FLAC Training Course

Beijing, China
October 17, 2005
 Training Schedule
October 17, 2005 (morning)
08:00-09:45 Introduction to FLAC
- Overview of potential applications and capabilites in
geo-engineering analysis and design
- New features in FLAC 5.0 and FLAC3D 3.0
Introduction to the FLAC Graphical Interface
- Menu-driven versus command-driven operation
- Simple tutorial
09:45-10:00 Break
10:00-12:00 FLAC Theoretical Background
- General-purpose versus limited-purpose analysis
- Explicit finite-difference solution
Practical Exercise
- Slope stability analysis
FLAC & FLAC3D Basic Features

 Nonlinear, large-strain simulation of

continua
 Explicit solution scheme, giving
stable solutions to unstable
physical processes
 Interfaces or slip-planes are
available to represent distinct
interfaces along which slip and/or
separation are allowed, thereby
simulating the presence of faults,
joints or frictional boundaries

Displacements resulting from

construction of a shallow tunnel

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
FLAC & FLAC3D Basic Features

Built-in material models:

•"null" model,
•three elasticity models (isotropic,
transversely isotropic and
orthotropic elasticity),
•eight plasticity models (Drucker-
Prager, Mohr-Coulomb, strain-
hardening/softening, ubiquitous-
joint, bilinear strain-
hardening/softening ubiquitous-
joint, double-yield, modified Cam-
clay, and Hoek-Brown)
User-defined models written in
FISH (FLAC)
Braced excavation
Continuous gradient or statistical
distribution of any property may be
specified

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
FLAC & FLAC3D Basic Features

Built-in programming language

(FISH) to add user-defined
features
FLAC and FLAC3D can be
coupled to other codes via TCP/IP
links
Convenient specification of
boundary conditions and initial
conditions

Model grid for service tunnel connecting

two main tunnels

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
FLAC & FLAC3D Basic Features

Water table may be defined for

effective stress calculations
Groundwater flow, with full coupling
to mechanical calculation (including
negative pore pressure, unsaturated
flow, and phreatic surface conditions)
Structural elements,such as tunnel
liners, piles, sheet piles, cables, rock
bolts or geotextiles, that interact with
the surrounding rock or soil, may be
modeled

Excavation supported by shotcrete wall,

tiebacks and soilnails

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
FLAC & FLAC3D Basic Features

Automatic 3D grid generator

(FLAC3D) using pre-defined shapes
that permit the creation of intersecting
internal regions (e.g., intersecting
tunnels)
Full graphical user interface in FLAC;
partial gui in FLAC3D (for plotting and
file handling)
Extensive plotting features –
contours, vectors, tensors, flow, etc.)
Graphical output in industry-standard
formats includes PostScript, BMP,
JPG, PCX, DXF (AutoCAD), EMF, and
a clipboard option for cut-and-paste
procedures Sequential excavation and support for a
shallow tunnel

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
FLAC & FLAC3D Optional Features

Optional modules include:

• thermal, thermal-mechanical, and thermal-poro-
mechanical analysis including conduction and
advection;
• visco-elastic and visco-plastic (creep) material
models;
• dynamic analysis capability with quiet and free-
field boundaries, and
• user-defined constitutive models written in C++

Liquefaction failure of a
pile-supported wharf

Advanced, Two and Three Dimensional

Continuum Modeling for Geotechnical Analysis
of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support
 FLAC Version 5 & FLAC3D Version 3
New Features
1. Hysteretic damping – more realistic and more efficient than
Rayleigh damping for dynamic analysis
2. Built-in Hoek-Brown constitutive model
3. Thermal advection (convection) logic for thermal / fluid-flow
analysis
4. Network key license version
5. More efficient calculation of fluid-flow / mechanical analysis
(FLAC)
6. New structural element types: liner elements, rockbolt elements,
strip elements (FLAC)
7. Increased calculation speed (10-20% faster) due to optimization to
calculation cycle and updated compiler (FLAC3D)
8. New MOVIE facility in AVI or DCX format (FLAC3D)
9. Optional hexahedral-meshing preprocessor (3DShop) to facilitate
creation of complex meshes (FLAC3D)
MODELLING-STAGE TABS
 FLAC Background

1. General-purpose vs Limited–purpose analysis

2. Explicit finite-difference solution

 Geotechnical Software

General-purpose
versus
Limited-purpose methods
 “Limited-purpose” programs -

“Limited-purpose” programs are commonly used in geo-

engineering practice because they provide rapid solutions
and are generally very easy to operate. These programs
are based upon simplifying assumptions.
One example of a limited-purpose solution method is the
limit-equilibrium method. This type of program executes
very rapidly, and uses an approximate scheme – mostly the
method of slices – in which a number of assumptions are
made (for example, the location & angle of inter-slice
forces). Several assumed failure surfaces are tested, and
the one giving the lowest factor of safety is chosen.
Equilibrium is only satisfied on an idealized set of surfaces.
 Examples of Limited-purpose Programs

Limiting condition Example program

Forces only SLOPE/W
(limit equilibrium) XSTABL
SHAKE
Linear properties
(equivalent linear method)

Subgrade reaction LPILE

(Winkler springs) WALLAP
 “General-purpose” programs -

A “general-purpose” program provides a “full” solution of

the coupled stress/displacement, equilibrium and
constitutive equations. Given a set of properties, the
change in both the deformation and stress state are
calculated --- e.g., the system is either found to be stable or
unstable, and the resulting deformation is determined.

The general-purpose approach is much slower than

comparable limited-purpose methods, but much more
general. Only in the past few years has it become a
practical alternative to the limited-purpose methods (as
computers have become faster).
Comparison of Limited-Purpose and General-Purpose Solutions
 Comparison of
“General-purpose” to “Limited-purpose” programs -

Limiting conditions can be prescribed for “general-purpose”

programs to approximate the simplifying assumptions built
into “limited-purpose” programs. In this way, the “general-
purpose” program can be validated.

Further, when the limiting condition is removed from the

“general-purpose” program, the influence of the simplifying
assumption in the “limited-purpose” program can be
assessed.
We suggest using both general-purpose and limited-
purpose methods in parallel, to get confidence in the
general-purpose method.

- if they give the same result, this provides reassurance

- if they give different results, then the reasons can be explored; for
example, is there a different mechanism?

The combined approach can be justified in terms of quality

assurance.
Finite Difference Formulation
of FLAC
 BASIS OF FLAC

FLAC solves the full dynamic equations of motion even for

quasi-static problems. This has advantages for problems that
involve physical instability, such as collapse, as will be
explained later.

To model the “static” response of a system, a

relaxation scheme is used in which damping absorbs kinetic
energy. This approach can model collapse problems in a more
realistic and efficient manner than other schemes, e.g.,
matrix-solution methods.
 A SIMPLE MECHANICAL ANALOG

m
u, u , u
F(t)

Newton´s Law of Motion

du
F  ma  m
dt
For a continuous body, this can be generalized as
du i ij
   gi
dt x j

where  = mass density,

xi = coordinate vector (x,y)
ij = components of the stress tensor, and
gi = gravitation
 STRESS-STRAIN EQUATIONS

In addition to the law of motion, a continuous

material must obey a constitutive relation -
that is, a relation between stresses and strains.
For an elastic material this is:

In general, the form is as follows:

where
 A GENERAL FINITE-DIFFERENCE FORMULA

In the finite difference method, each derivative in the previous equations

(motion & stress-strain) is replaced by an algebraic expression relating
variables at specific locations in the grid.

The algebraic expressions are fully explicit; all quantities on the right-hand
side of the expressions are known. Consequently each element (zone or
gridpoint) in a FLAC grid appears to be physically isolated from its neighbors
during one calculational timestep.

(The time-step is sufficiently small that information

cannot propagate between adjacent elements
during one step)

This is the basis of the calculation cycle:

 Basic Explicit Calculation Cycle

For all gridpoints (nodes)

velocities Equilibrium Equation nodal forces
(Equation of Motion)
du i ij
   gi
dt x j
Gauss´ theorem Fi  ijn jL

For all zones (elements)

Stress - Strain Relation

strain rates (Constitutive Equation) new stresses

e.g., elastic
FLAC’s grid is internally composed of triangles. These are
combined into quadrilaterals. The scheme for deriving
difference equations for a polygon is described as follows:

Overlaid Triangular element Nodal force vector

Elements with velocity vectors
 FLAC:
For all elements...

Gauss’ theorem, f
 nifdS  
S A x
i
dA

is used to derived a finite difference formula for elements of arbitrary shape.

u (i b ) nodal velocity
b
S

a
u (i a ) nodal velocity

For a polygon the formula becomes f 1

  f n i S
x i A S

This formula is applied to calculating the strain increments, eij, for a zone:
u i

1
x j 2A S
 u (i a )  u (i b ) n jS

1  u i u j 
eij     t
2  x j x i 
 FLAC:
For all gridpoints...

Once all stresses have been calculated, gridpoint forces

are derived from the resulting tractions acting on the
sides of each triangle. For example,

Then a “classical” central finite-difference formula is used

to obtain new velocities and displacements:

(… in large strain mode)

 Overlay & Mixed-Discretization Formulation of FLAC:

+ /2 =

Each is constant-stress/constant-strain:

Volume strain averaged over . Deviatoric strain evaluated for

and separately
(Mixed discretization procedure)
Solution is “Updated Lagrangian” (grid moves with the material), and
explicit (local changes do not affect neighbours in one timestep )
 Methods of solution in time domain
numerical grid displacement
F
u
stress

u force
F
x
EXPLICIT IMPLICIT
All elements:
Assume (u) element
F  f u, 
(nonlinear law)
are fixed F  Ku
All nodes: Assume (F) global
u    F t
m
are fixed mu Ku  F
Repeat for Correct if
n time-steps x min
t  Solve complete set of equations
Cp for each time step
No iterations
within steps p-wave speed Iterate within time step if
nonlinearity present
Information cannot physically
propagate between elements during
one time step
 Methods compared

Explicit, time-marching Implicit, static

1. Can follow nonlinear laws without 1. Iteration of the entire process is

internal iteration, since necessary to follow nonlinear laws
displacements are “frozen” within
constitutive calculation.

2. Solution time increases as N3/2 for 2. Solution time increases with N2 or

similar problems. even N3.

3. Physical instability does not cause 3. Physical instability is difficult to

numerical instability. model.

4. Large problems can be modeled 4. Large memory requirements, or disk

with small memory, since matrix is usage.
not stored.

5. Large strains, displacements and 5. Significantly more time needed for

rotations are modeled without extra large strain models.
computer time.
 DYNAMIC RELAXATION

In dynamic relaxation gridpoints are moved according to

Newton’s law of motion. The acceleration of a gridpoint is
proportional to the out-of-balance force. This solution scheme
determines the set of displacements that will bring the system
to equilibrium, or indicate the failure mode.

There are two important considerations with dynamic relaxation:

1) Choice of timestep
2) Effect of damping
 TIMESTEP

In order to satisfy numerical stability the timestep must satisfy the

condition: xmin
t 
Cp

where Cp is proportional to 1 /mgp. For static analysis, gridpoint

masses are scaled so that local critical timesteps are equal ( t  1 )
which provides the optimum speed of convergence. Nodal inertial
masses are then adjusted to fulfill the stability condition:

Note that gravitational masses are not affected.

 DAMPING

Velocity-proportional damping introduces body forces that can

affect the solution.

Local damping is used in FLAC --- The damping force at a

gridpoint is proportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced
force with the sign set to ensure that vibrational modes are
damped:
 LOCAL DAMPING

• Damping forces are introduced to the equations of motion:

t
ui  Fi  | Fi | sgn (ui )
m

where Fi is the unbalanced force

• The damping force, Fd is:

Fd   Fi sgn( ui )

• In FLAC the unbalanced force ratio (ratio of unbalanced force, Fi , to the

applied force magnitude, Fm) is monitored to determine the static state.

• By default, when Fi / Fm < 0.001, then the model is considered to be in an

equilibrium state.
 PRACTICAL EXERCISE
SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS
 Training Schedule
October 17, 2005 (afternoon)
01:00-02:45 FLAC Operation
– System requirements, installation structure,
manual volumes, files, nomenclature, system of units
– Grid Generation : [Build], [Alter] and [Interface] tools
Material Models : [Material] tool
Practical Exercise
– Biaxial load tests
02:45-03:00 Break
03:00-05:00 Boundary Conditions / Initial Conditions : [ In Situ] tool
Histories / Tables / Fish Library : [Utility] tool
Global Settings : [Settings] tool
Solution : [Run] tool
Result Interpretation : [Plot] tool
Practical Exercise
– Determination of failure
 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR FLAC

Processor – Recommended minimum clockspeed of 1 GHz

Hard Drive – Recommended minimum disk space of 100 MB
RAM – RAM required to load FLAC is 60 MB; 24 MB is provided
by default for models and memory can be increased by
the user if needed
Display – Recommended screen resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels
and 16-bit color palette
Operating System – Any Intel-based computer running Windows 98
and upward is suitable
Operation on PC Networks – A network-license version of FLAC 5.0
is available
FLAC 5.0 MANUAL
FLAC 5.0 MANUAL
FLAC 5.0 MANUAL
FLAC 5.0 MANUAL
FLAC 5.0 MANUAL
 FLAC Files

Project File (*.prj) – ASCII file describing state of model and GIIC at the
stage the file is saved; includes FLAC commands,
link to save files, and plot views for the project
Save File (*.sav) – Binary file containing values of all state variables
and user-defined conditions at stage that file is saved
Data File (*.dat) – ASCII file listing FLAC commands that represent
the problem being analyzed
History File (*.his) – ASCII file record of input or output history values
Material File (*.gmt) – ASCII file containing material properties (can be updated).
Plot File – Graphics plot file (in various standard formats)
Movie File (*.dcx) – String of PCX images that can be viewed as a ―movie‖
FLAC Nomenclature

Zone Numbers

Gridpoint Numbers
System of Units
 GRID GENERATION

Build Tools

Alter Tools
BASIC MATERIAL MODELS
 FLAC CONSTITUTIVE MODELS
Model Representative material
Null void
Elastic homogeneous, isotropic continuum;
linear stress- strain behavior
Anisotropic thinly laminated material exhibiting
elastic anisotropy
Drucker-Prager limited application; soft clays with
low friction
Mohr-Coulomb loose and cemented granular materials
soils, rock, concrete
Strain-hardening/softening granular materials that exhibit nonlinear
Mohr-Coulomb material hardening or softening
Ubiquitous-joint thinly laminated material exhibiting
strength anisotropy (e.g., slate)
Bilinear strain-hardening/ laminated materials that exhibit non-
softening ubiquitous-joint linear material hardening or softening
lightly cemented granular material in
Double-yield which pressure causes permanent
volume decrease
Modified Cam-clay materials for which deformability and shear
strength are a function of volume change
Hoek-Brown * isotropic rock material
*new in FLAC 5
Example application
holes, excavations, regions in which
material will be added at later stage
manufactured materials (e.g. steel)
loaded below strength limit; factor of
safety calculation
laminated materials loaded below
strength limit
common model for comparison to
implicit finite-element programs
general soil or rock mechanics
(e.g., slope stability and underground
excavation)
studies in post-failure (e.g., progressive
collapse, yielding pillar, caving)
excavation in closely bedded strata
studies in post-failure of laminated
materials
hydraulically placed backfill
geotechnical construction on soil
geotechnical construction in rock
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS
FOR CONTINUUM ELEMENTS

•NULL all stresses are zero: for use as a void - e.g., for excavated regions
•ELASTIC isotropic, linear, plane strain or plane stress
•ANISOTROPIC elastic,assumes that the element is transversely anisotropic:

g b

b planes are planes of symmetry. The  b axes may be at any angle f to the x, y axes:

y
 b

f x
 FLAC PLASTICITY MODELS
Drucker-Prager
Mohr-Coulomb
Ubiquitous-Joint
Strain-Hardening-Softening
Double-Yield
Modified Cam-clay
Hoek-Brown
1. All models are characterized by yield functions, hardening/softening functions and flow rules.

2. Plastic flow formulation is based on plasticity theory that total strain is decomposed into elastic
and plastic components and only the elastic component contributes to stress increment via the
elastic law. Also, elastic and plastic strain increments are coaxial wuth the principal stress axes.

3. Ducker-Prager, Mohr-Coulomb, Ubiquitous Joint and Strain-Softening models have a shear yield
function and non-associated flow rule.

4. Drucker-Prager, Mohr-Coulomb, Ubiquitous Joint and Strain-Softening models define the tensile
strength criterion separately from the shear strength, and associated flow rule.

5. All models are formulated in terms of effective stresses.

6. Double-yield and modified Cam-clay models take into account the influence of volumetric change
on material deformability and volumetric deformation (collapse).

7. Hoek-Brown incorporates a nonlinear failure surface with a plasticity flow rule that varies with
confining stress.
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS — DRUCKER-PRAGER

•Drucker-Prager elastic/plastic with non-associated flow

rule: shear yield stress is a function of
isotropic stress


A

kf ft=0
B

C 
t
kf /qf

Drucker-Prager Failure Criterion in FLAC

 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS — MOHR-COULOMB
•Mohr-Coulomb elastic / plastic with non-associated flow rule: operates on
major and minor principal stresses

3

ft=0
B
C c
2c t tan f
A Nf
1

Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion in FLAC


(for constant n)
shear
stress
slope = G
shear strain g
CONSTITUTIVE MODELS – UBIQUITOUS-JOINT MODEL

•Ubiquitous-Joint Model uniformly distributed slip planes embedded in a

Mohr-Coulomb material

element 
n


rigid-plastic, dilatant
max  c j  n tanf
Mohr-Coulomb

Note:  rotates with the element in large-strain mode

A 

cj f t=0
B

 tj C 22
cj
tan f j
CONSTITUTIVE MODELS — STRAIN-SOFTENING / HARDENING
•Strain-softening / hardening identical to the Mohr-Coulomb model except that f, C and 
are arbitrary functions of accumulated plastic strain (gp )*


gp

f
g
produces

gp ev

gp Output
Input by user

 
1

 g p   e11
P d 
  e22Pd    e12P 
2 2 2 2
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS
BILINEAR STRAIN-HARDENING/SOFTENING MODEL
• Bilinear model a generalization of the ubiquitous-joint model. The failure envelopes for
the matrix and joint are the composite of two Mohr-Coulomb criteria with
a tension cut-off. A non-associated flow rule is used for shear plastic flow
and an associated flow rule for tensile-plastic flow.


3
A

Cj2
c2
Cj1 C
B c1 tanf2 fj2
Nf1 1 C D t tanf1
A
Nf2
1
1 D fj1 3’3’
jt

FLAC bilinear matrix failure criterion FLAC bilinear joint failure criterion
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS – DOUBLE-YIELD MODEL

• Double-yield model extension of the strain-softening model to simulate

irreversible compaction as well as shear yielding.
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS - MODIFIED CAM-CLAY MODEL

• Modified Cam-Clay model incremental hardening/softening elastic-plastic model,

including a particular form of non-linear elasticity and
a hardening/softening behavior governed by volumetric
plastic strain (“density” driven).

v
q
N
normal
consolidation line
plastic
vl
dilation
A
vkA pc  e p  0 plastic compaction
qcr  M
vkB k
1
B 2  e p  0
l
swelling lines 1

ln p1 ln p pc pc p
pcr 
2
Normal consolidation line and swelling line Cam-Clay failure criterion in FLAC
for an isotropic compression test
 CONSTITUTIVE MODELS – HOEK-BROWN MODEL

• Hoek-Brown model empirical relation that is a nonlinear failure surface which

represents the strength limit for isotropic intact rock and
rock masses. The model also includes a plasticity flow
rule that varies as a function of confining stress.
FLAC Interface Model
 FLAC (OR CONTINUUM CODE)

Use for problems at either end of the joint-density spectrum

single or isolated discontinuities multiple, closely-packed blocks

“interface” “ubiquitous jointing”

problems
 INTERFACES

• Interfaces represent planes on which sliding or separation can occur:

- joints, faults or bedding planes in a geologic medium

- interaction between soil and foundations

- contact plane between different materials

• To join regions that have different zone sizes

• Elastic-plastic Coulomb sliding:

- tensile separation of the interface, and

- axial stiffness to avoid inter-penetration

 INTERFACE MECHANICS

Each node on the surface of both bodies owns a length, L, of interface for the purpose of converting
from stress to force. L is calculated in the following way

A1 B1 C1 D1 Body 1

B2 C2 E2
Body 2
A2 D2

LB2 LC2 LB1 LD2 LC1 LD1

LINEAR MODEL
n= -Knun [Kn]=stress/disp
 = -Ksus
 = max (max, ) sgn ()
max= ntan f+c
Fn = nL
Fs =  L
 INTERFACE ELEMENTS
PROCEDURE
1. Form interface using grid generation commands

2. Null out region

bside
(i3, j3) (i4, j4)
(i2, j2)
(i1, j1)
aside

3. Move grid halves together

4. Declare interface
int n aside from i1, j1 to i2, j2 bside from i3, j3 to i4, j4
5. Input the interface properties
int n Ks =... Kn = ... fric =... coh =...
 INTERFACE PROPERTIES
Kn : normal stiffness
Ks : shear stiffness
coh : cohesion of the joint
fric : friction angle of the joint
ten : tensile strength of the joint

If the interface is used to attach two sub-grids,it is necessary to declare it glued.

Properties estimation
• Sub-grids attach:
- declare glued
 4 
 K  3 G  
- K n  K s  10.max  
 l 

 


• Geologic joints
- shear tests; considering the “scale effect”
- Kn and Ks for rock mass joints, can vary between 10-100 MPa/m for joints with soft
clay in-filling, to over 100 GPa/m for tight joints in basalt or granite.
Boundary and Initial Conditions

Histories, Tables, FISH Library

Global Settings
Solution

Result Interpretation - Plotting