Slope Stability Analysis during Excavation

stages by 2 methods

Tutorial by Angel Francisco Martinez

Integrated Solver Optimized for the next generation 64-bit platform

Finite Element Solutions for Geotechnical Engineering

Overview

GTS NX

STEP 01

Geometry Import

STEP 02

Import Materials

STEP 03

Mesh generation

STEP 04

Boundary Conditions

STEP 05

Load Conditions

STEP 06

Define Construction Sequence

STEP 07

Analysis Case

STEP 08

Perform analysis and check result

00 Slope Stability

GTS NX

Overview
2D Slope Stability analysis during
excavations
The stability of slopes created by
embankment or excavation is greatly

affected by ground water,

external loadings, earthquake, etc.
Shear stress inside the slope develops
due to the self weight
and external loadings. If the shear
stress exceeds the shear strength,
shear failure will take place. Using

FEM offers accurate approximate solutions that satisfy force equilibrium, compatibility,

the various proposed methods,

constitutive equations and boundary conditions at each point of the slope, which enables

numerical analysis is performed to

simulation of close to real failure shapes and reflect the site conditions to find the minimum

check the stability, and appropriate

reinforcement is introduced.

safety factor against failure. Moreover, failure planes need not be assumed in advance, and
the failure process can be automatically investigated.

Higher order elements will be used

for better accuracy, and the safety

-Strength Reduction Method (SRM): Shear strength is gradually reduced until the

factor will be examined to determine

calculation no longer converges in analysis. At that point, slope failure is assumed, and the

the need for reinforcement.

rate of the maximum strength reduction is considered to be the minimum safety factor for the
slope.

1-3

02 Material for Soil and Structures

Name
Material
Model Type

GTS NX

Weathered Soil

Weathered Rock

Soft Rock

Isotropic

Isotropic

Isotropic

Mohr-Coulomb

Mohr-Coulomb

Mohr-Coulomb

General
Elastic Modulus (E) (kN/m2)
Poissons Ratio(v)
Unit Weight(r) (kN/m3)
Ko

36,500
0.33
18.5
0.5

150,000
0.30
21
0.5

1,850,000
0.28
24
0.5

22

25

31

33

17.5

50

35.5
180

Porous
Unit Weight(Saturated) (kN/m3)

19.5
Non-Linear

Friction Angle
Cohesion (kN/m2)

1-4

03 Property for Soil and Structure

GTS NX

Name

Weathered Soil

Weathered Rock

Soft rock

Property

2D

2D

2D

Model Type

Plain Strain

Plain Strain

Plain Strain

Material

Weathered Soil

Weathered Rock

Soft rock

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04 Construction Sequence

GTS NX

1. Initial state of ground

2. 1st Excavation
3. 2nd Excavation
4. 3rd Excavation

1-6

Modeling Procedure

Integrated Solver Optimized for the next generation 64-bit platform

Finite Element Solutions for Geotechnical Engineering

01 Create New Project

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Main Menu > New

Analysis Setting > Model

Type > 2D
Set units to kN / m / sec
2

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02 Geometry works (Create or Import from AutoCAD)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Main Menu > Import > DXF

Select Slope Stability DXF>

DXF> Open

Select OK

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03 Define Material / Property for Soil & Structures

GTS NX

Procedure
* You can Import from the existing
model file (Refer to Project

Overview > Material / Property)

Mesh > Prop. > Property >

Import

Select 2D Slope
Stability_final.gts file

Select All
Select OK
1

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04 Generate Mesh (2D Element)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Mesh > Generate > 2D > Auto -

Area

Select Edge(s) > Select 15 edges

for Embankment 3 as
highlighted in the figure.

Input element Size : 1

(1m between two nodes)

Select Property : Embankment

Input Mesh Set Name :

Embankment 3

Click on the >> icon to open

the Advanced Option Window

Select Triangle as Element Type

Activate Higher Order Elements

Click OK , then Click Apply

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Click OK , then Click Apply

04 Generate Mesh (2D Element)

GTS NX

Procedure
Select Edge(s) > Select edges
1

for Weathered Rock as

highlighted in the figure.

Input element Size : 1

(1 m between two nodes)

Select Property : Weathered

1

Rock

Input Mesh Set Name :

Weathered Rock

Click Apply
3

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04 Generate Mesh (2D Element)

GTS NX

Procedure
Select Edge(s) > Select edges
1

for Weathered Rock as

highlighted in the figure.

Input element Size : 1.5

(1 m between two nodes)

Select Property : Soft Rock

1

Input Mesh Set Name : Soft

Rock

Click Apply
3

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05 Define Boundary Condition (Water Level)

GTS NX

Procedure
* Water Level Function will be

defined.

Static / Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Water Level >
Edge
2

Select Target Edge(s) > Select

Initial Water Level

edges to define water level as

highlighted in the figure.

(Do not need to select Vertical

edges)
3

Interval : 1 (m)

Input Name : Water Level (1)

Select OK

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05 Define Boundary Condition (Ground)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Static / Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Constraint > Auto

2

Boundary Set Name : Ground

Boundary

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05 Define Boundary Condition (Ground)

Procedure
1

GTS NX

Static / Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Slip Circular
surface

Define Grid Points: 5 X 5

2

Define Tangent line of Circle:6

Boundary Set Name : SAM 1

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05 Define Boundary Condition (Ground)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Static / Slope Analysis >

Boundary > Slip Circular

surface

Define Grid Points: 6 X 6

2

Define Tangent line of Circle:6

Boundary Set Name : SAM 2

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06 Load Condition (Self Weight)

GTS NX

Procedure
1
1

Static / Slope Analysis >

Load > Self Weight

Load Set Name : S/W

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07 Change Names of Mesh Sets

GTS NX

Procedure
Change Mesh Sets in preparation for
Construction stage definition.
1

Go to the Model tab in Works Tree

Select the mesh set corresponding
to the 1st excavation, as shown in
the image.
Press key F2 to change name to

Exca 1
Press Enter
2

Repeat for the other excavations as

the 2nd image shows.

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08 Define Construction Stage (Create Stage Set)

GTS NX

Procedure
* 4 Construction stage will be
defined for this project.

Static / Slope Analysis >

Construction Stage > Stage
Set
Stage Type > Stress

Select Add
2
3

Select Created Stage Set

4

Select Define CS
3

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08 Define Construction Stage (Drag & Drop)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Stage 1 : Initial state of

ground

Activated Data : All Mesh Sets

for initial state of ground (2D

elements), Ground Boundary,
Self Weight

Check Clear Displacement

Select Save

Select New

Drag & Drop

4

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08 Define Construction Stage (Drag & Drop)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Stage 2 : Exca 1

Deactivated Data : Mesh Sets

for Exca 1

Activate SAM 1 boundary

Check on Slope Stability SRM
3

And SAM
Select Save
Select New
3

Drag & Drop

4

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08 Define Construction Stage (Drag & Drop)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Stage 3 : Exca 2

Deactivated Data : Mesh Set

for Exca 2 and Exca 2-1

Activate SAM 2
Check on Slope Stability SRM
3

and SAM

Select Save

Select New

Drag & Drop

4

1-23

08 Define Construction Stage (Drag & Drop)

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Stage 4 : Exca 3

Deactivated Data : Mesh Set

for Exca 3

Check on Slope Stability SRM

and SAM

2
4

Check Define Water Level for

Global
Input 1m, Select Water Level

3
5

Select Close

Drag & Drop

5

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09 Analysis Case

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Analysis > Analysis Case >

General
2

Title : Case Name

Solution Type : Construction

Stage

2
5

Select Construction Stage Set

Analysis Control : Select Initial

5
4

Stage for Stress Analysis

(Initial Stage), Check
Optionsfor Ko analysis.

Select OK

Select OK

7
6

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10 Perform Analysis and Check Results

GTS NX

Procedure
1

Analysis > Analysis > Perform

Select OK

1-26

11 Post Processing (Pre mode vs Post mode)

2

Procedure
1 * After analysis, model view

GTS NX

2
1

2
2

will be converted to PostMode automatically, can

back to Pre-Mode to change
model information.
2 *All results will be represented

by graphic based output, table,

diagram and graph.
3 Results are given by stages and

types of elements.
The results are set in order, the
1s being results for STRESS
analysis, the following for SLOPE
STABILITY showing the FOS for

the stage.
The bottom of the results tab
lists the FOS for all the stages in
order. FOS match between SRM
and SAM

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11 Post Processing (Post mode)

GTS NX

Procedure

Inspect the slope stability results

for the last stage by selecting the
Plane Strain Strains.
Expand the results for Water
Level SRM and double click

Plane Strain Strains. > EEquivalent to verify the line of

slope failure due to the saturated
ground.
2

Right click the legend and select

AUTO RANGE to see results more

clearly.
3

Expand the results for Water

Level SRM and double click

Plane Strain Stresses. > Pore

Stress to verify the Pore Stress
dues to change in Water Level

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11 Post Processing (Post mode)

GTS NX

Procedure
2

Inspect the slope stability results

for the last stage by selecting the
Plane Strain Strains.
Click on Results > Special Post >
SAM.

Select Stage Exca 1 and click MIN

Select Stage Exca 3 and click MIN

3

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11 Post Processing (Post mode)

Procedure

GTS NX

3
1

Inspect the changes in the model

by navigating the stages using
the bar on the bottom of the
model / above the output

window. Press Right or Left key

on keyboard to go forward and
backward in the stages
respectably.
2

The images shows total

displacements for the 1st 4 stages
of the analysis.

You can create a video animation

of the stages by selecting Multi
Stage Animation > Select All
Stages > Play > Save

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GTS NX

Thank you
Angel Francisco Martinez
a.martinez@midasuser.com

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