:

itech - 2011
12-16 Rue de Vincennes
93100 Montreuil
France
Tel : +33 1 48 70 47 41
Fax : +33 1 48 59 12 24
cesar-lcpc@itech-soft.com
www.cesar-lcpc.com
 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

1. PREVIEW
This tutorial presents an example of coupled analysis with CESAR-LCPC. The focus is put on the specific
difficulties associated with hydro-mechanical coupling. This is the reason why all steps of the modelling
process are not detailed: especially, it is assumed that the reader already has a good knowledge of the
tools used in CLEO2D and an experience of the mesh procedures in 2D (The user can refer to tutorials 1
to 4 for details on these procedures).
The problem considered in this tutorial is the construction of an embankment on saturated soil. The
aim of the analysis is to obtain the evolution of the settlements over time due to soil consolidation. A
coupled analysis is adopted.
In a first approach, plasticity is neglected. Two approaches are proposed, using two algorithms of
CESAR-LCPC:
- MPNL: thermo-poro-mechanical analysis. The thermal phase will be blocked.
- CSLI: consolidation of material with linear mechanical behaviour
Nota: MPNL makes it possible to perform non-linear (elastoplastic) analysis, whereas CSLI does not.

2. DEFINITION OF THE STRUCTURE

2D geometry and loads (cf. Figure 1 & Figure 2)

We study an embankment lying on a horizontal saturated soil mass constituted of 3 distinct layers. Only
the soil mass will be modelled: action of the embankment is modelled by a density of surface force,
vertical, downward directed and variable to consider the variation of the embankment thickness. With
the assumption that the embankment is symmetrical, the study is limited to one half of the system.
q = 33,6 kPa

4m
b=20 m c=5 m layer 1

6m layer 2

layer 3
15 m

75 m

Figure 1: Position of the problem

p(t)

5
10
Time (s)

Figure 2: Increments of load

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

In a general way, it is preferable to avoid imposing instantaneous loadings in a coupled calculation:

they are prejudicial with the stability and the precision of the numerical diagrams, because they
introduce a discontinuity of the fields of solutions with respect to time. Actually, the majority of the
loadings taken into account in geotechnics are applied to an interval of time more or less important:
one thus recommends applying the loadings in a progressive way.

In the studied example, for example, one proposes to take into account a progressive increase in the
loading applied an interval of time [0, T] during time as indicated to Figure 2.

Materials data for MPNL

Parameter (*) Ko E n M (ou Q) Kxx Kyy Kxy
(**)
Young's Poisson's
Volumic Biot
Name - modulus ratio Porosity Permeability
weight modulus
(drained) (drained)
3 2 1 -1
Unit kg/m - MPa - - MPa m Pa- s
-11 -12
Layer 1 165 0,58 0,8 0,35 0,35 50 1,2. 10 1,2. 10 0
-10 -11
Layer 2 1100 0,56 10,8 0,25 0,4 5000 10 10 0
-10 -10
Layer 3 1030 0,60 50 0,3 0,3 6667 5,8. 10 5,8. 10 0

For all materials:

- the fluid density is f = 1000 kg/m ;
3

- the Biot coefficient b = 1;

- the thermal coefficients A0 = Am = 0;
- coefficient = 0;
- 1/Q = n/Kf + (b-n)/Ks with Ks infinite and Kf= 2 GPa.

*: No volumic loads are applied; therefore the value of this parameter has no influence on the results
(in terms of displacement and variation of the pore pressure field).

**: the initial stress field have no influence in this linear analysis.

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 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

3. SETUP OF THE MODEL DATA

3.1. General settings

Units
1. Set the units in the menu Preferences > Units.
2. In the tree, select the leaf General/Length and set the unit m in the bottom left combo box.
3. Select the leaf Mechanic/Force and select the unit kN in the bottom left combo box.
4. Select the leaf Mechanic/Displacement and select the unit mm.
5. Select the leaf Mechanic/Pressure, and choose kN/m2
6. Select the leaf Groundwater flow/Permeability and click on the E button to show the
exponent of the scientific notation.
7. Click on Validate.

Use Save as default to set this system of units as your user environment.

3.2. Geometry

A new project always starts in the stage Geometry definition .

Grid

1. Click on Grid on the vertical toolbar.

2. Set Grid Visibility and Magnetic as active.
3. Set Grid steps dx and dy to 2m.

Drawing of the geometry:

You can use the magnetic grid and the Broken line tool with the interactive length to draw this
project.
It is important to introduce the segments A and B for the application of the non uniform pressure,
model of the embankment.
A B C

D G J

E K
H

F L

Figure 3: Mesh density

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

3.3. Mesh

Density definition:

Define dense divisions in the area of high strains, i.e. below the embankment. Use a progressive
density definition to generate a progressive evolution from small segments to large segments on the
boundary edges.

1. Go to the stage on the project flow bar to start the definition of divisions along edges.

2. Select all edges except A, B, D and E. Click on Fixed length density. to divide these
segments with a fixed length. Enter 1 m. in the dialog box. Click on Validate.

The software algorithm will adjust the length for the best fit with the input value of
length.

3. Click on Variable density to divide the segment with a variation of lengths. Tick First
division and Last division to define the method. Enter 1 m as First division and 4 m as Last
division. Click on edges C, F , H. Click on Close.

The position of the click defines where the initial division is.

4. Select edges J, K and L. Click on to impose a length for the divisions of this segment.
Enter4 m in the Fixed length density dialog box. Click on Validate.

Figure 4: Mesh density

Meshing:

1. Go to the stage Mesh.

2. Select the area corresponding to the 3 layers.
3. Click on . Chose Quadratic as interpolation type. Chose Triangle as element shape. Click
on Validate to generate the mesh.

CESAR-LCPC proposes 3 levels for the surface meshing procedure, giving the possibility to generate a
coarse or dense mesh. The choice is made in Preferences>Program settings: linear interpolation =
coarse, cubic interpolation = dense.

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 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Groups definition:
This step is facultative but it eases the recognition of the group of elements if more than one has been
generated.

1. Click on Make groups.

2. Select the area corresponding to the layer 1, give name Layer #1 and apply.
3. Repeat operation #2 for the Layer #2 and Layer #3
4. Click on Validate.

Figure 5: View of the mesh

3.4. Calculation definition

Model definition:

1. Click on Model definition.

2. Enter Embankment consolidation as name.
3. Click Open.
- Chose Coupled problems as domain of application.
- Select MPNL as calculation module.
- Tick Plane strain as model configuration.
- Click on Validate.
4. Select Initialisation of parameters as initialization type.
5. Click on Validate.

Material properties:

In poro-thermo-mechanical analysis, elements have 3 types of properties: "Mechanical",

"Groundwater flow" and "Thermal".

1. Click on Properties.

2. Click on Properties assignment.

3. Select the group of elements for the group Layer #1.
4. Chose the type of property "Mechanical", then the material model Mohr-Coulomb without
hardening and fill in the mechanical properties of the layer 1.

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

5. Chose the type of property "Groundwater flow", then the material model Flow in porous
media and fill in the hydraulic properties of the layer 1.
6. Chose the type of property "Thermal", then the material model Heat conduction and fill in
the thermal properties of the layer 1. In this case, they are all set to the zero value in order to
block the thermal phase.
7. Click on Apply.
8. Repeat operation #2 to 6 for the group of elements of layer 2 and layer 3.
9. Click on Close.

4
Note that, with the choice of units adopted in section 3.1, permeabilities are expressed in m /(m.s).
-10 4
The horizontal permeability of layer 2, is equal to 10 m /Pa/s , and the corresponding value to be
-7 4
introduced in the dialog box is therefore : 10 m /kN/s.

Initial conditions:
In poro-thermo-mechanical analysis, the user sets 4 kinds of initial conditions: "Displacement" ( ),
"Stress" ( ), "Temperature" ( ) and "Pressure" ( ).
In this case, only initial stresses are applied.

1. Click on Initial conditions.

2. Click on .
3. Select Geostatic stresses.
4. Click on Insert to define 3 layers and fill in the following values:
Altitude (m) (KN/m3) KOX KOY
-10 10,3 0,60 0,60
-4 11 0,56 0,56
0 1,65 0,58 0,58

5. Click on Validate.

Boundary conditions:
In poro-thermo-mechanical analysis, the user sets 3 kinds of boundary conditions: "Mechanical" ( ),
"Thermal" ( ) and "Pressure" ( ).

1. Click on Boundary condition sets.

2. Enter Standard supports as a name. Click Open.

3. Click on . Click on to define side and bottom supports. Supports are automatically
affected to the limits of the mesh.
4. Click on ,
- Select all the nodes on the limits.
- Click on for "Prescribed temperature". Fill in the value "0".
- Click on Validate.
5. Click on ,
- Select the nodes on the upper limit.
- Click on for "Prescribed pressure". Fill in the value "0".
- Click on Validate.

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 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Figure 6 : view of the boundary conditions. Prescribed displacements.

Figure 7 : view of the boundary conditions. Prescribed temperature.

Figure 8 : view of the boundary conditions. Prescribed pressure.

Load case:

1. Click on Loading sets.

2. Enter Embankment pressure as a name. Click Open.
1. Select segments on edge A. For this selection, deactivate all in the Selection toolbar with
and in Selection options, activate Segments on edge.
2. Activate Lineraly distributed pressure. Fill in a value of p = 33,6 kPa. Apply.
3. Select segments on edge B.
4. Deactivate Uniform pressure. Fill in a value of p1 = 0 and p2 = 33,6 kPa. Validate.

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Figure 9 : view of the non-uniform pressure, model of the embankment

Analysis parameters for MPNL:

1. Click on Calculation parameters.

st
2. In the 1 tab - General parameter, enter the following values:
- Number of time steps: 51
- Start time value: 0
- Activate By groups to give groups of time steps.
- Define 2 groups as follows:
Number of steps Steps value
1 20 10000
2 30 40000
nd
3. In the 2 tab - Solution method :
- Semi-implicit scheme.
- Max number of iterations: 500
- Tolerance: 0,001
rd
4. In the 3 tab - Control of the boundary conditions
- The displacements, temperature and pressure prescriptions remain constant
during all the steps of calculation. Set the coefficients and the relaxation indices to
one (default option).
th
5. In the 4 tab - Control of the loads

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 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

th th
6. 5 to 8 tab: Storage of fields for use in future calculations.
- None.
th
7. 9 tab: Storage for "visualization of results
- The user can here select the time steps for which he requires results.
- Click "Storage for all time steps" to store the results for all the time steps.
- Secondary results include the stress field.
th
8. 10 tab: Listing options
- The user can here define the results that will be written in the listing file (.list file).
9. Validate.

Solve:

1. Click on Calculations launcher.

2. Select Embankment consolidation.
3. Select Create input files for the solver and calculate.
4. Click on Validate.

All the messages during the analysis will be shown in an Output Window. Especially, one needs to be
very cautious about warning messages, because these messages indicate that the analysis results
may not be correct. The result is saved as a binary file (*.RSV4) in the temporary folder (/TMP/),
defined during setup. The detailed analysis information is also saved in a text file (*.LIST).

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

4. FINITE ELEMENT RESULTS

4.1. Display of results

1. Click on Results visualisations.

2. Click on Display options.
- Select Deformed in order to show the deformed mesh.
- Select Pressure in Visualizations
- Select Scalar in Legend
- Validate.

3. Click on Item to adjust the time step.

- Click on to go to the latest step (step 51).
- Validate..
4. Click on Deformation options in order to adjust the deformed mesh display as by default it is
automatically fixed as a percentage of the total size of the model.
- Select Manual,
- Set that a value of 1 mm is represented by 0.01 m
- Validate
5. Click on Scalar options. Set Contouring for the Isovalues style. Set Groundwater flow for
the Colour scheme. Validate

Figure 10 : view of the non-uniform pressure, model of the embankment

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 Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

4.2. Graphs

1. Click on Results items.

2. Click on Points.
- By right-click with the mouse, select a node on the mesh. Its coordinates are
updated in the toolbox fields.
- Give a Name.
- Validate
3. Select these nodes.

4. Click on .Point set.

- Give a name to this point set, Group #1 for example.
- Validate.
As example (see figure), we have chosen 2 points near (x=2 ; y -6) in layer #2 and (x=6 ; y = -2) in layer
#1.

Figure 11 : view of the nodes defined as items for graphs

1. Click on Results in graphs.

2. Click on Curves for a point set.
- Select Pressure for Y-Axis
- Validate

The user can setup the graphs using Curve settings.

The user can export the graphs data using Export curves data.

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Tutorial 7 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Figure 12 : Evolution of vertical displacement in function of times steps (increments)

Figure 13 : Evolution of pressure in function of times steps (increments)

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Edited by :

12-16 rue de Vincennes

F-93100 MONTREUIL

Tl. : +33 1 48 70 47 41
Fax : +33 1 48 59 12 24
cesar-lcpc@itech-soft.com
www.cesar-lcpc.com

itech - 2011