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

PLAXIS 2D 2023.1 Release notes

New in PLAXIS 2D 2023.1

Release: February 2023

PLAXIS 2D 2023.1 (23.1.0.136) contains the following improvements and updates compared to PLAXIS 2D 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 2D 2023.1.

New features

Import cross sections from Seequent Central
Geological model cross sections that were created in Leapfrog Works or Geo and published to Seequent Central, can now be imported directly into PLAXIS 2D with the new "Import Soil from Central" and "Import Geometry from Central" options, respectively in the Soil and Structures mode menus. The cross section is automatically imported as a collection of polygons and optimized for numerical analysis by reducing the number of points and line segments, allowing the user to define and assign material directly afterwards. This feature requires a valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement.
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 and Temperature in SoilTest
The SoilTest facility in PLAXIS 2D now has the option to account for an initial temperature and/ or suction for almost all the test types, except the Pressure meter test type. For the General test type, temperature and suction increments can be defined per test phase to replicate real life lab tests during which the temperature and/ or suction are varied. These new options allow users to calibrate model parameters for the more advanced material models in PLAXIS that may be derived from suction or temperature-controlled lab tests, like the Barcelona Basic Model or the Frozen/Unfrozen Barcelona Basic Model. These options are available in the Advanced and Ultimate tiers with a valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement.
Cable bolt added to Tunnel Designer's Reinforcements tab
The tunnel designer has been updated to include the Cable bolt element when defining the reinforcements. After adding reinforcements to a tunnel segment, the user can, in the property tree of the Reinforcements tab, now select from a new drop-down menu called "Element type" and choose between "Cable bolt" or "Rock bolt". The former uses the new element, the latter still uses the approach of previous releases namely the embedded beam element. 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

The following known issues have been fixed in this version:

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.
  • [571368] Scaling of Cross section curves Axis now allows for values outside the results range
  • [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.
  • [740143] The embedded beam results are now shown PER ELEMENT, taking into account the spacing.
  • [742022] Added functionalty to decompose polylines and ploycurves to separate segments.
  • [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.
  • [793717] Fixed an issue in regenerating stages routine after Tunnel Design edits.
  • [797434] Improved the performance of material objects, particularly while creating materials, using the global materials database, and pre-processing calculation data.
  • [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.
  • [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.
  • [923741] Specific cross section results where missing from the option getcrosssectionresults. These are now added to the .ResultTypes.
  • [932097] When using Updated Water pressures the location of the global water level will be used to update the hydrostatic water pressures. This cannot be combined with a groundwater flow analysis. This combination is now prevented.
  • [963398] Sometimes the Reached Forces in the Phases window would display kN/rad as unit for plane strain models. 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)
  • [1028083] Fixed an issue with determining the nodal external waterpressures for newly activated soil layers in a Fully Coupled analysis
  • [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.
  • [1032610] Fixed in issue with internal coordinate handling of imported geometry.
  • [1036320] Fixed an issue with the Hoek-Brown strength criteria inside the embedded beam skin resistance when using Layer-dependent.
  • [1042540] Fixed in issue with the determination of SoilTest's preconsolidation pressure for Hardening Soil and Modified Cam Clay.
  • [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.
  • [1053848] Fixed an issue when using the cyclic accumulation tool to determine the UDCAM-S parameter values (ρ<subs specifically) and copy them to the main material dataset

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