Engineering Rock Mechanics with PLAXIS

Standard Course
The objective of this course is to provide knowledge concerning with the usage of the Finite Element
(FE) software code PLAXIS for Engineering Rock Mechanics (ERM)-related problems such as
underground openings and slopes where the fundamental object of the design process is aimed at
enabling a safe and economic design of each part of these structures. An integral part of this process
involves the stability analyses of the structure under study along with the effective design of all
mitigation works aimed at achieving acceptable levels of risk in terms of safety and economics.

Based on the anticipated failure mode, the scale of the problem, available data and level of the
project there are different type of design analysis (e.g., analytical and semi-analytical methods,
empirical approaches, numerical methods). However, in order to address geotechnical issues,
traditional methods are not suitable because they make many assumptions and therefore
oversimplify reality. Numerical methods, which can represent the rock masses based on continuum,
discontinuum and hybrid continuum/discontinuum approaches, have thus become increasingly
adopted tool to analyze the rock mass behavior and for carrying out the concerning design analyses.

Although rapidly evolving discontinuum and hybrid approaches provide valuable modeling
techniques for some applications, continuum methods are still more commonly used in practical
rock engineering given the existing experience base in the technical community with respect to
modeling rock masses as continua, their relative accessibility and ease of use, and the continue
developments and improvements of constitutive models for use in continuum models.

Within the framework of continuum modelling, the FE software code PLAXIS is an efficient advanced
modelling tool capable to address the crucial aspects concerning with modelling rock engineering
problems through a proper definition of the rock mass model to be used for the numerical analyses,
accurate behavioral models from which the analysis can highly benefit along with specific tools for
efficiently help the building of the model, especially in those conditions where complex geometries
are required for the simulation of equally complex construction stages which also includes the
installation of support and reinforcement systems.

The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding to the use of PLAXIS when
dealing with numerical analysis for engineering rock mechanics design. The course intends to cover
topics on the role of the rock mass model for numerical analysis, the standard rock mass behavioral
laws, the tools aimed at performing effective modelling for the design of various structures in/on
rock like tunnels and other underground openings and rock slopes.

The course is divided into three session. The first session will provide fundamentals of finite element
numerical analysis for rock engineering whilst the second and third sessions will deal with the
simulation of rock engineering works, as detailed on the next page.

Engineering Rock Mechanics with PLAXIS – Standard Course Page 1

 Engineering Rock Mechanics with PLAXIS
Standard Course
Session 1 – Fundamentals of finite element modelling for engineering rock mechanics
Date: November 10, 2021
Time: 16:00 – 18:00 CET | 10AM – 12 Noon EST | 09:00 – 11:00 UTC

In this first session we will introduce how we can apply numerical methods as Finite Elements in
PLAXIS to Engineering Rock Mechanics. In this starting session we will cover:

• How can Finite Element analysis be used for Engineering Rock Mechanics?
• The role of the rock mass model for numerical analysis
• Behavioral models for rock engineering applications
o Modelling Rock Mass as Continuum: Hoek-Brown and Jointed Rock
o How to deal with discrete discontinuities

Session 2 – Modelling ERM works – Underground and Surface - Part I

Date: November 17, 2021
Time: 16:00 – 18:00 CET | 10AM – 12 Noon EST | 09:00 – 11:00 UTC

After the first session, we now want to look more in depth into underground structures modeling and
how to simulate the construction sequence. In this second session we will discover:

• Effective modelling of underground openings

o Using the Tunnel Designer for effective modeling of tunnels
o Creating advanced NATM tunnel progress simulations
• Modelling reinforcements and supports

Session 3 – Modelling ERM works – Underground and Surface - Part II

Date: November 24, 2021
Time: 16:00 – 18:00 CET | 10AM – 12 Noon EST | 09:00 – 11:00 UTC

The final session of this course will deal ERM works and mechanisms that happen near surface:
excavations and slopes. We will cover:

• Modelling simple and complex underground works (e.g., intersecting geometries)

• Modelling rock slopes
• Stability assessment of rock slope with numerical analyses

Engineering Rock Mechanics with PLAXIS – Standard Course Page 2