:

itech - 2011
12-16 Rue de Vincennes
93100 Montreuil
France
Tel : +33 1 48 70 47 41
Fax : +33 1 48 59 12 24
cesar-lcpc@itech-soft.com
www.cesar-lcpc.com
 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

1. PREVIEW
A bridge pier has to be constructed in the corner of a 2 slopes embankment. Modelled as a footing, it is
important to assess its load capacity.
This tutorial will guide the user through the 3D modelling and the analysis of the limit pressure.

1.1. Tutorial objectives

- Use of 3D meshing (tetrahedron mesher).

- Use of safety factor reduction procedures.
- Use of 3D post-processing tools.

1.2. Problem specifications

The foundation is a shallow one (15m long, 6m wide and 1m thick). It is placed at 2,5m from the slope
edge.
The embankment is a 2-slopes one. It lays on a uniform layer of 12m.

Geometry

22 m
Footing: 15 x 6 x 1 8m
2.5 m from the slope

Figure 1: Geometry definition of the two-way slope 3D view

Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

27 m
20 m

Fondation: 15 x 6 x 1

50 m
52.5 m

1
4
14 m

Figure 2: Geometry definition of the two-way slope Top view

Materials

E c
3
(kN/m ) (MPa) (kPa) () ()
Slope 20 30 0.3 28 25 25
Foundation 27.5 35000 .2 - - -

Analysis steps
1. Build the 3D mesh using the tetrahedron mesh generator.
2. Use the Safety factor procedure to find the limit pressure.

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2. SETUP OF THE MODEL DATA

2.1. General settings

1. Run CLEO3D.
2. Set the units in the menu Preferences > Units.
3. In the tree, select the leaf General/Length and select the unit m in the bottom left combo
box.
4. In the tree, select the leaf Mechanic/Force and select the unit kN.
5. In the tree, select the leaf Mechanic/Displacement and select the unit mm.
6. Click on Validate to close.

When this set of units is defined, it can be fixed for the user environment in a future study. Use Save
as default.

2.2. 3D Meshing

CESAR-LCPC proposes the import of dxf files. This is convenient if the project has already been
designed with external CAD software.
In the present tutorial, we will proceed step by step and use several of the CAD tools proposed in
CESAR-LCPC, in order to generate the volumes, support of the mesh.

Drawing of the geometry :

The sequence proposed here is one of several possibilities:
- Drawing of edges,
- Definitions of surfaces,
- Definition of volumes.
We start with the edges of the base of the embankment.

1. Click on . The point definition dialog is displayed.

2. Enter 0 ; 0 ; 0 as X, Y and Z, and press Apply button.
3. Tick Linked points to generate the segments between the consecutive generated points.
4. Enter 0 ; 27 ; 0 and press Apply button.
5. Enter 50 ; 27 ; 0 and press Apply button.
6. Enter 66,5 ; 0 ; 0 and press Apply button.
7. Enter 0 ; 0 ; 0 and press Apply button. The base of the embankment is drawn.
8. Close.
Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

We continue with the edges of the top of the embankment.

1. Click on . The point definition dialog is displayed.

2. Enter 0 ; 0 ; 8 as X, Y and Z, and press Apply button.
3. Tick Linked points to generate the segments between the consecutive generated points.
4. Enter 0 ; 21 ; 8 and press Apply button.
5. Enter 41 ; 21 ; 8 and press Apply button.
6. Enter 52.5 ; 0 ; 8 and press Apply button.
7. Enter 0 ; 0 ; 8 and press Apply button. The top of the embankment is drawn.
8. Close.

We implement the position of the footing.

1. Click on . The point definition dialog is displayed.

2. Enter 22 ; 11,5 ; 8 as X, Y and Z, and press Apply button.
3. Tick Linked points to generate the segments between the consecutive generated points.
4. Enter 22 ; 17,5 ; 8 and press Apply button.
5. Enter 37 ; 17,5 ; 8 and press Apply button.
6. Enter 37 ; 11,5 ; 8 and press Apply button.
7. Enter 22 ; 11,5 ; 8 and press Apply button. This closes the rectangle of the footing print on
the embankment.
8. Close.

We position the horizontal limits of the model where boundary conditions (fixities) will be established.

1. Click on . The point definition dialog is displayed.

2. Enter 0 ; 55 ; 0 as X, Y and Z, and press Apply button.
3. Tick Linked points to generate the segments between the consecutive generated points.
4. Enter 85 ; 55 ; 0 and press Apply button.
5. Enter 85 ; 0 ; 0 and press Apply button.
6. Close.

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 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

We position the vertical limits of the model where boundary conditions (fixities) will be established.

1. Click on . The point definition dialog is displayed.

2. Enter 0 ; 0 ; -12 as X, Y and Z, and press Apply button.
3. Tick Linked points to generate the segments between the consecutive generated points.
4. Enter 0 ; 55 ; -12 and press Apply button.
5. Enter 85 ; 55 ; -12 and press Apply button.
6. Enter 85 ; 0 ; -12 and press Apply button. Close.

Now we complete the edges using the Broken lines tool, .

Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Now that the edges are drawn, we will select the closed areas and generate surfaces.
Example of a surface generation.
1. Select the edges as shown on the figure in pink colour.

2. Click on , the Surface region: plane generator. The surface is generated.

We reproduce the previous sequence on all the external edges of the model.

Now we generate the volume for the soil.

1. Select all the surfaces using a box of selection made with mouse.
2. Click on , the Surface bounded volume generator. The volume is generated (the blue
surfaces get green).

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 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Last step is the generation of the footing volume.

1. Select the surface of the footing print on the embankment. For this selection, deactivate all
in the Selection toolbar and activate Select surfaces.

2. Click on , the Extrusion feature.

3. Define the following parameters:
- Type of operation : Translation
- Operation data : Vx = 0 ; Vy = 0 ; Vz = 1
4. Add to the list of operations.
5. Apply.

Density of meshing:
Mesh refinement is important nearby the areas where high level of strains is expected. This will lead to
more accurate results.
In the present tutorial, we will apply a density that is suitable for the analysis and that will lead to
reasonable computation times.
We will use a progressive density definition to generate a progressive evolution of size from small
segments in high strains areas, to large segments on the boundary edges.

7 1
8

2 4
3

5
9

We start with the mesh density of the soil volume.

1. Go to the stage on the project flow bar to start the definition of divisions along edges.

2. Click on Variable density to divide the segment with a variation of lengths. Tick First
division and Last division to define the method. Enter 1 m as First division and 3 m as Last
division.
3. Click on the edge #1 near the 2 slopes intersection.

The position of the click defines where the initial division is.

4. Click on the edge #2 near the 2 slopes intersection.

5. Click on the edge #3 near the 2 slopes intersection.
Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

6. Click on Variable density to divide the segment with a variation of lengths. Tick First
division and Last division to define the method. Enter 3 m as First division and 5 m as Last
division.
7. Click on the edge #4 near the 2 slopes intersection.
8. Click on the edge #5 near the 2 slopes intersection.
9. Select edges 6 and 7.

10. Click on Fixed length density to divide this segment with a fixed length. Enter 5 m in the
dialog box.
11. Click on Validate.

The software algorithm will adjust the length for the best fit with the input value of length.

12. Click on Variable density to divide the segment with a variation of lengths. Tick First
division and Last division to define the method. Enter 5 m as First division and 10 m as Last
division.
13. Click on the edge #8 nearby the slope.
14. Click on the edge #9 nearby the slope.

15. Click on Fixed length density to divide this segment with a fixed length. Enter 10 m in
the dialog box.
16. Selects all the edges with no defined density.
17. Click on Validate.

Now we define the mesh density for the footing.

1. Select all the edges of the footing.

2. Click on Fixed length density to divide this segment with a fixed length. Enter 1 m in the
dialog box.
3. Click on Validate.

Meshing:

1. Go to the stage Mesh.

2. Select the volume corresponding to the footing.

3. Click on , Volume meshing. Chose Linear as interpolation type. Chose Tetrahedron

mesh as mesh type. Let the mesh quality to 1. Click on Apply to generate the mesh.
4. Select the volume corresponding to the soil mass.
5. Change the mesh quality to 0,75. Click on Validate to generate the mesh.

CESAR-LCPC proposes 3 levels for the meshing procedure of external surfaces of the volume. It
enables to generate a coarse or dense mesh. The choice is made in Preferences>Program settings
(Linear interpolation = coarse, cubic interpolation = dense).

Now that the mesh is completed, we can check it.

1. Click on , Mesh information.

2. The toolbox displays the number of nodes and elements and the type of elements.
3. Click on Element quality check. The toolbox is updated. If elements are deformed with
wrong Jacobian, they appear in the toolbox.

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 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Note that the number of nodes and elements of the tutorial model is 7676 and 4355 respectively. If the
mesh quality is set to 1, the number of nodes elements is 18702 and 12723.

Groups definition:
This step is facultative but it eases the recognition of the group of elements if more than one has been
generated.

1. Click on Make groups.

2. Select the volume corresponding to the soil mass. Enter Soil as a name. Click on Validate.
3. Select the volume corresponding to the footing. Enter Footing as a name. Click on Validate.

2.3. Calculation properties

We define here 2 constructions stages:

- Initial stress field (self-weight of the soil mass),
- Uniform pressure loading.

2.3.1 Initial stress field

Model definition:

1. Click on Model definition.

2. Enter Initial stress field as name.
3. Click Open.
4. Chose Static as domain of application. Select MCNL as calculation module. Click on
Validate.
5. Select Phased analysis as initialization type. Click on Validate.

See chapter Initial stress field of manual Gest started with CESAR-LCPC v5.

Material properties:
We define here the material constitutive models and linked properties.

1. Click on Properties.

2. Click on Properties assignment.

3. Select the group of elements for the soil mass.
4. Chose Mohr-Coulomb without hardening as constitutive model. Enter the properties of the
soil mass.
E c
3
(kg/m ) (MN/m) (MN/m) () ()
Soil mass 2000 30 0.3 0.028 25 25

5. Click on Apply.
6. Select the group of elements for the footing.
7. Chose Linear isotropic elasticity as constitutive model. Enter the properties of the footing.
Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

E
3
(kg/m ) (MN/m)
Footing 2750 35000 .2

8. Apply and Close.

At this stage on construction, the footing is not present. Therefore we deactivate it.
1. Select the footing.

2. Click on , Group selection is inactive. The group colour is set to the neutral colour (grey is
the default colour, set in Preferences > Program settings).

Figure 3: Toolbox for properties assignment

Boundary conditions:

1. Click on Boundary condition sets.

2. Enter Boundary conditions as a name. Click Open.

3. Click on , Side and bottom supports. This proceeds to the automatic definition of sides
and bottom supports. Supports are automatically affected to the limits of the mesh.

Load case:
The gravity forces are applied to the soil mass.

1. Click on Loading sets.

2. Enter Self-weight of the soil mass as a name. Click Open.
3. Select the volume of the soil mass.
4. Click on , Gravity forces.
5. Click on Validate.

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 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

Analysis settings
In the tab sheets of this toolbox, we define the calculation algorithm, the iteration process and the load
stepping.

1. Click on Analysis settings.

2. In the General parameter tag, enter the following values:
- Iteration process:
Max number of increments: 1
Max number of iterations per increment: 1000
Tolerance: 0,001
- Calculation type: Standard
- Solution method: 1- initial stresses
- Solver type: Multi frontal
3. Close using Validate.

The option Calculation with secondary storage is required when the matrix size of the model will be
larger than the random memory (RAM) of the computer.

2.3.2 Uniform pressure loading

Model definition:

1. Click on Model definition.

2. Enter Limit pressure analysis as name.
3. In the Based on list, select Initial stress field. This will copy all the data previously input.
4. Click Open.
5. Select Phased analysis as initialization type. Click on Validate.

At this stage on construction, the footing is constructed. Therefore we activate it.

1. Select the footing.

2. Click on , Group selection is active.

Boundary conditions:
No change.

Load case:
As the aim of this analysis is the definition of the limit pressure, we need to apply an initial one. This
pressure will be piloted by coefficients to determine the safety one.

1. Click on Loading sets.

2. Enter Pressure as a name. Click Open.
3. Select the surface on the top of the footing. For this selection, deactivate all in the Selection
toolbar and activate Select elements faces.

4. Click on Uniform pressure.

5. Enter the value of 0,10 MN/m.
6. Click on Validate.
Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

As the calculation scheme of CESAR is an incremental one, the loads of each construction stage are
added to the previous one (see. Chapter General Principles in the document Get Started with
CESAR-LCPC v5).
Therefore we have to delete the loading set Self-weight of the soil mass, copied from the previous
construction stage.

1. Click on Loading sets.

2. Select Self-weight of the soil mass loading set.
3. Click Delete.
4. Close.

Calculation parameters:
In the tab sheets of this toolbox, we define the calculation algorithm, the iteration process and the load
stepping.

1. Click on Calculation parameters.

2. In the General parameter tag, enter the following values:
- Iteration process:
Max number of increments: 1
Max number of iterations per increment: 300
Tolerance: 0,01
- Calculation type:
Safety factor
Tick Non-convergence detection
Set Minimum Value to 1
Set Maximum Value to 5
Set precision to 0.1
- Method of resolution: 1- initial stresses
- Solver type: Multi frontal
3. Close using Validate.

The option Calculation with secondary storage is required when the matrix size of the model will be
larger than the random memory (RAM) of the computer.

2.3.3 Solve

Now that all data are input, the

1. Click on Calculations launcher.

2. Select both calculations Initial stress field and Limit pressure analysis.
3. Select Create input files for the solver and calculate. Click on Validate.

The computation will take few minutes depending on the computer configuration.

All the messages during the analysis will be shown in an Output Window. Especially, one needs to be
very cautious about warning messages, because these messages indicate that the analysis results
may not be correct. The result is saved as a binary file (*.RSV4) in the temporary folder (/TMP/),
defined during setup. The detailed analysis information is also saved in a text file (*.LIST).

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 Tutorial 11 - CESAR-LCPC version 5

3. FINITE ELEMENT RESULTS

The result is highly influenced by the mesh density, the type of interpolation (linear or quadratic) and
the precision on the convergence algorithm.
In this model, the safety factor reached is 2.23, meaning that the limit pressure is 223 kPa.
In the Results of CESAR-LCPC, we display isolevel surfaces of vertical displacement, reached at this
level of loading, before the rupture.

Figure 4: Isovalue surfaces of the vertical displacements and stress tensor

Edited by:

12-16 rue de Vincennes

F-93100 MONTREUIL

Tl. : +33 1 48 70 47 41
Fax : +33 1 48 59 12 24
cesar-lcpc@itech-soft.com
www.cesar-lcpc.com

itech - 2011