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PLAXIS 3D 2023.2 Release notes

New in PLAXIS 3D 2023.2.1

Release: October 2023

PLAXIS 3D 2023.2.1 (23.2.1.1079), superseding PLAXIS 3D 2023.2.0 (23.2.0.1059), contains the following improvements and updates compared to PLAXIS 3D 2023.1:

Compatibility notes: Files created in PLAXIS CONNECT Edition V22 can be read in PLAXIS 2023.2.1.
When upgrading from PLAXIS CONNECT Edition Version 21, due to the major changes in the material database and the unit system, PLAXIS 2023.2.1 will be installed alongside PLAXIS CONNECT Edition Version 21, instead of overwriting it. When opening PLAXIS CE V21 projects (or older) with PLAXIS 2023.2.1, 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 2023.2.1.

New features

Cable element
Added cable element and material type to simulate rock reinforcement like grouted cables or frictional/grouted bolts that work mostly in tension/compression. The Material definition includes the input of bond stiffness and bond strength parameters in line with rock engineering practice. Other capabilities include confining stress dependency and pre-stressing the element. The cable element is available in all product tiers.
Import of surfaces from Seequent Central (Tech. Preview)
Surfaces created in Leapfrog that have been published to Central can be imported directly into PLAXIS 3D with the new "Import Surfaces from Central" option. This allows users to create their subsurface model in PLAXIS 3D based on the contact surfaces in the Surface Chronology of the Geological Model, as well as the Topography available in the published Leapfrog project. This is a technology preview based on the triangulated surfaces implementation introduced in V22 with certain limitations to the surface representation:
  • Steep transitions, sharp edges or corners present in the surface are smoothed out, i.e. open pit geometry, vertical cuts etc.
  • Very complex surfaces with high triangle counts cannot be handled and will require simplification on beforehand.
  • Nearly closed and closed surfaces cannot be imported correctly, i.e. isolated soil lenses or isolated intrusions. Those will need to be split into separate surfaces on beforehand.
This feature is available as a technology preview and while the import has been tested, it will be less robust compared to regular features. Users will encounter some issues when using this feature. This feature is available in all tiers and requires a valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement to use as well as a Central license.
UDSM: SANISAND-MS
SANISAND-MS is a stress ratio controlled, critical state compatible, bounding surface plasticity model formulated to improve the simulation of the drained mechanical response of sands and sandy soils in high-cyclic loading conditions. The model can be used in engineering applications requiring the prediction of strain accumulation under thousands of drained cyclic loadings. SANISAND-MS includes features such as a memory surface subjected to isotropic and kinematic hardening to account for fabric-related effects on the cyclic ratcheting of sands and a kinematic hardening for the yield surface. The model is available as a User Defined Soil Model and can be used in the Advanced tier by specifying the cyclic loading through a succession of plastic analysis phases, or in the Ultimate tier with cyclic loading applied as a dynamic load multiplier in a Dynamic calculation phase. A valid Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement is also required.
PLAXIS is part of Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company
PLAXIS is 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.
Other changes and improvements
  • Changed model name in bbm64.dll from "UnSaturated model" to "Barcelona Basic Model".
  • For all structural element types, SumPhase displacements now show the deformation results only since their activation.
  • Upgraded ReportGenerator to 64 bits to handle bigger reports.

Fixed issues

The following known issues have been fixed in PLAXIS 3D 2023.2.1 version:

A large number of issues have been addressed, including:

  • [378988] Local axis for Structural forces in volumes files is now displayed
  • [525067] Greatly reduced memory usage for cyclic SoilTest runs with many cycles
  • [872158] Improvements for more relevant feedback when loading material dataset information from PLAXIS CONNECT Edition V21 or earlier
  • [931072] Adding more than 20 data rows for an unsaturated spline, lead to a crash. This is now fixed.
  • [999872] Removed the incorrect calculation of a "Discharge" value when looking at the cross section results for the hydraulic gradient.
  • [1048346] Improved clarity how the option Interpolate pore pressures work in the UI: Interpolate vertically
  • [1062059] Fixed a few mesh generation issues with NATM tunnel definition
  • [1070680] Fixed a number of issues in the PLAXIS 3D combine command for surfaces.
  • [1072591] The checkgeometry command failed on invaid surface definitions. This is now fixed.
  • [1072607] Improved visualization of PLAXIS Output overview of material information when having different drainage types in the PLAXIS model
  • [1075003] Removed selection of unsupported material database file extension (.plxmatx)
  • [1081853] Fixed an issue in 3D Hoek-Brown with shear components
  • [1095075] In PLAXIS Output, the MaterialID for the getresults command did not show correct values. This is now replaced by a new property: .MaterialIndex
  • [1095955] Fixed an issue in PLAXIS 3D Safety analysis when using Mohr-Coulomb with a high dilatancy angle
  • [1096247] Structural element material data tables in PLAXIS Output now show correct and complete data when having mixed types (elastic and elastoplastic)
  • [1105040] Fixed an issue when loading older PLAXIS 3D models with a split tunnel (Template option) which lead to incorrect reinforcement elements being added.
  • [1174879] Fixed an issue in the PLAXIS Output API when retrieving material dataset parameter values.
  • [1186220] Fixed an issue in the Python API when requesting material property values in PLAXIS Output
  • [1211241] When using non-metric units, PLAXIS Output would show the incorrect values for the applied pseudo-static values when looking at the calculation information table. The calculation used the correct values.
  • [1228936] Fixed an issue in determining interface and structural data for cross section results when using the command line or the Python API with the getcrosssectionresults command
  • [1104790] In SoiTest we can again set the Consolidation K0 value for Triaxial test configurations larger than 1
  • [1268100] Fixed a crash when adding segments to closed section in the Tunnel Designer
  • [1283831] Retrieving Soiltest results via the Python API did not give result values. This is now solved.

Download links

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

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