Questions about this article, topic, or product? Click here. 

PLAXIS 3D 2023.1 Release notes

New in PLAXIS 3D 2023.1

Release: February 2023

PLAXIS 3D 2023.1 (23.1.0.136) contains the following improvements and updates compared to PLAXIS 3D CONNECT Edition V22.02:

Compatibility notes: Files created in PLAXIS CONNECT Edition V22 can be read in PLAXIS 2023.1.
When upgrading from PLAXIS CONNECT Edition Version 21, due to the major changes in the material database and the unit system, PLAXIS 2023.1 will be installed alongside PLAXIS CONNECT Edition Version 21, instead of overwriting it. When opening PLAXIS CE V21 projects (or older) with PLAXIS 2023.1, projects will automatically be saved as a converted copy with the _converted suffix and will require recalculation. When using non-SI units, the mesh also needs to be regenerated.
Earlier versions of PLAXIS will not be able to open files saved in PLAXIS 3D 2023.1.

New features

UDSM: Barcelona Basic model
The Barcelona Basic model (BBM) is a Cam-Clay type effective stress model for the behaviour of unsaturated soils. The PLAXIS version of the BBM is defined in terms of Bishop effective stress and suction as stress variables, with an improved yield surface to capture better stress triaxiality both for saturated and unsaturated soils. The most important features of the model consist of the capabilities to model both elastic swelling and irreversible 'collapse' deformation upon wetting, as well as shear strength decrease when suction is reduced. Therefore, the model is most suitable for collapsible and/or moderately expansive soil, such as low plasticity (silt, clayey sand etc.) and granular unsaturated soils. The Barcelona Basic Model was implemented with scientific support from the Polytechnic University Catalunya (UPC), where the model was originally developed. This support is gratefully acknowledged. The model is available in the Advanced and Ultimate tiers with a valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement.
Suction in SoilTest
The SoilTest facility in PLAXIS 3D now has the option to account for an initial suction for all the test types. For the General test type, suction increments can be defined per test phase to replicate real life lab tests during which suction is varied. This new option allows users to calibrate model parameters for the more advanced material models in PLAXIS that may be derived from suction-controlled lab tests, like the Barcelona Basic Model. This option is available in the Advanced and Ultimate tiers with a valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement.
Reorganisation of Tunnel designer's Reinforcements tab
Due to adding the Cable bolt in PLAXIS 2D’s tunnel designer, the Reinforcements tab in the PLAXIS 3D Tunnel Designer required some small changes. Under the Reinforcements tab’s property tree, a new read only category "Element type" is introduced with the read only option "Rock bolt" selected. Some objects and bolt configuration options have been renamed, fully changing the command and scripting signature.
Performance improvements related to Material Objects
The performance of the new material objects (introduced in the V22 release) has been improved. Significant benefits can be experienced during the creation of materials, interaction with the materials database, and the pre- and postprocessing of calculations.
PLAXIS part of Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company
PLAXIS has become part of Seequent, Bentley’s brand for subsurface modelling and analysis applications. As part of this transition, the versioning, logos and splash screens used in various places in the software and installer have seen some minor changes.

Fixed issues

A large number of issues have been addressed, including:

  • [377180] The phase displacement Output result for plate elements would include also the pre-deformation occuring at the connected soil nodes. This is now resolved: plate phase displacements only contain the deformations that occur while the plate element is active.
  • [377825] Output's Command line and the Python API now allow to set the plottype to Deformed mesh plot: 
    set Plot_1.PlotType ResultTypes.Soil.DeformedMesh
  • [378945] Output's Command line and the Python API now allow to set the plottype to Connectivity plot: 
    set Plot_1.PlotType ResultTypes.Soil.Connectivity
  • [444592] When marking or unmarking checkboxes in the Selection- and Model Explorer, you sometimes had to click multiple times to make the change. This is now resolved.
  • [452397] Improved robustness for swept meshing when using cylindral objects
  • [517229] Improved robustness for Structural Forces in volumes files when a small portion of the generated mesh would cause issues with the automatic detection.
  • [529123] Improved the contour determination of surfaces generated by Point Cloud import: now the contour follows the data points more closely
  • [571368] Scaling of Cross section curves Axis now allows for values outside the results range
  • [584513] Improvements in STP file import and solving a software crash
  • [713284] Improved the return values for .BoundingBox: in stead of a single string, PLAXIS will now give coordinates as separate values for .xMin .yMin .zMin .xMax .yMax .zMax
  • [723906] When the global waterlevel extends above the surface and the top soil volume is non-porous, the phreatic surface in PLAXIS Output would not always be shown at the correct place. These cases are now resolved.
  • [779769] Sometimes the visualization status icon (the eye) for grouped items in the Model Explorer did not update properly based on the status of its child-elements. This is now fixed.
  • [782151] Several issues fixed in the Super Element workflow
  • [797434] Improved the performance of material objects, particularly while creating materials, using the global materials database, and pre-processing calculation data.
  • [802049] Made improvements on mesh optimization for embedded beams when activating EMR.
  • [853455] Fixed an display issue when loading a project with generic polycurves, that would give a missing "AxisFunction" hint upon loading the file. This is now resolved.
  • [874423] When using the field stress option in a model that includes a safety analysis, you would sometimes get a warning to reset SumMweight for this safety phase, while this is not possible. This is resolved by always using the SumMweight value from the Safety phase's parent phase.
  • [889840] Enabled visualization of plastic points from interfaces in the cross section view for interface elemens that cross the cross section plane.
  • [892028] Fixed an issue that lead to a crash when opening and closing tables multiple times in PLAXIS Output
  • [906555] It is now possibe to set min/max values outside the range of result values for shaded plots in PLAXIS Output.
  • [913872] Fixed an issue when creating a line cross section on specific coordinates.
  • [923741] Specific cross section results where missing from the option getcrosssectionresults. These are now added to the .ResultTypes.
  • [959063] In rare cases, the local axis-3 direction for a polycurve would flip. This is now resolved.
  • [967692] Fixed a visualization with the water table in the borehole window when the groundwater head was defined below the soil layers.
  • [988978] The Soiltest Python API allows for material property value changes again.
  • [994371] When the option to show stresses in non-porous materials is activated, the graphs would still not display these values. This is now resolved.
  • [1014059] Input of Rayleigh damping by means of Single Degree of Freedom values with f1=f2 and ξ1= ξ2 is allowed again
  • [1016508] Fixed an issue when trying to retreive the the manual time step determination option for a phase when using the Retrieve button
  • [1017571] Tension cut-off points in GHS and OCClay (UDSM models) are now properly visualized in the PLAXIS Output program.
  • [1020028] When importing the Concrete model from the global material database, it would reset the ductility to zero. This is now resolved.
  • Solved: [1025704] Fixed a crash in Output's report generation when using a mix of elastic and elastoplastic structural material datasets (beams, plates)
  • [1029118] The scripting reference (Python notebooks) is updated to the new style.
  • [1031480] Fixed a unit issue in the visualization of the Modulus Reduction curve helper side panel graph for the HS small model in the material database in the horizontal #gamma;-axis.
  • [1036320] Fixed an issue with the Hoek-Brown strength criteria inside the embedded beam skin resistance when using Layer-dependent.
  • [1037094] Fixed an issue that prevented copying material datasets in PLAXIS Output via the Project > Material information menu item.
  • [1042540] Fixed in issue with the determination of SoilTest's preconsolidation pressure for Hardening Soil and Modified Cam Clay.
  • [1042726] For the Sekiguichi-Ohta material model, PLAXIS Soiltest (3D only) did not initialize the initial stress state properly. This is now resolved.
  • [1047973] When repeating the User Interface option Retrieve suggested parameters for Dynamics phases to get a suggestion for the time step parameters would fail to suggest parameter values. This is now resolved.

Download links

You can update to the latest version using the CONNECTION Client, or download the installer via Bentley System's Software downloads.

Recommended
Related
Communities
Support and Services
Training and Learning
Social Media