Product(s):	SACS
Version(s):	All
Area:	PSI

Problem

I have modelled a CPT psiinp. model, when I try to plot the soil data in the utilities tab, I encounter ** ERROR - SOIL T-Z HAS ILLEGAL STRATA ORDER and ** ERROR - SOIL STRATA DESCRIPTION AT CARD NO . X. How to troubleshoot the issue?

Solution

This error generally triggers due to inconsistent input in soil data.

PSI module of SACS requires to identify properly the Stratification of Soil to generate the Soil Stiffness.

Each "SOIL T-Z" SACS CARD has "Distance to Top of Stratum" and "Distance to Bottom of Stratum" (from pilehead) based on which PSI module identifies the Soil Stratification.

"Distance to Top of Stratum" must be STRICTLY arranged in ascending order.

You may omit "Distance to Bottom of Stratum" which is alright since SACS will consider the Top of the next strata as the Bottom of the current Strata.

Also, the number of stratum mentioned in the TZAPI line should match with the total number of inputs.

Sometimes, due to non availability of decimal points in the input, SACS cannot recognize the digits as floating and there by triggers similar error.

As an example, let us compare an incorrect input and a rectified input to troubleshoot this error. We obtained the original soil data from one of our users who has posted the issue  in our community forum.

Incorrect input:

SOIL TZAPI   HEAD  9           1.     1.SOL1                 ICP     3.6                                               

SOIL API AXL1SLOC      0   0.5 CPT          0.10.6931  26.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    0.5    1. CPT          0.10.6931  26.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC      1   1.5 CPT          0.10.6931  27.6                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    1.5    2. CPT          0.10.6931  27.6                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC      2   2.5 CPT           1.0.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    2.5    3. CPT        1.8750.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC      3   3.5 CPT        1.8750.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    3.5    4. CPT        1.8750.8664  27.2                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC      4   4.5 CPT           4.0.8664  27.2                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    4.5  4.91 CPT        26.250.8664  27.2

 

Rectified input of the same data:

SOIL TZAPI   HEAD 11           1.     1.SOL1                 ICP     3.6                                               

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    0    0.5  CPT          0.10.6931  26.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    0.5  1.0  CPT          0.10.6931  26.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC     1.  1.5  CPT          0.10.6931  27.6                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    1.5  2.0  CPT          0.10.6931  27.6                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC     2.  2.5  CPT           1.0.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    2.5  3.0  CPT        1.8750.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC     3.  3.5  CPT        1.8750.6931  28.8                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    3.5  4.0  CPT        1.8750.8664  27.2                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC     4.  4.5  CPT           4.0.8664  27.2                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC    4.5  4.91 CPT        26.250.8664  27.2                                                            

SOIL API AXL1SLOC   4.91       CPT        26.250.8664  27.2