utility / Table tool,then the table number ID is given in the GW (Noflow) Settings dialog. This corresponds to theWATER table command. A water table file (in TABLE format) can be called into FLAC by pressingthe ? button.

Figure 1.84 GW (Noflow) Settings dialog

If the groundwater configuration is selected in the Model Options dialog, then the GW (Flow) Set-tings dialog opens when the GW button is pressed. See Figure 1.85. Groundwater flow calculation isturned on and off by checking the <flow> groundwater calculation? box in this dialog. The initial ground-water flow time, the number of groundwater flow steps and the number of mechanical sub-stepsduring a mechanical-groundwater calculation step can be specified under the Groundwater flow settings.These settings correspond to the SET gwtime, SET ngw and SET nmech commands, respectively.Groundwater properties, water bulk modulus, water density and water tension limit are specifiedunder the Groundwater properties settings. The optional fluid fast flow solution mode can be turned onand settings specified under the Fast flow setting. See the SET fastflow command. The optionalimplicit fluid flow solution mode can be selected and the required timestep for the implicit schemeset under the Implicit solution setting. See the SET implicit command.

Figure 1.85 GW (Flow) Settings dialog

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If the two-phase flow configuration is selected in the Model Options dialog, then the GW (Two-phaseflow) Settings dialog opens when the GW button is pressed, as shown in Figure 1.86. The two-phaseflow calculation is turned on and off by checking the Two-phase flow calculation box in this dialog. Thewetting density, the non-wetting density and the minimum relative saturation are also set in thedialog. These property settings correspond to the WATER density, Water ndensity and WATER secapcommands.

Figure 1.86 GW (Two-phase flow) Settings dialog

1.2.7.4 Solve Tool

Limiting conditions for the automatic detection of a steady-state solution for mechanical calculationsare specified in the Solve Settings dialog opened from the Solve tool. The dialog is shown inFigure 1.87. The timestep limit, the computer clock time limit, the equilibrium (unbalanced force)ratio limit and the unbalanced force limit are set in this dialog. See the SOLVE command.

Figure 1.87 Solve Settings dialog

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1.2.7.5 Misc Tool

Several miscellaneous settings are given in the Miscellaneous Settings dialog opened from theMisc tool. See Figure 1.88. The seed for randomly generated items can be set (see the SET seedcommand). The PCX output mode and settings can be specified (see the SET pcx command). Theinterval at which cycling information is written to the screen can be changed (see the SET ncwritecommand), and the beep issued when a calculation is complete is controlled (see the SET beepcommand).

Figure 1.88 Miscellaneous Settings dialog

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1.2.7.6 Dyna Tool

If the dynamic analysis configuration option is selected in the Model Options dialog, then theDyna tool will be available. When this is selected, a Dynamic Settings dialog opens, as shown inFigure 1.89. The settings are divided into four settings groups. The dynamic analysis mode isturned on and off in the General settings for dynamics group. The multi-stepping option is set on or off(see SET multistep), the dynamic timestep is adjusted (see SET dydt), and the initial dynamic timeis specified (see SET dytime) in this settings group.

The settings group ‘out of plane’ damping applies 3D radiation damping to damp energy radiated in theout-of-plane direction. This facility is turned on or off and related conditions set with these settings.See the SET 3d damping command.

Dynamic damping conditions for the FLAC grid are set with the ‘in plane’ damping - Grid settings se-lections. These include the local damping, combined damping, Rayleigh damping and artificialviscosity damping settings, which are described for the SET dy damping command.

The ‘in plane’ damping - Settings for structural elements selections specify damping settings for structural ele-ments. These include the local damping, combined damping and Rayleigh damping settings, whichare described for the SET dy damping struct command.

Figure 1.89 Dynamic Settings dialog

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1.2.7.7 Creep Tool

If the creep analysis configuration option is selected in the Model Options dialog (note that theadvanced constitutive models option must be selected first), then the Creep tool will be available.When this is selected, a Creep Settings dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.90. Either the creeptimestep can be specified manually (SET crdt dt), or the timestep can be set to update automatically(SET crdt auto). The parameters controlling the automatic creep timestep calculation are also set inthis dialog. These correspond to the maxdt, mindt, latency, fobl, lmul, fobu and umul keywords forthe SET command. The creep time can also be initialized; see SET creeptime.

Figure 1.90 Creep Settings dialog

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1.2.7.8 Therm Tool

The Therm tool is active if the thermal analysis option is selected in the Model Options dialog. Whenthis button is pressed, a Thermal Settings dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.91. The thermalanalysis mode is turned on and off in this dialog. When thermal analysis is on, the thermal-mechanical calculation settings can be specified for the number of thermal steps (SET nther) andthe number of mechanical sub-steps (SET nmech) to be performed within each thermal-mechanicalcalculation cycle. The implicit thermal solution scheme can be specified (SET implicit) when thethermal calculation mode is on, and a thermal timestep can be specified (SET thdt). If the creepanalysis mode is also active, the thermal and creep timesteps can be synchronized (SET synchronize).

Figure 1.91 Thermal Settings dialog

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1.2.8 Plot Tools

All plotting facilities in FLAC are accessed through the Plot tools. Nine tools are provided in thePlot toolbar. The Model , Table , History , Profile Fail and Quick tools are all used to create plot viewsthat are added to the model-view pane. The ScLine , Color and DXF tools are used to provide specialsettings for the plot views.

1.2.8.1 Model Tool

The Model tool accesses FLAC variables as “plot items” that can be overlayed to create a model plot.When the Model button is pressed a Plot items dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.92. On the leftside of the dialog is a list of items currently added for plotting as overlays. Items are added to thelist by selecting an item from the elements in the Plot items tree on the right and pressing the Add

button (or double clicking on the element).

The items are plotted in the order they appear in the list. For example, in Figure 1.92, a filledcontour plot of y-displacement values is plotted first and then a plot of the FLAC grid is plotted.The order in which the plot items are plotted can be changed by using the UP and Down buttons. Anitem can be removed from the list by highlighting the item and pressing Delete , and the list can beremoved completely by pressing Clear .

Figure 1.92 Plot Items dialog

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On the top of the Plot Items dialog is a toolbar with buttons for common plot items. This facilitatesadding these items to the plot list. A plot-view name can be added; if left blank, a default name of“Plot #” is given, in which # is the plot number beginning with “Plot 1.”

By pressing the Edit button, a Plot Item Switches dialog opens to make modifications to a selectedplot item. Figure 1.93 shows the dialog corresponding to the y-displacement contour plot. All thenames in this dialog correspond to plot-switch keywords associated with the PLOT command asdescribed in Section 1 in the Command Reference. For example, to change the y-displacementplot from a filled contour plot to a line contour plot, click on the Line radio button and press OK .The fill switch will be removed from the ydisp keyword in Figure 1.92, and a contour line plot willbe created.

When all required plot items are added to the list, press OK to create the plot view. The view will beshown and a tab with the plot-view name will be added to the model-view pane. If it is necessary toedit the plot again, right click the mouse over the plot view. This opens a plot-view pop-up menu(see Section 1.4.2.1). Click on the Edit menu item, and the Plot Item Switches dialog for this plotview will open.

Figure 1.93 Plot Item Switches dialog

1.2.8.2 Plotting Structural Elements and Interfaces in the Model Tool

When structural elements or interfaces plot items are selected, a dialog opens for some of the items(designated by “*”) in order to choose specific structural element group IDs, or interface IDs, toplot. Figure 1.94 shows the dialog for selection of beam elements. By default, all elements areplotted. The group ID numbers are associated with each connected set of structural elements withthe same property number. If you select Include elements and highlight one ID number, the plot foronly that ID number will be made. If you wish to plot a range of elements, click on the lowestnumber in the range and then hold the <Ctrl> key and press the highest number in the range. Allelements from the lowest selected ID number to the highest selected ID number will be plotted. Ifyou select All except elements and highlight an ID number, all elements except the highlighted ID willbe plotted. In order to identify ID numbers for structural elements, click on the struct tool tab inthe Plot items dialog and press OK ; a plot view with all structural elements and ID numbers will bemade.

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Figure 1.94 Structural Plot Selection dialog

Figure 1.95 shows the dialog for selection of interfaces. In order to plot an interface variable, theinterface ID must be highlighted in this dialog. The interface plot item will then be added to theplot item list when OK is pressed in the Interface Selection dialog. Only one interface ID can beselected at a time.

Figure 1.95 Interface Selection dialog

Structural-element plot items, such as moment and axial force plots, display filled areas along thepath of the structural elements. The sense of the filled area — i.e., the positioning of the area on oneside of the path or the other, depends on the direction in which the path is defined. The sense of thepath can be changed to facilitate the viewing of the plot. For example, Figure 1.96 displays a momentplot for a tunnel liner composed of two different materials. The beam properties for the lininghaunches (structure #1 and # 2 in the figure) are different from the beam properties for the liningroof (structure #3). The plot is created by selecting the Structural Elements / Beams / structbeam moment item in the Plot items menu.

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Figure 1.96 Moment plot for tunnel lining composed of three structures, #1,#2 and #3

The sense of the moments is confusing in this figure, especially the change in sense betweenstructure #3 (roof beam) and structure #2 (right haunch beam). The max plot switch can be used tochange the sense of the moments. Each structure is selected for plotting independently in the PlotItems dialog. The Edit button is pressed to assign a maximum magnitude for each moment plotbased upon the maximum magnitude in the plot (in this case, 1.056E+05). The magnitude is givenwith a negative sign in order to reverse the sense of the moment plot. Figure 1.97 shows the PlotItems dialog with the sense reversed for structure #1 and #3. The resulting moment plot is shownin Figure 1.98.

Figure 1.97 Plot item dialog showing max switch used to change sense ofmoments

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Figure 1.98 Moment plot with sense reversed for structures#1 and #3

The sense of filled area plots for interfaces can be changed in the same manner as that describedabove for structural elements.

1.2.8.3 Table Tool

A plot view of one or more tables is made using the Table tool. By pressing the Table button, a TablePlot dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.99. Highlight the table number and press OK to create atable plot view. Selected tables can be plotted by holding the <Ctrl> key while selecting the tablenumbers, and a range of tables can be selected by holding the <Shift> key while selecting thestarting and ending table numbers. The table plot switches shown in Figure 1.99 correspond to theswitch keywords given for the PLOT table command in Section 1 in the Command Reference.

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Figure 1.99 Table Plot dialog

1.2.8.4 History Tool

A plot view of one or more histories is made using the History tool. By pressing the History button,a History Plot dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.100. Highlight the history number and press OK

to create a history plot view. Selected histories can be plotted by holding the <Ctrl> key whileselecting the history numbers, and a range of histories can be selected by holding the <Shift>key while selecting the starting and ending history numbers.

Figure 1.100 History Plot dialog

The history plot switches shown in Figure 1.100 correspond to the switch keywords given for thePLOT history command in Section 1 in the Command Reference.

The Versus check box allows plotting one or more histories (on the y-axis) versus another (on thex-axis). For example, in Figure 1.100, yy-stress at gridpoint (6,7) is plotted on the y-axis versusy-displacement at gridpoint (6,11) on the x-axis. The Minus-Y and Minus-X check boxes reverse thesign of the plotted history.

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1.2.8.5 Profile Tool

The Profile tool is used to create a plot view of a profile line plot for a selected variable along aspecified path. When the Profile button is pressed, a Profile tool opens, as shown in Figure 1.101.A profile plot can be made for gridpoint, zone, interface or structural element variables. Use theMode radio buttons to select the variable category. A tree list of the variables associated with eachcategory will appear when a radio button is pressed. For example, in Figure 1.101 gridpoint andzone variables are listed when the Grid button is pressed.

The profile line can be drawn with line segments, crosses or both lines and crosses. Select the linetype in the Draw mode. Either a vertical line, a horizontal line or a line at an arbitrary orientationcan be selected to specify the path. Use the Orientation mode to select the path orientation.

In order to create a profile, select the Mode variable category and highlight the variable to be plotted,select the Draw line type and the path Orientation. Then click and drag the mouse on the modelview to create the path. A red line with handles will appear. This line defines the location ofthe path. You can right click the mouse on the handles to locate the path at exact positions. Forexample, in Figure 1.101 a vertical line is shown on the model view. This is the path along whichyy-stress values will be plotted.

Figure 1.101 Profile tool

Press Create Profile to create the profile plot view. The result for a yy-stress profile is shown inFigure 1.102. This plot cannot be edited further; however, it is possible to rename, clone, copy orclose the plot by opening the plot-view pop-up menu (as shown in Section 1.4.2.1).

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A filled contour plot can be made of any of the variables in the Profile tool by pressing the Show Plot

button. This may be useful in defining the profile path. This contour plot can be cleared by pressingthe Reset Plot button.

Note that the model-view pane is not available when the Profile tool is open. Be sure to click on theProfile tab and Cancel the Profile tool to return to the model-view pane.

Figure 1.102 yy-stress profile plot created with Profile tool

1.2.8.6 Fail Tool

A failure envelope is plotted in either shear/normal stress space or principal stress space with theFail tool. Zone stresses are shown on the plot. Compressive stresses are shown as positive values.These are effective stresses and include the zz-stress component. The stress points correspond tothe point on the Mohr-Coulomb circle that is closest to the shear failure surface.

When the Fail tool is entered, the Parameters button should be pressed to open a dialog to enterstrength parameters to define the failure envelope. The dialog for the Mohr-Coulomb properties,cohesion, friction angle and tensile strength limit, is shown in the Fail tool given in Figure 1.103.When the Create button is pressed, a plot view is created showing the failure envelope and stresspoints (see Figure 1.104).

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Figure 1.103 Fail tool

Figure 1.104 Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope created with the Fail tool

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By default, all zones are plotted when the failure envelope plot is created. A range of zones toinclude in the plot can be selected by pressing the Rectangle radio button and dragging the mouseover the selected zones. Alternatively, a zone region can be selected by pressing the Region button.

The Mohr-Coulomb envelope is plotted by default, A Hoek-Brown or ubiquitous-joint envelopecan also be plotted by pressing the appropriate button. The Parameters button should be pressed toenter new properties when the failure envelope is changed. See the PLOT fail command in Section 1in the Command Reference for further information.

A contour plot of strength/stress ratioscan also be plotted, either based on the Mohr-Coulombcriterion or the Hoek-Brown criterion by pressing the Show Contours button, after the parameters arespecified. See the PLOT mohr or PLOT hoek commands in Section 1 in the Command Referencefor further information.

1.2.8.7 Quick Tool

After a plot view has been created, it can be added to a “quick-plot list” if the plot is needed ondifferent projects. The quick-plot list is obtained by using the Quick tool. This opens the menu shownin Figure 1.105. By pressing Add current plot , the current plot view will be added to the quick-plotlist. When File / Save Preferences is pressed in the main menu, the plot views currently in thequick-plot list will be saved and made available whenever FLAC is executed.

Figure 1.105 Quick-plot menu

By default, two plot views are in the list: grid plot and unbalanced-force history plot. The list ofquick plots can be edited by pressing Edit list . A Quick plot list dialog opens to allow the order ofplots to be rearranged, or for plots to be removed from the list.

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1.2.8.8 ScLine Tool

The ScLine tool allows contour labels to be drawn on line contour plots. The tool is shown inFigure 1.106. This tool produces a “scan line” along which the values of contours are displayed.Select a variable name from the plot Keywords list, a line Orientation and a line number, “#.” Thendrag the mouse over the plot view to create the scan line. The line is shown in Figure 1.106. Thered handles can be used to drag the line, or right click inside the handles to specify coordinates forthe end points.

Figure 1.106 ScLine tool

Once the line is positioned, press Create Scanline . A SCLINE command will be created, and the linewill be drawn in the model view for the tool. Press Show Contours to display the line contour plot withthe scan line. The view is shown in Figure 1.107.

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Figure 1.107 Scan line created in ScLine tool

1.2.8.9 Color Tool

There are three sets of color palettes that can be used for filled contour plots. The Color tool opensthe Plot Contour Color Settings dialog shown in Figure 1.108. Select either the Red-Blue , Blue-Red orEGA button in the dialog to change the palette. The default palette is Red-Blue . When each button ispressed, the color boxes in Palette (1-13) will change to correspond to the selected palette. WhenOK is pressed, a SET filcolor command will be sent to FLAC to change the palette used for the filledcontour plots. The palette colors can also be changed individually by selecting a color from theCustom pull-down list and then clicking on a color in the Palette (1-13) color boxes.

Figure 1.108 Color tool

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1.2.8.10 DXF Tool

DXF-format files can be superimposed on FLAC plots. The Geometry / dxf item in the Plot itemsmenu is used to import the DXF file to overlay the FLAC plot. The DXF tool, shown in Figure 1.109,is used to orient the DXF plot to fit the FLAC grid. Draw plane radio buttons are used in the dialogto change the axes of the DXF plot to coincide with the axes of the FLAC model. For example, bypressing y under X-Axis and X under Y-Axis, the DXF plot y-axis will be made to coincide withthe FLAC plot x-axis, and the DXF plot x-axis will be made to coincide with the FLAC plot y-axis.The DXF coordinates can also be shifted and scaled. In Figure 1.110, the DXF plot of a mine planis shifted in the x-direction by -3800.0 and in the y-direction by -5900.0 to fit within the coordinatedimensions defined for the FLAC model. Note that this tool is also used to orient a DXF image onthe model view (see Section 1.4.1.2).

Figure 1.109 DXF tool

Figure 1.110 DXF file translated to fit within FLAC grid

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1.2.9 Run Tools

The tools provided in the Run toolbar are associated with the solution phase of the FLAC model.The toolbar contains eight tools. The SaveState and RestoreState tools save and restore a model state.The Call tool loads and executes a FLAC data file. The Solve tool performs a FLAC calculationto determine a steady-state solution, while the Cycle tool performs a calculation for a specifiednumber of cycles. The SolveFoS and PlotFos tools are used specifically for solving and plotting afactor-of-safety calculation.

1.2.9.1 SaveState Tool

The SaveState tool saves the model state in a binary file with the extension “.SAV.” When this buttonis pressed, a Save State File dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.111. This dialog can also beaccessed from the Alter , Material , In Situ and Structure toolbars, and from the record resource pane.The saved-state filename is entered in the dialog (the “.SAV” extension is added automatically).Also, a title can be added, which is a more detailed description of the saved state. The title willappear in the Status Bar when the mouse is positioned over the save filename in the record pane.See Section 1.3.1 for information on viewing the saved states in the record pane.

Figure 1.111 SaveState Tool

1.2.9.2 RestoreState Tool

Previously saved states can be restored by using the RestoreState tool. Saved states can also berestored from the record pane. See Section 1.3.1. Note that if a saved-state, that is opened usingthe RestoreState button, is not in the Project Tree of the record pane, it will be added as a new branchnode in the tree.

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1.2.9.3 Call Tool

FLAC data files can be called into FLAC and immediately executed by using the Call tool. FISHfunction files can also be called into FLAC with this tool. Note that if the data file includes PLOTcommands, then command-line mode FLAC plots will be created.

The File / Import Recordmenu item can be used to call data files into FLAC without executing thefile. In this case, the different stages of the analysis can be executed individually. See Section 1.6.1for further information.

1.2.9.4 Movie Tool

Command-line mode screen plots can be captured and replayed as a “movie.” The movie file is aset of PCX images that are strung together in a “.DCX” file, which also contains an index to theimages. The Movie tool opens a dialog, shown in Figure 1.112, that provides control for the moviefeature. A movie filename can be specified (the extension must be “.DCX”), the frequency of screencaptures can be set, and the size of the movie image (in pixels) can be given.

Once the settings are given and the movie facility is enabled, the plot view selected for the moviemust be made the active view. Then the Solve or Cycle tool can be used to run the model and createthe movie. (The movie facility cannot be used with the SolveFoS tool.) The command-line modeplots will appear over the GIIC window at the selected step frequency while the model is running.

When execution is complete, the movie file can be viewed using the movie utility (“MOVIE.EXE”)contained in the “ITASCA\Utility” directory. See the MOVIE command in Section 1 in the Com-mand Reference for further information.

Figure 1.112 Movie tool

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1.2.9.5 Solve Tool

The Solve tool enables the automatic detection of the steady-state solution for static, mechanicalanalysis. The Solve dialog is shown in Figure 1.113. When OK is pressed, the calculation isperformed until the limiting conditions, as defined in the Settings / Solve tool, are reached. A Modelcycling dialog will open and display the cycle count, the unbalanced force magnitude and theunbalanced force (equilibrium) ratio while cycling progresses. By default, this dialog is refreshedevery 10 steps; the frequency can be changed with the Settings / Misc tool. Note that the calculationcan be interrupted at any time by pressing the Stop button in the Model cycling dialog.

If the Update interval check box is selected in the Solve dialog, the currently active model view or plotview will automatically be refreshed at a user-selected clock-time interval during the calculationprocess. The minimum clock-time interval is 5 seconds to prevent the plot updating from dominatingthe calculation time. The active plot can also be updated manually by pressing the Refresh plot buttonin the Model cycling dialog.

If the File name check box is selected and a save filename is given, the state will automatically besaved with this name when the calculation stops.

If the Solve initial equilibrium as elastic mode check box is selected, the calculation will automatically beperformed in two steps: first assuming elastic behavior and then using the actual strength valuesof the material. See the SOLVE elastic command in the Section 1 in the Command Referencefor further information. Note that this mode only applies for Mohr-Coulomb materials at present.Also, plot updating cannot be performed when this calculation mode is used.

Figure 1.113 Solve tool for mechanical analysis

The Solve tool can be applied for creep, dynamic, thermal or groundwater analysis, and also forcoupled analysis. If any of these optional configurations are selected in the Model Options dialog,then the Solve tool will open the Solve dialog shown in Figure 1.114. The dialog displays the activecalculations mode(s) — e.g., Mechanical-Groundwater in Figure 1.114. The modes can be turnedon or off by selecting the appropriate check boxes. The time limit for the dynamic, creep, thermalor groundwater analysis can be specified in the dialog. The automatic coupled calculation for themechanical-groundwater analysis can also be selected (see the SOLVE auto on command).

Plot updating, automatic save filename selection, and the SOLVE elastic calculation can also beperformed in this dialog.

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When OK is pressed for the Solve dialog shown in Figure 1.114, the Model cycling dialog willinclude additional information related to the active analysis modes.

Figure 1.114 Solve tool for dynamic, thermal, creep,groundwater flow, and coupled analysis

1.2.9.6 Cycle Tool

The Cycle tool executes a user-specified number of steps (cycles). When Cycle is pressed, a Cycledialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.115. The number of steps, as well as the plot update intervaland the automatic save filename, can be specified in the dialog. This tool implements the CYCLE(or STEP) command in FLAC.

Figure 1.115 Cycle tool

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1.2.9.7 SolveFoS Tool

The SolveFoS tool performs an automatic search for a factor of safety, based on the procedure describedin Section 3.8 in the User’s Guide (Note 12), and applies only when the Mohr-Coulomb model isassigned to all non-null zones. This tool opens the Factor of Safety parameters dialog shown inFigure 1.116. By default, the factor-of-safety failure-state solution will be stored in “FoSmode.fsv”and this state can be renamed in the dialog. Check boxes can be selected to choose which itemswill be included in the factor-of-safety calculation. See the SOLVE fos command in Section 1 inthe Command Reference for a description of these items. Note that the model state must be savedbefore the SolveFoS tool can be implemented.

Figure 1.116 SolveFoS tool

1.2.9.8 PlotFoS Tool

After the factor-of-safety calculation is completed, a factor-of-safety plot, which includes a failuresurface plot and the calculated value for factor of safety, can be produced by pressing the PlotFoS

button. An example plot is shown in Figure 1.117. Various plot items can be added to this plot, aslisted on the right side of the figure. A hardcopy output can be created by pressing the Print button.

Figure 1.117 PlotFoS tool

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1.3 Resource Panes

The resource panes present text-based information about the FLAC model. By default, when youfirst start up the GIIC, the record resource pane is displayed. Alternatively, a console resource panecan be shown. Simply click on the Record tab and the console tab to switch back and forth betweenthe two panes. The panes are described in the following sections.

Note that the text in both panes can be edited. Right-click the mouse in either pane, and a pop-upmenu will appear to clear/cut/copy/paste text and save a portion or all of the text to a file. Thisfeature replaces the function of the SET log command when operating in the GIIC.

1.3.1 Record Pane

The record pane contains a list of all FLAC commands that have been invoked to create the currentmodel state. In addition, this pane contains a list of all saved-state filenames created up to andincluding the current saved-state. The saved-state list is provided in two forms. If the List radiobutton is pressed in the Project Record format section of the Model Options dialog, a linear list ofthe saved-states is shown. If the Tree radio button is pressed, the saved-states will be shown in atree structure. Each mode is described below.

When beginning a new modeling project, it is important to specify a “working directory” for theproject and a project name. This is necessary for the record pane to operate properly. All saved-state(“.SAV”) files for a project must be located in the same (working) directory in which the project(“.PRJ”) file is stored. After you press OK in the Model Options dialog to start a new project,another dialog will appear, as shown in Figure 1.118. This is the Project File dialog, and providestwo functions. First, by clicking on ? a working directory is selected in which all saved-statefiles and data (“.DAT”) record files will be stored.* Second, a project title and project filenameare assigned for the project. The project filename is assigned to the “.PRJ” file that is created inthe working directory. The title and filename will appear in the model-view legend and also in theproject-tree list.

Figure 1.118 Project File (*.prj) dialog

* When specifying a working directory, avoid blank spaces in the directory name or in any directoriesin the path for the working directory. FLAC can only recognize one blank space in a directoryname. If more than one space exists, the path will not be recognized.

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1.3.1.1 Project List Record Mode

If the List radio button is pressed in the Model Options dialog, and then the project title and filenameare specified in the Project File dialog, as shown in Figure 1.118, then the record pane will appear inProject List mode, as shown in Figure 1.119. In addition, if, for example, you assign a filename of“P1” in the Project File dialog, a project file named “P1.PRJ” and saved-state file named “P1.SAV”will be created in the working directory.

The Project List Record mode contains a list of all commands created for the entire analysis upto the current model state. This record mode is recommended for simple models with only a fewsaved states. By default, only the CONFIG command is created when a new project is started, asshown in Figure 1.119. Each FLAC command created in the GIIC will be listed in the Project ListRecord. All the commands can be saved in an ASCII file (“.DAT”) from the File / Export Recordmenu item. The data record can be read back into FLAC to regenerate the model by using theFile / Import Record menu item.

Figure 1.119 Project List Record pane

When the model state is saved, by clicking on the Save button at the bottom of the Project List Recordpane, a binary file (“.SAV”) of the model state is created and, in addition, all the FLAC commandsassociated with the model state are appended to the save file. Further, the new saved-state filenameis added to the pull-down list at the top of the Project List Record pane, and the project file (“.PRJ”)is updated to include the latest saved-state filename. You can move between save-file names in thepull-down list by clicking on the arrow icons at the top of the Project List Record pane. You canalso edit the order in which the saved states are listed by clicking on the list icon at the top of the

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pane. If you open a saved state from the RestoreState button in the Run tool, the state name is addedto the Project List Record pane and the commands associated with that state are displayed in theProject List Record.

1.3.1.2 Project Tree Record Mode

If the Tree radio button is pressed in the Model Options dialog, and the project title and filenameare specified, as shown in Figure 1.118, then the record pane will appear in Project Tree Recordmode, as shown in Figure 1.120. This mode is recommended for complex models with severalsaved-states, such as parametric analyses. For the filename specified in Figure 1.118, a projectfile named “P1.PRJ” will be created, but a saved-state file will not be created. Note that the Save

button will only be visible at the bottom of the Project Tree Record pane after an operation has beenexecuted (e.g., Build / Grid ). The Save button should then be pressed to save the current state of themodel. The Project Tree mode displays a list of the saved-states in a tree structure in the upper paneof the Project Tree Record. Only the commands generated for the current saved-state are displayedin the lower pane of the Project Tree Record.

Each time a model state is saved, by clicking on the Save button, the commands associated with thatsaved state are grayed out, and when new commands are created, only these commands are listed inthe record until the next state is saved. In addition, each time the state is saved, the save-file nameis added as a saved-state node in the project tree shown in the upper pane.

Figure 1.120 Project Tree Record pane

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Branches are created from one saved-state node by using the following procedure. First, click onthe starting-state node so that an arrow appears at that node. Perform the GIIC operations beginningfrom the selected state. Then, save the branch state and click on the starting node again. A newbranch will be created automatically each time a new GIIC operation is executed from the startingnode. Node branches are named “branch A,” “branch B,” etc., by default. Branch names can bechanged by right-clicking the mouse over the branch name to be changed. Figure 1.121 showsa simple project tree with two branches and the first branch renamed to “stage 1.” The dialog isalso shown after right-clicking on “branch B”; press Rename branch to specify a different name for thisbranch.

It is also possible to clone a branch (and all saved-states beneath that branch) or state (and followingstates). For example, to clone the model stages beginning at “P1 1.SAV” (in Figure 1.121), right-click the mouse over this state and press Clone branch (and substates) . The resulting cloned branch (andstates) is shown in Figure 1.122. Note that the cloned states are not created. If you double-click onthe state name, you will have the option to execute the commands to create the state.

Branches and states can also be deleted by pressing Delete branch (and substate/files) . The branch andstates will be removed from the tree, and the saved-state files will be deleted.

You can move up and down the project tree by clicking on the arrow icons at the top of the ProjectTree Record. Icons are also provided to open a specific saved-state and to remove a saved-statefrom the tree (and delete the save file).

The complete data record for the project can be saved from the File / Export Record menu item.The data record is a list of all FLAC commands generated to build and run the model, and this filecan be read back into FLAC to recreate the model by using the File / Import Record menu item.When the data record is called back into FLAC using File / Import Record, the complete projecttree is created automatically. If saved-state files exist for the project, the saved state can be openedby using the open-folder icon at the top of the Project Tree Record. If the saved-state file does notexist, a warning message will appear, and you will be asked if you wish to rebuild this saved-state.If you select a saved state that is preceded by saved-states that do not exist, these states will beautomatically recreated, sequentially, before the selected state is created. If you click the projectoptions icon at the top of the Project Tree Record pane, a dialog will open, and one of the optionsis Rebuild unsaved states . Use this option to recreate all unsaved states in the project tree.

Note that if a saved-state that is not in the Project Tree is opened by using the RestoreState button inthe Run tool, this state will be added as a new branch node in the tree.

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Figure 1.121 Project Tree Record pane — project tree with two branches

Figure 1.122 Project Tree Record pane — cloned branches

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1.3.1.3 Editing Commands in the Record Pane

It is possible to make changes or corrections to a model after the FLAC commands have beenexecuted from a model tool. For example, if you have executed commands to assign boundaryconditions using the In Situ / Fix tool, but wish to change the boundary conditions, press Cancel atthe bottom of the Resources pane (either the Project Tree Record pane or the Project List Recordpane). All commands listed in the pane will be deleted and the previous state, before the currentmodel tool(s) were executed will be restored. You can now enter the In Situ / Fix tool again to applydifferent boundary conditions.

If you only wish to change a few FLAC commands, you can edit the commands directly in therecord pane. Note that the first time you do this a warning message will appear. Care must betaken when editing commands manually because the state must be re-saved, and states followingthe changed state will need to be re-run to be consistent with the change. If you change commandsin a state that is followed by existing saved states, you will be asked if you wish to have these savedstates deleted automatically because they will be outdated when the change is made.

For example, in Figure 1.123, a change is to be made to the “P1 2.SAV” state. The Edit button ispressed at the bottom of the record pane. A Warning dialog opens and identifies the saved-statefiles that will be affected if a change is made at this state. If Yes is pressed in the dialog, then thesefiles will be deleted. After the change is made, the Rebuild button should be pressed to re-create thestate, and then the Save button should be pressed to re-save the state.

Figure 1.123 Project Tree Record pane — editing commands at a selected state

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1.3.2 Console Pane

The console pane shows the text output for the FLAC analysis, and also allows command-line inputfrom the command-line flac: prompt at the bottom of the pane. The console pane is provided forusers familiar with FLAC commands to enter commands directly. Note that a command typed at thecommand line will not be immediately recognized by the GIIC. The View / Refresh button must bepressed, or the command ! typed at the command line, in order for the GIIC to display the actionof the input command. For example, in Figure 1.124, the MODEL mohr command is entered at thecommand line and then ! is entered to show the Mohr-Coulomb zones in the model view.

Information displayed in the console pane can be written to a file. Press the left mouse button anddrag the mouse over the text to be saved; this text will be highlighted. Right-click the mouse tobring up a dialog and press SaveAs to save the highlighted text. If no text is highlighted, then alltext in the console pane will be saved when SaveAs is pressed. This facility replaces the SET logcommand when operating in the GIIC.

Figure 1.124 console pane

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1.4 Model-View/Plots Panes

There are two types of graphical views of the FLAC model: a model view and plot views. Thedescription for each view type is given in the sections below.

1.4.1 Model View

The model view shows a graphical view of the model. This view is also shown in most of themodel-tool views. Each time a tool adds a new condition (e.g., fixed boundary condition) or feature(e.g., structural elements) this view will be updated to show the new component. The variouscomponents can be selected for display from a pop-up Draw Menu, as described below.

1.4.1.1 Model-view Pop-up Draw Menu

By right-clicking the mouse within the model view (or model-tool view), you will open a Drawmenu from which you can select model components to display on the view. The menu is shown inFigure 1.125.

Figure 1.125 Model-view Pop-up Draw Menu

The menu items are described as follows:

IJ space — View grid with I-J coordinates rather that X-Y coordinates.

Images / No Images — Turn off background image.

Images / Bitmap — Load bitmap image as background. (See Section 1.4.1.2 for anexample application.)

Images / Dxf — Load DXF-file line drawing as background.

Zones / Zone off — Turn off fill color for zones.

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Zones / Zone Models — Fill color zones by mechanical model type.

Zones / Region — Fill color zones by region.

Zones / Group — Fill color zones by group (material).

Zones / Bad Zone Geometry — Fill color zone if zone shape is bad.

Grid Zones — Outline zones.

Grid Boundary — Outline model boundaries.

Marked GPs — Draw “X” on marked gridpoints.

Fixed GPs — Draw symbol for fixed state on fixed gridpoints.

Interfaces — Draw boundaries with interfaces.

Applied B.C. — Draw boundaries with applied boundary conditions.

History — Draw locations of output; histories recorded are gridpoints or zones.

Tables — Draw tables. (Drawn tables can be restricted by table number by using theFile / Preference Settings menu item; click on the View tab.)

Structures — Draw structural elements.

Gravity — Draw the gravity icon, which shows the magnitude and direction of gravityvector.

1.4.1.2 Overlaying Images on the Model View

By pressing the Images menu item, you can load either a bitmap image or AutoCad DXF file thatcan be displayed in the model-view pane. You can then overlay the FLAC grid and shape the gridto fit the geometry of the image.

Figures 1.126 and 1.127 illustrate a FLAC grid adjusted to fit a bitmap image of a slope geometry.In order to fit the grid to this image, a grid is first created with dimensions that correspond to thedimensions of the image. In the example shown in Figure 1.126, the Build / Simple tool is used tocreate a 80 × 60 zone grid with an x-range of 0 to 800 and a y-range of 1000 to 1600. Then thebitmap is loaded using the Images / Bitmap menu item in the Draw menu. When the image is firstloaded, an Image size dialog opens to specify a scaling factor to fit the image within the model view.The image should be reduced in size so that the grid can be easily adjusted to fit the image. Notethat once the image is visible in the model view, it cannot be re-adjusted.

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The View / Reference Points menu item is used to align the grid with the image. When this itemis selected, a Reference points dialog opens. Two reference points, A and B, are located on thegrid; in the example, A is located at x = 0, y = 1000, and B is located at x = 800, y = 1000. A redreference line with square handles at each end is then attached on the grid. The handles are locatedat A and B. The mouse is clicked on each handle, and the handle is dragged to position the line,and the grid, to fit the grid coordinates to the image coordinates. Figure 1.126 shows the result offitting the grid to the image.

Figure 1.126 FLAC grid overlays a bitmap image of a slope — step 1: repositionthe grid

After the grid is aligned with the image, the View / Fix(Lock) View menu item is checked to lockthe grid and image views together while the grid is conformed to the image.

The Utility / Table tool is used to draw a table line to match the slope boundary. The Table mode in theAlter / Shape tool is then used to conform the grid to the table line. The zones above the slope boundaryare made null using the Material / Assign tool. The final model geometry is shown in Figure 1.127.

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Figure 1.127 FLAC grid overlays a bitmap image of a slope — step 2: use theAlter / Shape tool to conform the grid to the image

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1.4.2 Plot Views

Each time a FLAC plot is created with one of the tools in the Plot tab, a tabbed view is added in themodel-view pane. Multiple plots can then be viewed by clicking on the tab for each plot. The plotviews are saved in the project (“.PRJ”) file, and will be restored when the project is opened. Thecurrently visible plot is updated when the saved state is restored. To ensure that a plot reflects thecurrent state, press the View / Refresh menu item.

1.4.2.1 Plot-view Pop-up Menu

By right-clicking the mouse within the plot view, you will open a Plot menu from which you canchange the name on the plot tab, edit the plot, copy the plot to the Windows clipboard, clone theplot view, or close the plot view. The menu is shown in Figure 1.128.

Figure 1.128 Plot-view Pop-up Menu

The menu items are described as follows:

Name — Input plot tab name (by default “Plot 1”).

Edit — Edit plot items and settings. This opens the Plot Items dialog; see Figure 1.92.

Copy to Clipboard — Copy plot to Windows clipboard.

Clone — Make a duplicate of the plot view.

Close — Close (destroy) the plot view.

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1.5 FISH Editor

The GIIC contains a FISH Editor that allows users to write and edit FISH functions. The FISHEditor is accessed by pressing the Show / Fish Editor menu item in the main menu. A FISHfunction created with the FISH Editor can be executed directly from the editor pane using theRun / Execute menu item in the pane, or the function can be run using the Utility / Fishlib tool (seeSection 1.2.6.4 for instructions on using this tool).

In order to automate the execution of FISH functions, special comment lines are included in thefile. There are three types of input field.

1. Name — This is the name of the primary FISH function to run. (A file canhave more than one FISH function.)

2. Diagram — This is the name of an optional image file (GIF or JPG) thatillustrates the application of the FISH function.

3. Input — This contains the input values for the function. These values areinvoked automatically using the SET command when the function is executedby FLAC.

Figure 1.129 shows the FISH Editor pane. The “HOLE.FIS” FISH function, which creates a radial-shaped grid, is shown in the pane. (See Section 3 in Theory and Background for a descriptionof “HOLE.FIS.”) The name of the function, hole, is entered at the Fish function line. An imagefile, “HOLE.GIF,” was created to illustrate the grid shape generated with this function. This file iscalled into the editor pane at the Diagram line.

Figure 1.129 FISH Editor pane

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The Input / Define parameters menu item in the FISH Editor brings up a dialog that allows usersto define input parameters for the FISH function. The dialog, with parameters for “HOLE.FIS,” isshown in Figure 1.130. Parameters can be added, deleted or edited in this dialog. When parametersare added or edited, an Input Parameter Data dialog opens, as shown in Figure 1.130. The inputparameter is defined by four descriptors: a variable name; a data type (integer, floating point orstring); a default value; and a description of the parameter (in string format). When the parameteris created, a comment string is added to the FISH function of the form:

;Input: name/type/value/description

In addition, notes can be added to the FISH function using the Input / Define notes menu item.Notes are added to the FISH function via the comment line:

;Note:

When the FISH function is complete, the function must be saved (by clicking on the File / SaveAs menu item) before the function can be run.

Figure 1.130 Input Parameters dialog and Input Parameter data dialog

The FISH function is run in the FISH Editor by selecting the Run / Execute menu item. This bringsup a Fish Call Input dialog, as shown in Figure 1.131. This dialog displays the notes, listed inan Information pane, the input parameters, listed in a Parameters pane, and the graphical image.Parameters can be redefined from this dialog. Press OK to run the function. The FISH file will becalled into FLAC, any parameters will be specified via the SET command, and then the functionwill be executed.

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Figure 1.131 Fish Call Input dialog

The comment lines added to “HOLE.FIS” in order for the function to be executed in the FISHEditor, or from the Utility / Fishlib tool, are listed below.

;Name:hole;Diagram:hole.gif;Input:rmin/float/1.0/Radius of the excavation (greater than zero!);Input:rmul/float/10.0/Number of radii to the boundary (greater than 1!);Input:gratio/float/1.1/Radial grid ratio;Input:xcenter/float/0.0/x-coordinate center;Input:ycenter/float/0.0/y-coordinate center;Input:izone/int/10/Zones in radial direction;Input:jzone/int/40/Zones in polar direction;Input:minangle/float/0/Starting angle(degrees);Input:deltaangle/float/360/Angle range, 90=quarter, 360=full;Note:This will fail if a grid already exists.

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1.6 Menus

The GIIC contains five menus in the main menu bar. The items in each of the menus are describedin the following sections.

1.6.1 File Menu

Figure 1.132 File Menu

Model Options — This menu item allows returning to the Model Options dialog toselect a User Interface Option. Note that Configuration Options, System of Units andProject Record Format cannot be changed from this menu item after a model grid hasbeen created.

Open Project — An existing project can be opened. The project file is identified by theextension “.PRJ.”

New Project — This menu item starts a new project. The existing project is closed, andthe Model Options dialog opens to begin a new project.

Save Project — If a project (“.PRJ”) file has previously been created for the currentproject, the project file will be updated. Project files are updated automatically whenevera model state is saved.

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Save Project As — This menu item saves the current project in a file with extension“.PRJ.” A project file is automatically created whenever a model state (‘.SAV”) file iscreated.

Import Record — This menu item imports a project record data file, which is a listingof the FLAC commands that have been created for this project. The commands are readinto the GIIC but are not executed. In Project Tree Record format, any savefile names inthe record will be listed in the project tree. By double-clicking on a savefile name in theproject tree, all commands up to this saved state will be executed and the savefile willbe created. If other saved states precede the state that is double-clicked, these states willalso be saved. If a saved state already exists, the state will be opened when the name isdouble-clicked. Note that a disk icon is shown in the project tree if the state exists. Anyrecord file composed of FLAC commands can be imported using this menu item.

Export Record — This menu item exports a project record data file. Comments areadded to the data file to identify project-tree branch states.

Create Report — An HTML-formatted file will be created listing the project tree forthe current project. The user has the option to include all FLAC commands associatedwith each saved-state branch of the project tree.

Print Plot Setup — This menu item opens a Print setup dialog to select the graphicshardcopy output format for the plot in the currently active plot view (or model view).The dialog is shown in Figure 1.133. See the SET plot command for a description of theoutput types and settings.

Figure 1.133 Print Setup dialog

Print Plot — This menu item generates the plot in the format and to the designationspecified by Print Plot Setup. An optional title can be added to the plot.

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Color Preference Settings — This menu item opens a Plot Item Color Library dia-log, as shown in Figure 1.134. Most objects in the graphics views have selectable colors.The expandable tree on the left side of the dialog lists the objects with selectable colorsgrouped by named classes. Press a button from the table of colored buttons on the rightside to change the color of the highlighted item in the tree. The colors in the table canbe edited by using the input fields and sliders below the table. Unused colors in the tableare white, by default. In order to retain the new color settings when restarting FLAC,press the File / Save Preferences menu item.

Figure 1.134 Plot Item Color Library dialog

Preference Settings— A selected number of settings can be user-controlled by press-ing this menu item. These settings are divided into four categories, designated by tabs.The View tab, shown in Figure 1.135, allows the specification of a range of table numbersthat will be shown in the model view when the Tables item is selected in the Model-viewPop-up Draw menu (see Section 1.4.1.1). The Confirm tab, shown in Figure 1.136, turnson or off the confirmation messages when either a new project is started, the program isexited, or when structural element nodes are to be merged. The Plot tab, sets the fontsize for text shown in plot views and captions. The Browser tab, shown in Figure 1.138,allows user selection of the system browser to view the Help dialogs provided in theGIIC. In order to select your system browser to use with the GIIC, right-click on thebrowser button, then click on the Properties menu item to open a browser properties dialogand copy the target name for the browser into the Preference Settings dialog.

Save Preferences — All preference selections will be retained on start-up.

Exit GIIC — Exits the GIIC mode and enters the command-line mode of FLAC.

Quit — Shuts down FLAC.

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Figure 1.135 Geometric table view settings

Figure 1.136 Confirmation message settings

Figure 1.137 Model- and plot-view text size settings

Figure 1.138 Help file browser type settings

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1.6.2 Show Menu

The main GIIC window is divided into five visible components: Main Menu, Toolbar, Resources,Views and Status Bar, and one separate component, the Fish Editor. The Show menu, given inFigure 1.139, allows each of these components to be shown or hidden.

Figure 1.139 Show Menu

Tools — This item allows the modeling stage tools to be viewed in either a toolbar oras menu items. Also, the model tools can be presented as either icons or text or both.

Viewbar — The View menu item in the Main Menu can also be shown as a toolbar. Thetoolbar can be turned on and off. See Section 1.6.4 for information on the View Toolbar.

Resources — The resource pane can be turned on and off with this item.

View — The model-view pane can be turned on and off with this item.

Statusbar — The status bar can be turned on and off with this item.

Fish Editor — The Fish Editor window can be opened with this item.

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1.6.3 Tools Menu

The modeling-stage tools described in Section 1.2 can be accessed from the Tools menu (shown inFigure 1.140), as well as from the modeling-stage toolbar.

Figure 1.140 Tools Menu

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1.6.4 View Menu

The View menu applies to all model-view tools and plot views. The menu is shown in Figure 1.141.The View tools can also be accessed through a toolbar, as shown in Figure 1.142. The toolbar canbe turned on and off from the Show menu.

Figure 1.141 View Menu

Figure 1.142 View Toolbar

Refresh — Update view to current model state.

Undo View Change — Undo last change made to view.

Reset (full view) — Autoscale view range to show full model.

Numeric input — Show dialog to enter viewport range input.

Mouse Tool Off — Turn off the mouse view control.

Zoom box — Drag mouse to select smaller window for view.

Translate — Mouse drag the view center point.

Scale — Mouse drag the radius from the view center point (increases or decreases viewsize).

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Rotate – Mouse drag the view orientation. (Rotation changes the aspect ratio for inde-pendent x − y axis scaling.

Scale&Rotate — Performs scale and rotate operations at same time.

Reeerence Points — Define two real coordinate reference points. (Use this operationto align coordinates of grid with background image. See Section 1.4.1.2 for exampleapplication.)

Show axis values — Draw x − y axes with numbers.

Show coord.grid — Draw background grid.

Show mouse coord. — Show current mouse x,y coordinates in status bar.

Snap position — Round-off mouse location values to given grid size.

Snap coordinate grid size — Input snap grid size.

Squared scale — If not checked, x- and y-axis will be scaled independently.

Fix(Lock) View — Hold view fixed even if view size changes. (This is useful foraligning the model view to a background image.)

In addition to these tools, the View Toolbar contains single-step view change buttons (also availablefrom the keyboard) to magnify, rotate and translate the view:

Zoom IN view one step (<Ins> key)

Zoom OUT view one step (<Del> key)

Move view UP one step (<UP arrow> key)

Move view DOWN one step (<Down arrow> key)

Move view LEFT one step (<Left arrow> key)

Move view RIGHT one step (<Right arrow> key)

Rotate view clockwise one step (<+> key)

Rotate view counterclockwise one step (<-> key)

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1.6.5 Help Menu

The Help menu provides access to instructions and frequently asked questions about the GIIC.Also, by right-clicking on a model tool tab, a Help dialog can be opened with information on thattool.

Figure 1.143 Help Menu

Overview — Overviews the GIIC operation and components.

Components — This item contains separate descriptions on the Model tools, Resourcepanes, Model-view/plots menus and the status bar.

FAQ — Lists frequently asked questions.

Index — Contains an index to all help files.

About Itasca — Contains contact information for Itasca Consulting Group, Inc.

About FLAC —Use this item to determine the version number of both FLAC and theGIIC.

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Documents

FLAC-GIIC REFERENCE