New releases of PLAXIS CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2: PLAXIS 2D, 3D and MoDeTo

In March 2020, we released new PLAXIS versions:

PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2
PLAXIS 3D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2
PLAXIS MoDeTo CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2

Many new features and improvements have been included, for example, big improvements to the digital workflow to drive efficiency, a tool to open older PLAXIS 2D, swept meshing for complex 3D models, and a tool for offshore monopile designs to improve delivery time by automating the final design verification.

Automated digital workflows

New buttons are added to the main toolbar to make it easier using Bentley's ProjectWise and Cloud Services to set up an Associated Project. This information is now also available via the Project properties in the new tab Cloud services.

With this, it will be much easier to use the integrations with Bentley System's ProjectWise and with the Bentley Cloud Services option to define the association of a Bentley project to a PLAXIS project.

Using PLAXIS 2D Classic files

With this release, we now offer the ability to convert older files from PLAXIS with our CONNECT Edition. This means that older PLAXIS files with extension can directly be converted to PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20 Update 2 right from the Input program!

This includes files last saved in PLAXIS 2D 2010, PLAXIS 2D 2011, PLAXIS 2D 2012 and PLAXIS 2D Classic (all with the file extension *.P2D)

For more details, see the article on Conversion of PLAXIS 2D files.

Swept meshing

We enhanced the PLAXIS 3D meshing process with a new feature: Swept meshing. This feature allows for swept meshes to be generated for particular geometries. Using the Swept meshing feature, when applicable, offers the advantages of: Faster mesh generation, more control over mesh density and considerable reduction of the size of the mesh compared to default unstructured meshing process.

PLAXIS 3D: swept meshing

Read this article for more information: Swept meshing in PLAXIS 3D.

3D Design verification for PLAXIS MoDeTo

In PLAXIS MoDeTo we added a new tool to help users generate their final design approach quickly. This automates the generation and calculation of a PLAXIS 3D FEM model to verify the final monopile geometry and validate the 1D design approach, as required by most design codes. Design verification models can be generated both for homogenous and layered profiles.

PLAXIS MoDeTo - 3D design verification