FLAC3D (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions) is a three-dimensional program, employing an explicit finite difference scheme, which allows simulating the elasto-plastic behavior of soils, rocks or other structural materials. The materials are represented by polyhedral elements that form a three-dimensional mesh that conforms to the shape of the modeled object. Each element behaves according to an established stress-strain law (linear or nonlinear) in response to applied loads and boundary conditions. The material can plasticize and deform plastically. Thanks to the explicit calculation scheme and meshing technique used, collapse and plastic flow are modeled with high accuracy.

Mesh deformations can be taken into account with the option of large deformations, involving small increases in computational times. In addition, since no matrices are stored, memory requirements are not excessive, even for large three-dimensional models.

FLAC3D allows the modeling of water flows in saturated soils (in permanent or transient regime) and coupled flow-strain problems. In addition, dynamic analysis, thermal analysis and modeling of rheological behavior can also be carried out.


                                                                                        Modeling with FLAC3D

Plaxis is a powerful finite element software for stress-strain analysis of problems related to geotechnical engineering and rock mechanics. The capacity of the program is very wide since it allows to study any geotechnical problem: deformation analysis, calculation of primary and secondary consolidation, safety factors, dynamic analysis, flow analysis, thermal analysis, among others. In addition, it has both 2D (plane deformation and axilsymmetry) and 3D versions.

Among its main potentialities, it is worth mentioning its “easy” handling and the large library of constitutive models available for soils and rocks, from simple to complex constitutive models. It is a useful and reliable tool for both geotechnical engineers engaged in practical engineering and geotechnical research.


                                                                           Modeling in Plaxis

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