Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016 Example 17

Example 17. SOIL system for generation of 2D and 3D soil masses

In this lesson you will learn how to:

– generate 2D problem based on 3D model of soil, perform automatic triangulation, assign physical and
mechanical properties for FE of soil;
– generate 3D soil model, perform automatic triangulation, assign physical and mechanical properties for FE
of soil.

Description:
Soil model from example No.9 is used for generation of 2D and 3D soil masses.
Two variants of 3D soil mass – RC foundation slab 6 x 6 m, thickness 600 mm.

Loads (variant of 3D soil mass):

load case 1 – dead weight.

Edit soil model

Step 1. Editing soil model

For generation of 2D and 3D soil masses, the soil model from example 9 will be applied (see the
Samples\Eng folder with examples).

Open the Example9.sld file from the above-mentioned folder.

To save the soil model under another name, on the FILE menu, click Save as.
In the Save as dialog box (see Fig.17.1) define the following data:
file name – Example17;
location where you want to save this file (Data folder is displayed by default).
Click Save.

Figure 17.1. Save as dialog box

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 Example 17 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016

To close the file with soil model, on the FILE menu, click Close.

Generate new problem (2D soil mass)

On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then point to All Programs. Point to the folder that contains
LIRA SAPR / LIRA-SAPR 2016 and then click LIRA-SAPR 2016.

Step 2. Generating new problem

On the FILE menu, click New (button on the toolbar).
In the Model type dialog box (see Fig.17.2) specify the following data:
problem name – Example17_1;
model type – 2 – Three degrees of freedom per node (translations X, Z and rotation Uy) X0Z.
Click OK .

Figure 17.2. Model type dialog box

It is also possible to open the Model type dialog box with a pre-defined type of model. To do this, on
the LIRA-SAPR menu (Application menu), point to New and click Model type 2 (Three DOF per node)

command . One more way to do the same: on the Quick Access Toolbar, click New and in the drop-

down menu select Model type 2 (Three DOF per node) command . Then you should define only
problem name.

To save all output data files for the problem in certain directory, select appropriate check box. The
directory name will coincide with the name of the problem. This directory will appear in the directory for
files with analysis results. This is helpful if you have to find output data files for certain problem, then
transfer these files or review and evaluate them with the help of Windows Explorer or other file managers.

Generate 2D soil model

Step 3. Generating 2D soil model

It is possible to generate 2D soil model even when VISOR-SAPR working area is empty.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016 Example 17

To start SOIL system:

On the Advanced edit options ribbon tab, on the SOIL panel, click 2D soil mass (FE model).
In the Create plane FE of soil dialog box (see Fig. 17.3), click Attach soil model.

Figure17.3. Create plane FE of soil dialog box

In the Open file with soil model dialog box (see Fig. 17.4), select the row Example17.sld.
Click Open.

Figure 17.4. Open file with soil model dialog box

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 Example 17 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016

Working window of the SOIL system activated with the 2D soil (FE model) button (Advanced
edit options ribbon tab, SOIL panel) and working window of the SOIL system activated with the Soil
model button (Advanced edit options ribbon tab, SOIL panel) are not the same.

To define and triangulate 2D vertical soil profile:

In the Arbitrary soil profile floating box, 2D vertical soil profile and the load are displayed. By
default, the soil profile is passed through coordinates of the first two boreholes.

To define arbitrary soil profile, in the Arbitrary soil profile floating box, click Specify points on plan
button.
Specify (in sequence) on model the beginning and the end of the soil profile line (see Fig. 17.5).

Figure 17.5. Defining the soil profile line

To increase the floating dialog box, drag the top border of Arbitrary soil profile box upward to
appropriate size.
In the same floating box, define the Step (triangulation step for this soil profile) as equal to 0.8 (m).
Click Triangulate .
To save the data, on the FILE menu, click Save (button on the toolbar).

To import data to VISOR-SAPR:

To return to the model of design model generation, click LIRA-SAPR button on the taskbar (by default, it
is located at the bottom of the screen).
To automatically generate stiffness parameters for soil FE as nonlinear ones, in the Create plane FE of
soil dialog box (see Fig. 17.6), select the Nonlinear stiffness of soil check box (by default, thickness of
such plane FE is taken as equal to 1m).
To display design model that contains only triangular FE of soil with stiffness types that correspond to
defined soil properties, click Obtain soil model.
Close the Create plane FE of soil dialog box.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016 Example 17

Figure 17.6. Create plane FE of soil dialog box

Two blocks are automatically generated in the obtained design model. One block includes nodes and
elements located at the place where soil is excavated (foundation pit), the second block includes nodes
and elements located outside the limits of foundation pit.

To complete generation of design model in VISOR-SAPR module:

For description how to complete generation of design model, see Example 10.

It is recommended that you should pack the model when design model is complete.
To obtain proper analysis results for plate elements, it is necessary to unify their local axes. To do this, on
the Edit plates context tab, on the Plates panel, click Local axes of plates button. Then unify local axes
of plates in the dialog box.
Load defined in the SOIL system is not transferred to design model because location of soil profile is not
known.

When design model is generated, you could carry out physically nonlinear analysis of the model and
evaluate analysis results.

Generate new problem (3D soil mass)

Step 4. Generating new problem (3D soil mass)

On the FILE menu, click New (button on the toolbar).

In the Model type dialog box (see Fig.17.7) specify the following data:
problem name – Example17_2;
model type – 5 – Six degrees of freedom per node (translations X, Y, Z and rotations Ux, Uy, Uz).
Click OK .

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 Example 17 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016

Figure 17.7. Model type dialog box

It is also possible to open the Model type dialog box with a pre-defined type of model. To do this, on
the LIRA-SAPR menu (Application menu), point to New and click Model type 5 (Six DOF per node)

command . One more way to do the same: on the Quick Access Toolbar, click New and in the drop-

down menu select Model type 5 (Six DOF per node) command . Then you should define only
problem name.

To save all output data files for the problem in certain directory, select appropriate check box. The
directory name will coincide with the name of the problem. This directory will appear in the directory for
files with analysis results. This is helpful if you have to find output data files for certain problem, then
transfer these files or review and evaluate them with the help of Windows Explorer or other file managers.

Generate model geometry for foundation slab

Step 5. Generating model geometry for foundation slab

On the Create and edit ribbon tab, on the Create panel, point to Create regular fragments and grids
list and click the Create slab command.
In the Create plane fragments and grids dialog box specify the following data:
spacing along the first axis: spacing along the second axis:
L(m) N L(m) N
0.5 12 0.5 12
other parameters remain by default (see Fig.17.8).
Click Apply .

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016 Example 17

Figure 17.8. Create plane fragments and grids dialog box

To save data about design model:

On the LIRA-SAPR menu (Application menu), click Save command .
In the Save as dialog box specify the following data:
file name – Example17_2;
location where you want to save this file (Data folder is displayed by default).
Click Save.

Generate 3D soil model

Step 6. Generating 3D soil model

To activate SOIL system:

On the Select toolbar, point to Select elements drop-down list and click Select elements button .
Select all elements of the model with the pointer.

On the Advanced edit options tab, on the Soil panel, click 3D soil mass (FE model) button .
In the Create 3D FE of soil dialog box (see Fig.17.9), in the List of elements included into foundation
area, select To list button. (Elements of foundation slab under which it is necessary to generate 3D soil
model will be included into list.)
Click Attach soil model.

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 Example 17 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016

Figure 17.9. Create 3D FE of soil dialog box

In the Open file with soil model dialog box (see Fig.17.4), select the file Example17.sld.
Click Open.

Working window of the SOIL system activated with the 3D soil (FE model) button (Advanced
edit options ribbon tab, SOIL panel) and working window of the SOIL system activated with the Soil
model button (Advanced edit options ribbon tab, SOIL panel) are not the same.

To generate 3D soil model:

In the SOIL system, on the MODEL menu, click Solid elements (button on the toolbar).
In the Solid elements dialog box (see Fig.17.10), according to schematic presentation define the
following data for the plan area:
distance between footing and left margin of mesh region (X) – Xl = 5 m;
distance between footing and right margin of mesh region (X) – Xr = 15 m;
distance between footing and top margin of mesh region (X) – Yt = 10 m;
distance between footing and bottom margin of mesh region (X) – Yb = 5 m;
distance from footing elevation (Z) – H = 20 m.
Then define the following parameters for triangulation of plan and division along the depth:
max (external) triangulation step – S = 1 m;
min wedge height – So = 0.5 m;
max wedge height – Sh = 1 m.
Define elevation – Z = 96 m.
Click Apply .

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016 Example 17

Figure 17.10. Solid elements dialog box

To save the data, on the FILE menu, click Save (button on the toolbar).

To import data to VISOR-SAPR:

To return to the model of design model generation, click LIRA-SAPR button on the taskbar (by default, it
is located at the bottom of the screen).
In the Create 3D FE of soil dialog box (see Fig.17.11), define the following parameters:
to consider the load from neighbouring structures defined in the SOIL system, select the Account of
additional loads on soil check box and define triangulation step (for areas where these loads are
applied) as equal to 0.5 m;
to automatically generate stiffness parameters for soil FE as nonlinear ones, select the Nonlinear
stiffness of soil check box.
To display design model of soil body that corresponds to defined properties, click Generate FE of soil.

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 Example 17 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2016

Figure 17.11. Create 3D FE of soil dialog box

To complete generation of design model in VISOR-SAPR module:

After import to VISOR-SAPR, to complete generation of design model, according to description in
previous examples, define the following data:
stiffness of foundation slab;
boundary conditions (bottom edge of soil should be fixed along the Z-axis, edges parallel to the X0Z-
plane – along the Y-axis, edges parallel to the X0Y-plane – along the X-axis);
loads;
table for modelling of nonlinear load cases.

It is recommended that you should pack the model when design model is complete.
To obtain proper analysis results for solids, it is necessary to unify their local axes. To do this, on the Edit
solids context tab, on the Solids panel, click Local axes of solids button . Then unify local axes of
plates in the dialog box.

When design model is generated, you could carry out physically nonlinear analysis of the model and
evaluate analysis results.

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