Nº 5 - MARCH 1998

D
“ uring this course, existing users, as well as
Editorial people who had no previous Plaxis
experience used the new Version. The
We are pleased to announce the release of participants were very enthousiastic with
the new Plaxis Version 7 at the end of this respect to the new concept of mesh
month. In the past months the Plaxis team generation. In Version 7, the user only needs
has re-written the user documentation, as to enter the relevant geometry (project
well as Beta-testing the new Version. The contour, soil layers, construction phases, loads
new version has been tested by a and structural elements). This information is
Bulletin of the substantial group of selected users. In used by the automatic mesh generator to
PLAXIS
Users Association (NL) addition, the new version has been used propose a finite element mesh (see fig 1).
during some user meetings and also during Several options exist to refine the proposed
PLAXIS bulletin the course on Computational Geotechnics mesh in a convenient manner. Needless to say
P.O. Box 3302,
2601 DH Delft, in Noordwijk last January. the Windows Version offers many other new
The Netherlands
E-mail:
[email protected]

IN THIS ISSUE:

Editorial 
Column Vermeer 
PLAXIS Practice I 
New developments 
PLAXIS Practice II 
Agenda 

Figure 1 inputted geometry (left), generated

mesh (right).

1
features as well. In this issue of 'New such analyses can therefore become over-
developments' one of these features, namely optimistic."
the Tunnel Designer, is described.
All existing users will receive detailed upgrade I fully agree! For excavations we have unloading
information on the new Version by separate and then the drained long-term stability is
mail. decisive, rather than the undrained short-term
stability. Most textbooks tend to concentrate
As for the previous bulletin, two contributions on loading problems in embankment or
have been accepted for the column Plaxis foundation construction, when consolidation
Practice. In this bulletin the Users Forum is improves the stability of a structure, and one
temporarily discontinued. In the next bulletin might get the false impression that the
the Users Forum will continued for Version 7. undrained analysis always leads to a
conservative estimate of the factor of safety.
Editorial staff:
Nisa Nurmohamed, chief editor For soft soils, which do not benefit from
Eric Sluimer, chairman Plaxis Users Association drainage paths due to fissuring, Malcolm Puller
(NL) states that it is prudent to undertake analysis
Peter Brand, Plaxis bv for both drained and undrained soil conditions.
Here I would like to add that one might also
Scientific committee: decide on the basis of a back-of-the-envelope
Prof. Pieter Vermeer, Stuttgart University calculation. To judge the degree of
Dr. Ronald Brinkgreve, Plaxis bv consolidation, most textbooks provide the
function U(T), where T is the dimensionless
consolidation time.
Column Vermeer
k E oed
T= t
Being involved in deep excavations in clay
soils, I had to answer the question whether
wD 2

we needed a drained or an undrained where:

analysis. I happen to possess an excellent k = soil permeability
book entitled “Deep Excavations” by E oed = oedometer modulus
Malcolm Puller (1996) and I thus did some w = specific water weight
reading. Indeed, this practical manual gives D = drainage length
excellent information and for clarity I will t = consolidation time
repeat some of it:
No doubt, available functions for U relate to

T
he undrained shear strength cu is only one-dimensional consolidation, but we often
correctly used when load is applied have near-vertical drainage of deep layers to
immediately and it is strictly illogical to use it the bottom of the excavation and similar
as soon as pore pressures change. In clay soils, conditions for shallower clay layers behind an
where the retaining wall structure deforms and impermeable retaining wall.
attempts to move away from the retained soil
bulk, negative pore pressures (underpressure) Considering one-dimensional consolidation,
are generated in the retained soil as excavation we have a well-known relationship between
proceeds in front of the wall. In highly fissured the degree of consolidation, U, and the
or laminated overconsolidated clays the dimensionless time T. For T = 0.01 we have U
reduction in underpressure may proceed ≈ 0.1 and thus little consolidation, as U = 0.10
relatively quickly and the original value of cu implies an average dissipation of excess pore
quickly becomes inapplicable. The use of cu in pressures of only 10%. In such cases I would

2
suggest undertaking the undrained analysis Due to the soil homogeneity a traditional raft
and forgetting about the drained analysis. On was chosen to support the heavy silo on the
the other hand, if construction takes a very soft soil. The raft thickness is 5.5 m in the
long time, with T > 0.4, giving U > 0.7, we have middle part and decreases to 2.5 m at the
nearly drained conditions and I would suggest edges. A reliable prediction of the total and
undertaking only a drained analysis. For differential settlements under the working
intermediate consolidation times, the PLAXIS loads was the main basis of the foundation
code offers the possibility of taking design. The PLAXIS program was used to
consolidation properly into account. I like to simulate the behaviour of the silo under both
continue with this subject in a coming bulletin. undrained (short term) and drained (long term)
conditions. An axisymmetric finite element
P.A. Vermeer, Stuttgart University analysis was conducted using isoparametric
triangular elements with 15 nodes. An elasto-
plastic constitutive law applying the Mohr-
Coulomb yield condition was employed to
PLAXIS Practice I model the behaviour of the different soil types.
SETTLEMENT BEHAVIOUR OF A LARGE Table 1 summarizes the required soil
CLINKER SILO ON SOFT GROUND parameters which are based on the conducted
laboratory and in-situ tests as well as on the
A heavy circular clinker silo with storage gathered experience of similar projects. Here,
capacity of about 9000 MN (see Figure 1) the conventional option of using u = 0.495 is
had to be founded on clay at Beremend in applied to simulate undrained behaviour for
Hungary. The upper 21.0 m subsoil consists clay layers. Note that Plaxis has a more
of soft to medium stiff clay followed by convinient option to model undrained
quaternary silty sand down to a depth of behaviour. This option is to set the material
about 33.0 m below ground surface. Tertiary type to 'Undrained' behaviour, which also
sediments of stiff to hard clay with thin allows for the generation of excess pore
sand layers are found under the quaternary pressures. This option is always used in
sand. The groundwater table is 5 to 6 m combination with effective stiffness properties
below ground surface. The conducted soil (E', ') . The settlements of the silo have been
exploration and in-situ tests such as the observed in detail since about 2.5 years to
cone penetration test (CPT) show that the ensure the serviceability requirements.
subsoil layers are almost horizontal and
nearly homogeneous. Figure 2 demonstrates the development of
the applied loads and the corresponding
measured settlements of two points at the
center and the edge of the raft. Although the
maximum total settlement is about 30.0 cm,
the maximum differential settlement within
the silo walls is less than 2.0 cm. The maximum
measured tilting of the silo reaches about 1 :
3200.

The calculated load settlement relationships of

the raft under undrained as well as drained
conditions in comparison with the measured
behaviour are shown in Figure 3. It can be seen
that the development of the applied load was
Figure 1 Layout and calculated contour
lines of settlement. fairly quick to a silo load of about 900 MN (see

3
Table 1a Short term condition material properties (Undrained).

soil dry/wet  c E 
[kN/m ] 3
[O] [kN/m ]2
[MN/m ] 2
[-]
soft clay 19/9 0 (= u) 100 (=cu) 50 0.49
silty sand 19/10 30 1 80 0.35
hard clay 20/10 0 (= u) 150 (=cu) 80 0.49
soil replacement 20/10 35 1 50 0.35

Table 1b Long term condition material properties (Drained).

soil dry/wet  c E 
[kN/m ] 3
[O] [kN/m ] 2
[MN/m ] 2
[-]
soft clay 19/9 20 40 12.7 0.35
silty sand 19/10 30 1 61.5 0.35
hard clay 20/10 25 25 61.5 0.35
soil replacement 20/10 35 1 50 0.35

Figure 2 Development of loads and

setllements with time.

Figure 2). Therefore, the raft behaviour is close Figure 3 Comparison between observed
and calculated load-settlements behaviour.
to the undrained behaviour in this range. Due
to the stress release caused by the pit clay layer (see Figure 1). Due to the more or
excavation, the behaviour of the soil during less cyclic filling and emptying the silo, the
reloading it by the weight of the raft is still maximum applied load does not reach its
stiffer than its behaviour under the designed limit value. The duration of the
subsequently applied larger loads. Up to 900 reached maximum load is very short (see
MN subsoil consolidation takes place and the Figure 2). Therefore, the maximum measured
raft behaviour tends towards the drained settlements are still smaller than the predicted
behaviour. It can be seen that the raft has an settlement under completely drained
adequate factor of safety against failure. More conditions.
than 70 % of the settlement occurs in the soft

4
This comparison shows the reliability of the Tunnel Designer
Mohr-Coulomb Model to simulate the soil The Tunnel Designer is a separate window in
behaviour under both short and long term which the shape of a tunnel can be created on
conditions. This case history demonstrates how the basis of circle sections. The "Tunnel
PLAXIS, as a special geotechnical finite element Designer" with an example of a tunnel shape
program, helps the practising engineers to is presented in Fig. 1.
achieve more reliable predictions of the soil A tunnel is composed of sections. Each section
deformation as well as of its bearing capacity. is an arc (part of a circle), which is defined by
Last but not least more economic designs are a centre point, a radius and an angle. By
accessible. default, the tunnel is circular and composed
of 6 sections (3 sections for half a tunnel). The
Dr.-Ing. El-Mossallamy, Yasser first section starts at the lowest point on the
Assistant Prof., Ain Shams University, local y-axis (-90o) and runs in the anti-clockwise
Cairo, Egypt direction.
Trischler und Partner GmbH, Darmstadt,
Germany The position of this lowest point (starting point
of the first section) is determined by the
"Centre" coordinates and the "Radius". The end
point of the first section is determined by the
New developments "Angle". The starting point of a next section
coincides with the end point of the previous
The new Windows version of Plaxis has section. In this connection point, the two
special options for the creation and analysis sections have the same radial (normal of the
of tunnels. The creation of a circular or non- tunnel section), but not necessarily the same
circular tunnel shape has become very easy radius (see Fig. 2). The centre point of the next
with the new Tunnel Designer. Moreover, section is located on this common radial and
a new calculation option is available to the exact position follows from the section
simulate the arching effect in the soil radius. The radius and the angle of the last
around temporarily unsupported tunnels. section are determined such that the ending
radial coincides again with the y-axis.

After the creation of the full tunnel shape, the

tunnel can be included in the geometry model
of the environment.

Arching
In addition to the Contraction method for the
simulation of soil volume loss around shield
tunnels, it is now possible with Plaxis to
simulate the construction pocess of tunnels
with a sprayed concrete lining (NATM). The
major point in such an analysis is to account
for the arching effect and the deformations
that occur in the soil around the unsupported
front of the tunnel. A method that takes these
effects into account is the so-called ß-method
(Ref.1), but others have presented similar
methods under different names. The idea is
Figure 1 Tunnel Designer. that the initial stresses pk acting around the

5
Figure 2 Detail of connection point between
two tunnel sections

location where the tunnel is to be constructed

are divided into a part (1-ß)pk that is applied to
the unsupported tunnel and a part ßpk that is
applied to the supported tunnel (see Fig.3).
The ß-value is an 'experience value', which,
among other things, depends on the ratio of
the unsupported tunnel length and the
equivalent tunnel diameter.

Instead of entering a ß-value in Plaxis one can

use the staged construction option with a
reduced ultimate level of ∑Mstage. In fact,
when deactivating the tunnel cluster(s) an initial
out-of-balance force occurs that is comparable
with pk. In the beginning of the staged
construction calculation, when ∑Mstage is zero,
this force is fully applied to the active mesh
and it will be stepwise decreased to zero with
the simultaneous increase of ∑Mstage towards
unity. Hence, the value of ∑Mstage can be Figure 3 Schematic representation of the ß-
method for the analysis of NATM tunnels.
compared with 1-ß. In order to allow for the
second step in the ß-method, the ultimate trough. This defect is being examined at the
level of ∑Mstage should be limited to a value University of Delft and a modified procedure
of 1-ß while deactivating the tunnel cluster(s). is under development. Meanwhile, adequate
The third step in the analysis is again a staged use of advanced soil models may already
construction calculation in which the tunnel improve the results of deformation effects
construction is completed by activating the around shield tunnels (Ref. 2).
tunnel lining while ∑Mstage increases towards
unity. Hence, the remaining out-of-balance Literature:
force will be applied to the geometry including [1] Schikora K., Fink T. (1982). Berechnungs-
the tunnel lining. methoden moderner bergmännischer
Bauweisen beim U-Bahn-Bau. Bauingenieur,
Conclusion 57, 193-198.
In addition to the analysis of shield tunnels, the [2] Vermeer P.A. (1996). Tunnelling with the
new options in the Windows version make Hard Soil model. PLAXIS Bulletin No. 1.
Plaxis very suitable for the analysis of NATM
tunnels. On the other hand, the "Contraction" Ronald Brinkgreve, Plaxis BV
procedure, as generally used to simulate the
soil volume loss due to shield tunnelling seems
to overpredict the width of the settlement

6
 the base of the wall, while little happens at
shallow depth behind the wall. Thus, the
PLAXIS Practice II primary action is the heave of the excavation
THE UPLIFT OF RETAINING WALLS bottom in front of the wall, while the
requirement of vertical equilibrium gives the
In PLAXIS bulletin no. 4 1997 Schweiger and shear reaction behind the wall.
Freiseder present an interesting numerical
study of the uplift of a diaphragm wall In our model, the sheet-pile wall moves most
supported by horizontal struts. They conclude horizontally outwards at the top of the wall
that a reduction of the strength reduction and hardly moves at the tip, see Figure 2. This
factor reduces the uplift tendency of the wall deformation pattern causes a rotation of the
in the PLAXIS analyses. principal stresses at both sides of the wall, but
the shearing is more pronounced at shallow
GeoVita has studied the uplift of an depth behind the wall than in front of it. In this
unsupported sheet-pile wall, and came to the case, the primary action is the settlement of
opposite conclusion. To explain this, it is the terrain surface behind the wall, while the
necessary to study the overall soil/wall vertical equilibrium gives the shear reaction in
behaviour of both cases. front of the wall.
The uplift tendency of a wall depends on the
As soil is excavated in front of an unsupported actual shear stiffness of the soil at both sides
or horizontally supported wall, the vertical of the wall. A softer shear behaviour in front
swelling of the subsoil in front of the wall and of the wall allows more heave of the excavation
swelling at larger depths have a tendency to bottom compared to the uplift of the wall, and
drag the wall upwards along with it, while the thereby reduces the uplift tendency. On the
settlement of the terrain behind it has a other hand, a softer shear behaviour behind
tendency to drag the wall downwards in the the wall allows more settlement of the terrain
analyses. compared to the uplift of the wall, and thereby
increases the uplift tendency.

Thus, it can be concluded that the influence

of the strength reduction factor on the uplift
tendency of a wall depends on the problem
analysed. A reduced strength reduction factor

Figure 1 The deformed diaphragm wall.

In our opinion, the behaviour of the extremely

stiff wall in the study of Schweiger and
Freiseder is governed by a soft soil layer at the
base of the wall in combination with stiff struts.
This allows the wall to kick out at the base, see
Figure 1, and thereby causes a rotation of the
principal stresses and shearing in front and at Figure 2 The deformed sheet-pile wall.

7
tends to increase the uplift tendency if the continuum elements for the modelling of the
shearing is most pronounced at shallow depth wall. In our opinion, modelling of walls by
behind the wall, while it tends to reduce the continuum elements is likely to cause a much
uplift tendency if the shearing is most too stiff wall behaviour unless several element
pronounced in front of the wall. rows are used over the height of the beam
(thickness of the wall).
In addition Schweiger and Freiseder
investigated the use of beam elements versus Dr. S. KirkebØ, GeoVita as, Norway

ACTIVITIES
30, 31 MARCH AND 1 APRIL, 1998 OCTOBER, 1998
Short course on Computational Geotechnics Short course on Computational Geotechnics
(German), 'Finite Elemente Anwendungen in (English), Bandung, Indonesia
der Grundbaupraxis', Stuttgart, Germany
NOVEMBER, 1998
6 APRIL, 1998 Users meeting and Short course on
Release date of Plaxis Version 7.0 Computational Geotechnics (Norwegian)
Trondheim, Norway
16 APRIL, 1998
Users meeting (Dutch) Plaxis User Association JANUARY, 1999
(NL), Barendrecht, the Netherlands Standard course on Computational Geotechnics
(English), Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands
20-22 MAY, 1998
Short course on Computational Geotechnics 18-19 MARCH, 1999
(English), Cairo, Egypt "Beyond 2000 in Computational Geotechnics"
Symposium to celebrate 10 years Plaxis
25-27 MAY, 1998 international. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
International course for experienced Plaxis
users (English), For more information on these activities, please
Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands contact:
Plaxis bv
8-10 JUNE, 1998 P.O. Box, 851, Tel: +31 1050 30296
Short course on Computational Geotechnics 3160 AB Rhoon, Fax: +31 1050 18041
(English), Boston, U.S.A. the Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]
web-site: http://www.plaxis.nl
AUGUST, 1998
5th European Users meeting (English),
Karlsruhe, Germany