Software: Training
FLAC Training Course
Basic Concepts and Recommended Procedures for Geotechnical Analyses
August 31 - November 4, 2009
Registration
Itasca SA staff together with Professor Celso Romanel, of the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, will teach a course entitled FLAC: Basic Concepts and Recommended Procedures for Geotechnical Analyses. Registration for the course is made on the homepage of the university: http://www.cce.puc-rio.br/engecivil/flac.htm. The course will be taught in English and will feature Itasca SA staff members Dr. Catalina Alvarez and Myriam Fuentes.
Course Description
This course introduces users to the application of FLAC for geotechnical modelling. The five-day course discusses the basic concepts and modelling principles for this type of analysis, including: grid creation, application of boundary conditions, selection of appropriate constitutive (material) models, solution of the static equilibrium state, simulation of a dam construction, addition of groundwater pressures due the regional water table and the reservoir, calculation of the steady fluid-flow state, and solution for specified dynamic loading. The course includes discussion on using the built-in programming language in FLAC (called FISH) to manipulate the FLAC model. This is "hands-on" training, and practical exercises with FLAC are provided throughout the course.
The latest version of FLAC will be available for each course participant to use during the course. Course notes and copies of all example exercises will also be provided.
Course Outline
- Introduction to FLAC
- Overview of capabilities in geo-engineering analysis and design
- Introduction to the FLAC Graphical Interface
- Menu-driven versus command-driven operation
- FLAC Theoretical Background
- Explicit finite-difference solution
- Numerical analysis of continuum and dis-continuum mechanics
- FLAC Operation
- Solution procedure
- Introduction to Material Models to Simulate Geologic Materials
- Constitutive models to represent continuum and dis-continuum behaviour (continuum and interface material models in FLAC)
- Selecting appropriate material models and properties
- Model Building - Grid Generation
- Grid building/altering/shaping tools; adding interfaces
- Automatic Rezoning (large strain)
- Model Building - Basic Material Models
- Assigning materials and properties to a FLAC model
- Model Building - Boundary Conditions / Initial Conditions
- Applying boundary and initial conditions
- Model Building - Solution
- Solving for equilibrium and monitoring model response
- Model Building - Result Interpretation
- Plotting unbalanced force, gridpoint velocities, plasticity indicators
- Introduction to FISH
- FISH variables, arithmetic, syntax and data types
- Writing FISH functions
- Simple exercises using the FISH Editor and Library
- Factor of Safety Calculation
- Implementation of the strength reduction method in FLAC
- Using FLAC/Slope for Factor of Safety calculations
- Structure-Rock Interaction
- Introduction to structural reinforcement
- 2D / 3D equivalence in a 2D model
- Simulating Support for Underground Excavations and Emplacement Drifts
- Using interface elements for tunnel liner and rock interaction
- Backfill emplacement for drift support
- Coupled Modelling - Introduction to effective stress and groundwater analysis
- Effective stress calculation
- Governing equations for transient fluid flow and coupled mechanical analysis
- Recommended approaches for coupled calculations
- Introduction to Dynamic Analysis
- Considerations when running dynamic analyses
- Material models and damping
- Equivalent linear versus nonlinear analysis
- Liquefaction modelling principles
- Practical Applications: Earth Dam Model
- Solution of the static equilibrium state, simulation of dam construction.
- Addition of groundwater pressures due the regional water table and the reservoir, calculation of the steady fluid-flow state
- Practical Applications: Concrete Gravity Dam Model
- Setting up and running a seismic analysis for a concrete gravity dam
