Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

CIVL 4750 Numerical Solu5ons to

Geotechnical Problems
Lecture 8: 2D FDM and the Use of FLAC

Jidong Zhao
 Last & This Lecture
•  Last lecture
–  2D FEM stress-strain analysis

•  This lecture
–  2D Finite Difference Method Procedures
–  Use of FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of ConNnua)

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 2

 2D FDM FLAC
•  TheoreNcal basis of FLAC
–  Finite Difference Method soluNon scheme
–  FDM and FEM comparison
–  Numerical stability
•  General soluNon procedures
–  Model step
–  Step to equilibrium
–  Perform alteraNons
–  Step to soluNons
•  Boundary and iniNal condiNons
•  Loading and sequenNal modeling
•  Slope stability analysis by FLAC
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 3
 •  Two dimensional explicit finite Difference program
for engineering mechanics computaNon
•  Simulate geostructures that may undergo plasNc
flow when their yield limits are reached
•  Explicit Lagrangian calculaNon scheme and mixed-
discreNzaNon zoning technique used
•  No matrices are formed, less memory and quicker
computaNon
•  Drawback with accuracy – can be overcome by
automaNc inerNa scaling and damping.

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 4

 FDM & FEM
•  Finite Difference Method
–  Each derivaNve in the set of governing equaNons is
replaced directly by an algebraic expression wri`en in
terms of the field variables at discrete points in space;
these variables are undefined within elements.
–  Do not need element/global sNffness equaNons, using
explicit method
•  Finite Element Method
–  Requires that the field quanNNes (stress, displacement)
vary throughout each element using specified funcNons.
The formulaNon involves the adjustment of these
funcNons and parameters to minimize errors/energy.
–  Need element matrices integrated to global sNffness
matrix, more oeen using implicit method (e.g., iteraNons)
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 5
 Explicit vs. Implicit

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 6

 •  Find the staNc soluNon by solving a dynamic
equaNons of moNon
•  Include inerNa terms and thus consider kineNc
energy
•  Each box in the
figure updates all of
grid variables from
known values.
•  Use small steps

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 7

 Finite Difference Solu5on Scheme
Newton’s law of moNon
At node i:

For large strain problem,

coordinates are updated:

So the general soluNon procedure will be

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 8

 Finite Difference Solu5on Scheme
1D Bar example

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 9

 Finite Difference Solu5on Scheme
For staNc problem, the calculaNon must proceed
unNl velocity approaches zero, or the unbalanced
force approaches zero.

The process can be accelerated by adopNng a damping

Damping force is proporNonal to the unbalanced force and acts

against moNon. The damping constant α is set to 0.8 in FLAC.

FLAC uses a language called FISH to implement the algorithms

and advanced consNtuNve models.

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 10

 FLAC Example

Maximum unbalanced force for the y-displacement at the center of the column
problem of sudden end-load for the problem of sudden end-load
applica5on to a column applica5on to a column

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 11

General Solu5on Procedures
1)  Model setup
•  Generate grid: avoid long, thin zones with
aspect raNo >5 and avoid jumps in zone size
•  Define consNtuNve models and material
parameters
•  Define boundary condiNons and iniNal
condiNons
2)  Step to equilibrium
•  By default solve, calculaNons conNnue up
to ΣF=0.1% applied load
•  Use set force=100 to define a specified
equilibrium
•  Use step 500 to conduct specified
calculaNon steps

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 12
 General Solu5on Procedures
3) Perform alteraNons
• excavaNon of material
• addiNon or deleNon of gridpoint loads or pressure
• change of material model or properNes for any zone
• fix or free velociNes for any gridpoint

4)  Step to soluNons

5)  View results

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 13

 Cons5tu5ve Models in FLAC
•  ElasNc models
–  ElasNc isotropic model
–  ElasNc, transversely isotropic model
•  PlasNc models
–  Drucker-Prager model
–  Mohr-Coulomb model
–  Ubiquitous joint model
–  Strain-hardening/soeening model (based on MC
model)
–  Double yield model
–  Modified Cam-clay model
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 14
 Grid Genera5on
Rules for good zones
(grid):
•  The area of the quadrilateral
must be posiNve, and
•  Each of at least one pair of
triangular subzones which
Nonuniform rectangular grid Non-rectangular grid
comprise the quadrilateral
must have an area greater
than 20% of the total
quadrilateral area.
•  FDM is tradiNonally restricted
to rectangular grids with
square zone, now is extended
to using any element shapes
as in FLAC.
Combined commands
Generate arc for Tunnel
for Tunnel
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 15
 Op5ons of Applying Ini5al Stresses
•  Do not iniNalise stresses, allow gravity to compact the
layer
•  IniNalise horizontal stress, but not verNcal stress
•  Impose constant stress at the lateral boundaries rather
than zero lateral horizontal displacement
•  Remove irregular overburden from iniNal grid of uniform
thickness
•  Allow plasNc flow to occur, thus removing stress
concentraNons
•  Build up the profile layer by layer; equilibrate each layer
•  Simulate the geological process that have occurred in the
field

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 16

 FLAC/SLOPE
Strength Reduc5on Technique
–  DefiniNons
•  Bishop (1955): Factor of safety is the raNo between
shear strength of the material and the minimum
strength necessary to avoid the failure.
•  Duncan (1996): Factor of safety is the constant
between which the cohesion and the coefficient of
fricNon must be divided to drive the slope to a limit
equilibrium state

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 17

 Strength Reduc5on Technique
•  SRT
–  Finite element (difference) analysis of slope stability does not
provide an explicit factor of safety but it uNlizes the so-called
shear strength reducNon technique (Giam and Donald, 1988;
Matsui and San, 1992). The factor of safety of a slope is defined
as the number by which the shear strength parameters must
be factored down to bring the slope to failure. Using this
technique, the mobilized shear strength parameters, c'm and
φ'm, are obtained by dividing c' and tan φ' by the strength
reducNon factor (SRF) as follows:

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 18

 Strength Reduc5on Technique
•  DefiniNon of global slope failure
–  bulging of the slope profile (Snitbhan and Chen, 1976)
–  limiNng shear stresses on the potenNal slip surfaces (Duncan
and Dunlop, 1969)
–  non-convergence of numerical soluNon (Zienkiewicz and
Taylor, 1989)
•  Ugai and Leshchinsky (1995) considered an analysis to be
convergent if the increment of nodal displacement between
two successive values of SRF divided by the current total
displacement is less than 10-5 within 500 iteraNons.
•  Giam and Donald (1988) idenNfied numerical non-
convergence by reference to the nodal displacements.

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 19

 Interpreta5on of Failure
•  IniNaNon of instability - displacement starts to
accelerate.
•  Global failure - non-convergence of numerical
soluNon.

Phase III: plasNc failure

(Global failure of slope)
B
Strength reducNon factor, SRF

Phas e II: Rapid expansion of plasNc zone

A
IniNaNon of instability
c'
c'm =
SRF
Phase I: elasNc state or limited,
isolated plasNc zones ⎛ tan φ' ⎞
φ'm = tan −1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ SRF ⎠

O
Nodal displacement

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 20

 FLAC/SLOPE
FLAC/Slope uses the strength reducNon method as the core of
a new code that models slope
stability problems under a wide
variety of slope condiNons.
These include: arbitrary slope
geometries, mulNple layers,
pore pressure condiNons,
heterogeneous soil properNes,
surface loading, and structural
reinforcement.

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 21

 FLAC/SLOPE

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 22

 FLAC/SLOPE
Example (user-defined soluNon)
Influence of laterally loaded sleeved piles on slope stability
Lateral load

Local instability

Compressive
material
Pile shae Reinforcemen
t
Permanent
Pile liner
Global failure
Steel casing

The above problem: a laterally loaded Details of a

pile in a marginally stable slope may sleeved pile
cause instability of the slope
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 23
 FLAC/SLOPE
Numerical Model and Lower Upper
Parameters slope slope

60 m
y

Mohr-Coulmb model Piles

4D
with a tension cutoff ( a) Plan view
x

Es=50 MPa for soil and z

0.3 MPa for sleeving, Lateral load
x
2
Flexible pile, EI=20.4 3 1 5 7.5 m

GNm2. 4
A A
Sleeving (if any), length
22425 zones Completely
decomposed
30 m =7.5 m, thickness =0.25 m
60 m
granite
c' = 10 kPa 2.0 m diameter pile
φʹ = 35°

(b) Cross section

160 m
CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 24
 FLAC/SLOPE
2.0

Strength reduction factor SRF 1.6

1.2
Local instability
0.8

0.4
Point 1 Point 2 Point 3
Point 4 Point 5
0.0
0.0 -0.3 -0.5 -0.8 -1.0
Nodal Displacement / pile diameter

Example relaNonship between SRF and nodal

Figure 10: SRF vs. nodal displacements of the
slope with sleeved pile under a lateral load of
displacements
6000 kN

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 25

 FLAC/SLOPE

2.4
Factor of safety 2.0

1.6

1.2

0.8 Global stability, natural slope

Local stability, natural slope
Local stability, unsleeved pile
0.4 Local stability, sleeved pile
Global stability, unsleeved pile
Global stability, sleeved pile
0.0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000
Lateral load (kN)
Figure 11: Comparisons of factors of safety of
Factor of Safety of slope: with unsleeved and sleeved piles
slopes with sleeved and unsleeved piles

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 26

 Summary
•  2D FDM code FLAC

•  Next lectures
–  Tutorials using PLAXIS & FLAC

CIVL 4750 | Lecture 8 | HKUST 28