Dynamic-Slope Coupled Analysis

MIDASoft Inc.
Angel Francisco Martinez
Civil Engineer
Email : a.martinez@midasuser.com

Integrated Solver Optimized for the next generation 64-bit platform

Finite Element Solutions for Geotechnical Engineering

SRM

GTS NX

Strength Reduction Method (SRM)

Slope stability analysis using the finite element method is a numerical analysis method that
analyzes the minimum safety factor and failure behavior using various shapes, loads and
boundary conditions. In particular, the strength reduction method can be used to simulate the
failure process without any previous assumptions(Griffith et. al. 1999; Matsui, 1990).

The strength reduction method gradually decreases the shear strength and friction
angle until the calculation does not converge, and that point is considered to be the failure
point of the slope.
The maximum strength reduction ratio at that
point is used to calculate the minimum safety
factor of the slope.

SRM

GTS NX

Strength Reduction Theory

To simulate slope failure using the strength reduction method, the safety factor is
computed at an arbitrary point where the Mohr circle is in contact with the failure
envelope, as shown in the figure below. The stress state at this point can be
determined as the failure state and when this failure point increases, overall slope
collapse occurs. The finite element analysis at this limit state diverges, and the
safety factor at this point is defined as the minimum safety factor.

SRM

GTS NX

Staged Excavation with SRM at every stage

Seepage + SRM Coupled

Seepage

Shear Force total

GTS NX

Pore Pressure

Shear Force Iso surface

5

Dynamic Coupled

GTS NX

Nonlinear Dynamic Response

GTS NX

GTS NX supports nonlinear time history analysis that includes geometric, material
nonlinearity and it is based on implicit time integration.
The dynamic equilibrium equation in nonlinear time history analysis uses the
method as implicit time integration, just like for linear time history analysis, and uses the
following modified equilibrium equation.

Nonlinear time history analysis calculates the

convergence solution for each time step using
the nonlinear finite element solution; a method
of converging the accumulated incremental
solution from iterative calculations to the
correct solution. In the figure,
and
each represent the external forces at time
and time
, and the solution and incremental
solution between time and time can be
expressed as the following relationship:

:Incremental solution occurring at time increment t

Accumulated incremental solution and nonlinear finite element

convergence
7

Damping effect

GTS NX

GTS NX considers two types of damping: mass-proportional damping and

stiffness-proportional damping. There is also mode damping, which is only
applied for mode superposition. The damping effects in linear time history
analysis are applied to the damping matrix in the following form:

: Mass proportional damping coefficient for j th element

: Stiffness proportional damping coefficient for j th element
: Mass matrix of jth element
: Stiffness matrix due to material nonlinearity
: Damping matrix due to damping element (damper)

Dynamic-Slope Coupled

GTS NX

Slope stability analysis using the general SRM cannot be used as a factor of safety for the
dynamic state since slopes are more vulnerable to dynamic loads such as earthquakes. In a
dynamic equilibrium state, the ground receives stress from not only its self-weight, but also
from the inertial force due to vibrations.
GTS NX can conduct such slope stability analysis for the dynamic equilibrium state. The slope
stability analysis is based on the SRM and can be applied to 2D, axis symmetric and 3D
problems.

The input time during nonlinear time history

Analysis can use the stress state of the
Ground at that point as the initial values
to calculate the slope stability.

Check F.S. of slope using Pseudodynamic analysis

Check F.S. of slope directly through
Nonlinear + SRM coupled analysis
9

Overview

GTS NX

STEP 01

Geometry Import

STEP 02

Import Materials

STEP 03

Mesh generation

STEP 04

Boundary Conditions

STEP 05

Dynamic Load Conditions

STEP 06

Eigenvalue Analysis

STEP 07

TH + SRM Analysis Case

STEP 08

Perform analysis and check result

10

01 2D Slope

GTS NX

Procedure
2D nonlinear time history analysis
coupled with slope stability
Plane strain elements are used to
model ground condition.
Free Field boundary conditions used
for time history analysis.
Ground Acceleration used as dynamic
load.

For performing slope stability analysis using the finite element method (FEM), use higher order
elements and triangle shaped elements.

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02 Material for Soil

GTS NX

Name

Ground

Material

Isotropic
Mohr-Coulomb

Model Type

General
Elastic Modulus (E) (kN/m^2)
Poissons Ratio(v)

50,000

0.4

Unit Weight(r) (kN/m^3)

19

K0

1
Porous

Unit Weight(Saturated) (kN/m^3)

19
Non-Linear

Friction Angle
Cohesion (kN/m^2)

5
30

1-12

03 Property for Soil

GTS NX

Name

Ground

Property

2D

Model Type

Plain
Strain

Material

Ground

1-13

01 Create New Project

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Main Menu > New

Analysis Setting > Model

Type > 2D
Set units to kN / m / sec
2

14

02 Geometry works (Create or Import from AutoCAD)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Main Menu > Open

Select NTH with SRM > DXF>

1

Open
3

Select OK

15

03 Define Material / Property for Soil & Structures

GTS NX

Procedure
Import Materials and Properties
from finished file (Refer to Project
Overview > Material / Property).

Mesh > Prop. > Property

Import All

16

04 Generate Mesh (2D Element)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Mesh > Generate > 2D > Auto -

Area

Select Edge(s) > Select 6 edges

highlighted in figure.
2

Input element Size : 1

3

7
2

(1m between two nodes)

Select Property : Ground

3

Input Mesh Set Name : Ground

Click on the >> icon to open

the Advanced Option Window

Select Triangle as Element Type

Activate Higher Order Elements

Click OK > OK

17

05 Define Free Field Boundary

GTS NX

Procedure
1
1

Mesh > Element > Free Field

Line: Select the left and right

vertical edges of the modes
boundary as shown in the
image.

Create Free Field Property >

Free field type: Line
Width Factor : 10
3

Press Ok>OK
4

18

06 Define Boundary Condition (Ground)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Static / Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Constraint >

Advanced

Select all the bottom nodes

and the bottom free field as
shown in the images.

Restrict DOF Tx and Ty

Press OK

19

07 Load Condition (Self Weight)

GTS NX

Procedure
1
1

Static / Slope Analysis >

Load > Self Weight

Load Set Name : Self weight

20

08 Dynamic Load > Gravity

Procedure

GTS NX
1

Create Dynamic Load Case for

gravity to be considered in dynamic

analysis
1

Dynamic Analysis > Load > Time

Varying Static

Select load set and click ADD

Dynamic Load Set : gravity

Press OK

21

08 Dynamic Load > Ground Acceleration

Procedure

GTS NX

Create Time History Load Funcition

for dynamic analysis

Dynamic Analysis > Load > Ground

Acceleration

Activate X direction, Scale Factor: -1

and click in the icon to define the

function
3
3

Click ADD Time Function

Click EARTHQUAKE to select

6
6

function from out data base

5

Select 1940 El Centro, 270 degree

6

Press OK, > OK > CLOSE > OK

4
6

22

09 Analysis Case

GTS NX

Procedure
Create EigenValue Analysis Cases

1.

Analysis > Analysisi Case >

General > Eigenvalue
3

2.

Activate All Sets

3.

Analysis Control > 30 Modes

4.

Press OK > OK

3
1

23

10 Perform Analysis and Check Results

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Analysis > Analysis > Perform

Select OK

24

11 Post Processing (Results)

GTS NX

Procedure
1 * After analysis, model view

will be converted to PostMode automatically, can

back to Pre-Mode to change
model information.

Results can be Viewed in table

format.
3 Find the 2 highest mass

participation modes and write

down their corresponding periods.
MODE 1: 2.122940 sec
MODE 3: 1.256590 sec

25

12

Analysis Case (Nonlinear Time History + SRM )

GTS NX
3

Procedure
Create Nonlinear Time History &
SRM analysis Cases
3
1

1.

Time History & SRM

2

2.

Analysis > General > Nonlinear

1

Activate all sets

2

3.

Define Time Step

Name: time
Time Duration: 4 sec
Time Increment:: 0.02 sec
Intermediate Output:: 10
Press Add > OK > CLOSE
4

4.

Analysis Control > Dynamic >

Damping Method

-Select > Calculate from Modal

Damping > Period

-Type in the 2 periods from

Eigenvalue results
-Damping Ratio : 0.05

-Press OK
5
5

5. Analysis Control > SRM

-Time: 2.14 sec
Press Add > OK

Press OK

26

13 Perform Analysis and Check Results

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Analysis > Analysis > Perform

Select Nonlinear Time History

with SRM
3

Select OK

27

14 Post Processing (Post mode)

GTS NX

Procedure

Inspect the FOS or the SRM

analysis case.
FOS: 1.1
SRM>Plane Strain Strains>EEquivalent

Inspect the Maximum Total

Relative Displacements for the

non linear time history.

Nonlinear Time History > Max >
Total Relative Displacement
Max value: 1.349 m
2

28

GTS NX

Thank you
Angel Francisco Martinez
a.martinez@midasuser.com

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