Figure 1. Easy conversion from PLAXIS 2D to GeoStudio SLOPE/W
For the determination of a Factor of Safety, the strength reduction method is a very powerful tool to obtain the most critical slip surface, a slip surface that may be circular but can also have any other form. However, there may be circumstances in which more information is required than just the most critical slip surface or when the critical slip surface is of minor importance from an engineering point of view. For instance:
In these cases, determining a Factor of Safety using the Limit Equilibrium Method would be the solution. With Limit Equilibrium, it is possible to specify exactly what part of the model the Factor of Safety must be determined while the method would still have the benefit of determining the most critical, possible non-circular, slip surface in that area. It would also allow within one model to determine different factors of safety for different parts of the model.
With the PLAXIS 2D - Limit Equilibrium converter tool, you will be able to quickly open the same model with the same geometry, the same staged construction configuration, the same loading conditions and the same material assignments in GeoStudio SLOPE/W or PLAXIS LE to run your Limit Equilibrium Method analysis.
If you do not have write access to add files to the PLAXIS 2D installation folder, you can use this alternative approach:
Follow these instructions for conversion from PLAXIS 2D to a Limit Equilibrium file: GeoStudio SLOPE/W or PLAXIS LE
Figure 2. PLAXIS 2D to Limit Equilibrium converter tool user interface directly after launching
Follow these instructions for conversion from a 2D GeoStudio geometry to a PLAXIS model
Note: Only geometry and soil material assignments are converted from GeoStudio files to PLAXIS.
Figure 3. GeoStudio reader tab - user interface
In the video below, a slope has been modelled in PLAXIS 2D, and the safety analysis predicts one global factor of safety. With the PLAXIS 2D to Limit Equilibrium converter, we can investigate multiple parts of the analysis to run an analysis for.
For an older demonstration using PLAXIS LE, see here.
The phase configuration of a PLAXIS 2D model can be converted into a Limit Equilibrium model (GeoStudio or PLAXIS LE). By default, the geometry, material assignments and available parameters, distributed loads and the water table will be converted. GeoStudio's SLOPE/W model starts by default with a Morgenstern-Price method and a Circular Entry and Exit method. The PLAXIS LE model starts, by default, with a Circular Slope Search using the GLE (Fredlund) calculation method for a first, fast, robust approximation of the slope stability.
In the current version, the following limitations/restrictions apply:
Note that the PLAXIS 2D to Limit Equilibrium model converter will indicate this in the conversion log. Make sure to read it before continuing in GeoStudio or PLAXIS LE.
The latest PLAXIS 2D - Limit Equilibrium converter requires:
This tool requires access to the PLAXIS Python Remote scripting library using Python 3.8.x.
This tool is released as a Technology Preview and available as a separate download version only. Any updates will be added to this page, so check this page regularly.
Tutorial case Slope stability FEM and LEM [PLAXIS + SLOPE/W] [Tutorials]
Tutorial case Slope stability FEM and LEM [PLAXIS LE] [Tutorials]
Coffee Corner webinar: Combining a PLAXIS analysis with SLOPE/W's Limit Equilibrium for slope stability [Webinar]
PLAXIS 2D LE [main page]
Importing PLAXIS LE into PLAXIS 2D [Videos]
Using PLAXIS (FEM) to determine a Factor of Safety - SIG webinar [Webinar]
Using PLAXIS LE (formerly known as SVSlope) to determine a Factor of Safety - SIG webinar [Webinar]
Non-linear finite element analysis of safety factors [Publications]
GeoStudio [main page]
Introduction to SLOPE/W [YouTube video]
SLOPE/W Basics training [Seequent Learning] * requires a Seequent ID log in
Safety analysis and displacements [Tips and Tricks]
Safety analysis and undrained behaviour [Tips and Tricks]
Safety analysis and Updated Mesh [Tips and Tricks]
Safety calculation with a Target Value [Tips and Tricks]
Using PLAXIS Remote scripting with the Python wrapper [Tips and Tricks]