Embedded pile row forces not correct in a Target SumMsf Safety calculation


ApplicationPLAXIS 2D
Issue status✔ Solved
First Affected VersionPLAXIS 2D 2012.00
Found in VersionPLAXIS 2D 2012.00
Fixed and Released in VersionPLAXIS 2D AE.00
PLAXIS 2D Classic
Issue #20312
Date created20 November 2013
Date modified24 October 2016

Problem description

When performing a Safety analysis with a Target Factor of Safety (ΣMsf), the calculation will first pass the target value to ensure that this ΣMsf value is a “stable” value before returning to the specified target value, see also the related article for more background information.
However, when the calculation jumps back to the calculation step prior to reaching the target value, the force values in the embedded pile row are not (re)set to this calculation step (point C in the image below), but are still taken from the step with a higher ΣMsf (point B) before performing the final calculation step (point D). Now the embedded pile row forces are not correct for this final step of the Safety analysis with a Target ΣMsf.

 

Solution

This issue is now resolved for PLAXIS 2D AE and PLAXIS 2D Classic

For older versions, some work arounds are mentioned below:

Obtain correct force values

To find the correct forces in the embedded pile row, the step in which the value for ΣMsf is equal to the value for the Target ΣMsf should be manually determined and then inspected:

Continue calculation

To continue phases from this situation with the correct value of ΣMsf:

  1. check how many steps are needed to get to this target ΣMsf value
  2. change the Calculation type to Safety analysis with Incremental multipliers (so not Target ΣMsf)
  3. recalculate the phase with the number of additional steps
  4. check the ΣMsf value for the last calculation step
  5. now you can continue from this phase