Anchored Sheet Pile Wall

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Finite Element Solutions for Geotechnical Engineering
00 Overview GTS NX

Procedure
• This tutorial is to simulate the
construction of an excavation
supported by a sheet pile wall
anchored with grouted tiebacks.
• The interface element is used
between the soil and the sheet pile
wall to simulate the soil-structure
interaction more realistically.
• The proposed geometry for this
exercise is 30m wide and 18m high,
as shown in the figure.
• The problem consists of two soil
layers and two stages of excavation
with water level.

• This topic covered

Modeling of sheet pile and ground
anchors
Using interface features
Pre-stressing a ground anchor

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01 Material & Property
GTS NX

Soil [unit : kN, m]

Name Sand Clay

Material Isotropic Isotropic

Model Type Mohr-Coulomb Mohr-Coulomb

General

Elastic Modulus (E) [kN/m2] 20,000 15,000

Poisson’s Ratio (v) 0.25 0.25

Unit Weight (γ) [kN/m3] 17 20

Ko Auto Auto

Non-Linear

Cohesion (c) [kN/m2] 1 10

Frictional Angle (Φ) [deg] 35 25

Dilatancy Angle (Φ) [deg] 0 0

Tensile Strength [kN/m2] 0 0

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01 Material & Property
GTS NX

Structure [unit : kN, m]

Name Sheet pile wall Anchor

Material Isotropic Isotropic

Model Type Elastic Elastic

Elastic Modulus (E) [kN/m2] 3e+07 2e+08

Poisson’s Ratio (v) 0.2 0.3

Unit Weight (γ) [kN/m3] 0 0

Element Type Beam Embedded Truss

Spacing [m] 1 1

Thickness [m] 0.2 -

Diameter [m] - 0.019

The structure is geometrically orthotropic with significant different stiffness in horizontal and vertical direction.

It is known that the axial stiffness in vertical direction is larger than the effective stiffness in horizontal direction (E1 > E2).

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02 Geometry Modeling
GTS NX

Procedure
1
• You can start the tutorial by opening
the start file in which basic materials
and properties have already been
predefined.

1 File > Open

- ‘1. Anchored Sheet Pile
Wall_start.gts’
- Open

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02 Geometry Modeling
GTS NX

In GTS NX, 2 types of coordinate system are used: Global coordinate system (GCS) and Work plane coordinate system
(WCS). GCS is a fixed coordinate system indicated in red(X-axis), green(Y-axis), and blue (Z-axis) colors at the right
bottom corner on the screen. WCS is a coordinate system which locates at center of the working window and moves with the
work plane. So if the work plane changes, WCS will also change. 3D absolute coordinates are necessary to locate geometry
in the space, but practically relative coordinates are commonly used, for example to indicate length. You can process
modeling by inputting 2D coordinates (XY plane in WCS) after moving the work plane to proper location.

Keep in mind that in case of inputting direction for extruding geometry or defining load/boundary conditions, it always follows
Global coordinate system.

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02 Geometry Modeling
GTS NX

Procedure
1 Start by importing a existing dwg 1
file.
File > Import > DWG(Wireframe)

Click “Select AutoCAD DWG File”

2 Select “Anchored Sheet Pile

Wall_drawing” from same folder
4
3 Click “Open”
4 Click “Apply”

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02 Geometry Modeling
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Geometry > Point & Curve >
Intersect
- Select: 7 curves
- OK

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Static/Slope Analysis >
Wizard > Anchor Modeling
- Start Location: (10,17)
- Direction: ABS x, y
- End Location: (18,14)
- Ungrouted Length: 5
- Grouted Length: 3.54
- Load Set: Anchor 1
- Axial Force: 20
- Pretension Type: Check on
- Property: 4: Anchor
- Mesh Set: Anchor 1
- Apply 2

2 - Start Location: (10,13)

- End Location: (18,10)
- Load Set: Anchor 2
- Axial Force: 50
- Mesh Set: Anchor 2
- OK

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Mesh > Generate > 2D
- Auto-Area tab
- Select: the top left section
- Size: 1
- Property: 1: Sand
- Mesh Set: 1st excavation
- Apply

2 - Select: the top right section

- Mesh Set: Sand
- Apply

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 - Select: the next area to be
excavated
- Property: 2: Clay
- Mesh Set: 2nd excavation
- Apply

2 - Select: the rest of the lower

part
- Mesh Set: Clay
- OK

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Hide all mesh sets and show only
the lines.

Mesh > Element > Extract

- Geometry tab
- Type: Edge
- Select: the 3 lines for sheet
pile wall
- Property: 3: Sheet pile wall
- Mesh Set: Sheet pile wall
- OK

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Mesh > Element > Interface
- Line tab
- Method: From Truss/Beam
- Select: all the wall elements
- Merge Nodes: Check on
- Select: the bottom node of
wall (the interface ends are
merged and cannot slip past each
other)
- Property Parameters: Wizard
- Strength Reduction Factor(R):
0.7
- OK
- Create Other Element: Rigid
Link
- Mesh Set: Wall Interface
- OK

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03 Mesh Generation
GTS NX

The interface material can be defined using the following equation. Using the stiffness of adjacent elements and nonlinear
parameters, the virtual thickness(tv) and strength reduction factor(R) is applied. Interface material stiffness and parameters
are applied differently according to the relative stiffness difference between neighboring ground and structural members. The
wizard can be used to simplify this process.

The general strength reduction factor for structural members and neighboring ground properties are as follows.

Checking the element size consideration calculates the interface material properties considering the average length(line),
average area(face) of the neighboring ground element when creating an interface. In other words, the average length(l),
average area(A) are multiplies to the virtual thickness in the equation below to calculate the tangent, normal direction stiffness
of the interface.

If the consideration is not checked, the unit length(area) is applied. The thickness is defined separately for a line interface.
The thickness is an important element when using the interface on a ground material that displays hardening behavior.
Generally, the neighboring ground particle size is input, but if an accurate numerical value is not available, the default value
from the program is used. For a 3D model, like the 1 in the example above, the surface interface does not need a thickness.
When defining the stiffness against seepage for an interface element, the ‘permeability coefficient’ can be defined to be the
same as the permeability coefficient of the ground. If the option is not checked, the layer is considered to be impermeable.

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04 Load & Boundary Conditions
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Static/Slope Analysis >
Boundary > Water Level
- Edge tab
- Select: edges to define the
water level as highlighted in
the figure (Do not need to
select vertical edges.)
- Interval : 0.1 (m)
- Name: Initial water level
- Apply
2 - Select: edges to define the
water level as highlighted in
the figure 2
- Interval : 0.1 (m)
- Name: Water level at ex 2
- OK

 In the works tree, there are 3


different water level functions
created automatically.

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04 Load & Boundary Conditions
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Show all mesh sets.

Static/Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Constraint
- Auto tab
- Boundary Set: Ground support
- OK

2 Static/Slope Analysis > Load >

Self Weight
- Gy: -1
- Load Set: Self weight
- OK 2

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04 Load & Boundary Conditions
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Static/Slope Analysis > Load >
Pressure
- Edge tab
- Selection filter: Edge (E)
- Object Type: 2D Element Edge
- Select: the ground surface
behind the wall (as highlighted
in the figure)
- Direction Type: Normal
- P or P1: 10 kN/m2
- Load Set: Surcharge
- OK

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Static/Slope Analysis >
Construction Stage > Stage Set
- Stage Type: Stress
- Add
- Double click the ‘Construction
Stage Set-1’

2 - Stage Name: Initial phase

- Select the mesh, boundary and
load sets, and drag & drop them
into Activated Data from Set Data. 2
(as shown in the figure)
- Show Data: Activate
- Define Water Level for Global:
Check on
- Input 1(m) with ‘Initial water
level’ function
- Clear Displacement: Check on
- Save

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 - New
- Stage Name: Install wall
- Select the mesh sets, and drag
& drop them into Activated &
Deactivated Data from Set Data.
(as shown in the figure)
- Save

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 - New
- Stage Name: 1st excavation
- Select the mesh and load sets,
and drag & drop them into
Activated & Deactivated Data
from Set Data. (as shown in the
figure)
- Save

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 - New
- Stage Name: 2nd excavation
- Select the mesh and load sets,
and drag & drop them into
Activated & Deactivated Data
from Set Data. (as shown in the
figure)
- Define Water Level for Global:
Check on
- Input 1(m) with ‘Water level at
ex 2’ function
- Save

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 - New
- Stage Name: Surcharge
- Select the load set, and drag &
drop them into Activated Data
from Set Data. (as shown in the
figure)
- Save

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05 Analysis Setting
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Analysis > Analysis Case >
General
- Title: Anchored Sheet Pile
Wall
- Solution Type: Construction
Stage
- Analysis Control
- Initial Stage for Stress Analysis:
Check on
- Initial Stage: 1:Initial phase
- Apply K0 Condition: Check on
- OK
- Output Control
- Strain: Check on 
- OK

2 Analysis > Analysis > Perform 2

- Analysis Case: Check on
- OK

 To plot the relative displacement

of interface elements between the

soil and the sheet pile wall when
interfacial behavior occurs

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06 Results
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 1st excavation > Displacement >
TOTAL TRANSLATION (V)
(You can see a slight horizontal
displacements of the sheet pile
wall and the heave of the bottom
of the excavation, due to the 1st
excavation.)

Result > General > Smooth:

Fringe
Result > General > Deform:
Deformed + Undeformed
(Feature) 2

2 2nd excavation > Displacement >

TOTAL TRANSLATION (V)
(Here, the bulging of the wall is
more pronounced.)

Result > Advanced > Probe

- click the point at the head of the
lower anchor

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06 Results
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Surcharge > Truss Element
Forces > AXIAL FORCE
(You can see the axial force
distribution throughout the
anchors.)

Result > General > No Results:

Feature Edge
Result > General > Deform:
Undeformed
Result > Advanced > Probe
- Entity Type: Element
- Max

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06 Results
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Surcharge > Beam Element
Forces > BENDING MOMENT Y
(You can look at the moments in
the sheet pile wall. Notice the
inflection in the moment curve at
the location of the lower anchor.)

Properties > Diagram

- Reverse: Check on (True)
- Apply

Result > Advanced > Probe

- Entity Type: Element
- Abs Max

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06 Results
GTS NX

Procedure
1
1 Surcharge > Interface Relative

Displacement > TANGENTIAL Y

 The shear displacement of

interface between the sheet pile
wall and the soil

The wall itself was set to be

elastic so it won’t exhibit any
failure. However, the interface
between the sheet pile wall and
the soil shows some failure,
indicating that the interface is
slipping or separating.
There is little slip below the lower
anchor, meaning that the anchor
is successfully preventing slip or
separation from occurring.
You will see values only at the
very bottom of the wall. This
means that we are seeing the slip
on the left side of the wall rather
than on the right.

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 GTS NX

Thank you!

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