PLAXIS 3D Error Code:20

Please help: Stiffness matrix is nearly singular and cannot be solved [error code: 20] in PLAXIS 3D. Can anyone help me to fix this file ?
File Link: drive.google.com/.../view

  • Dear Santosh Katuwal,

    According to the Reference manual, there are some possible reasons for error #20:

    In the last PLAXIS 3D CE V21.01 version I have error #204, the reasons are almost the same.

    Bad mesh quality

    The first possible reason is bad mesh quality. In your project minimum mesh quailty is ~9×10^−9:

    It is a very-very small quality. The worst elements are:

    I recommend to correct geometry in these areas.

    For example, there are different Y coordinates in the vertical plate:

    I suppose there are geometric collisions in this small volume (and common polygons):

    If we use checkgeometry command we can find a lot of other problems with geometry.

    Also I should notice that you switch off standart Enhanced mesh refinements option and increase coarseness factor to soil volumes. In my humble opinion, it is not a good idea, because in the most cases standart options (by default) give us the optimal variant.

    Large stiffness differences

    The second possible reason for error #20 is large stiffness differences. As far as I can see there is no big differences between the smallest and the biggest stiffnesses in the model. So I think the main problem is mesh quality.

    Others

    I do not mention other issues: activated basement on Initial phase, deactivated Deformation boundaries, Drained for Basement (LE) etc.