Bentley Case Studies Tierra Group Utilizes 3D Analysis for Complex Slope Stability Project

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	Tierra Group Utilizes 3D Analysis for Complex Slope Stability Project Bentley

Tierra Group Utilizes 3D Analysis for Complex Slope Stability Project

Bentley

Applicable Industries	Buildings Construction & Infrastructure
Use Cases	Onsite Human Safety Management Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Challenge	Tierra Group, a provider of geotechnical, water resources, civil, environmental, and geological hazards engineering, was faced with a complex slope stability project involving highly variable soil conditions. The project required the analysis of the corner of an earth dam retaining structure. The challenge was twofold. Firstly, the structure of a corner or a turn in the earth dam needed to be incorporated into the analysis. Secondly, the varying geo-strata beneath the foundation of the engineered earth dam structure posed a significant challenge. The combination of these two aspects made applying 2D analysis extremely difficult and ineffective for the project. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is Tierra Group, a provider of geotechnical, water resources, civil, environmental, and geological hazards engineering. They are experts in their field and are often faced with complex engineering projects that require innovative solutions. In this particular project, they were tasked with analyzing the corner of an earth dam retaining structure in highly variable soil conditions. The complexity of the project and the specific challenges they faced required them to seek out advanced technological solutions. Read More
Solution	To overcome these challenges, Tierra Group turned to 3D analysis using Bentley’s PLAXIS LE software. The data was first imported into Bentley’s PLAXIS Designer to manage the pinch-outs from the collected real-world data. This software helped the team to develop a properly formed 3D conceptual model of the site. With the 3D model built, the analysis of the stability portion of the dam could proceed in the PLAXIS LE software. Tierra Group identified the slip direction close to the corner, which produced the minimum factor of safety by using the orientation analysis in PLAXIS LE. The resulting analysis also highlighted the interplay between the engineered structure and the geo-strata in the foundation, which had the potential to affect the factor of safety calculation in 3D. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Construction & Infrastructure

Use Cases

Onsite Human Safety Management

Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

Challenge

Tierra Group, a provider of geotechnical, water resources, civil, environmental, and geological hazards engineering, was faced with a complex slope stability project involving highly variable soil conditions. The project required the analysis of the corner of an earth dam retaining structure. The challenge was twofold. Firstly, the structure of a corner or a turn in the earth dam needed to be incorporated into the analysis. Secondly, the varying geo-strata beneath the foundation of the engineered earth dam structure posed a significant challenge. The combination of these two aspects made applying 2D analysis extremely difficult and ineffective for the project.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is Tierra Group, a provider of geotechnical, water resources, civil, environmental, and geological hazards engineering. They are experts in their field and are often faced with complex engineering projects that require innovative solutions. In this particular project, they were tasked with analyzing the corner of an earth dam retaining structure in highly variable soil conditions. The complexity of the project and the specific challenges they faced required them to seek out advanced technological solutions.

Solution

To overcome these challenges, Tierra Group turned to 3D analysis using Bentley’s PLAXIS LE software. The data was first imported into Bentley’s PLAXIS Designer to manage the pinch-outs from the collected real-world data. This software helped the team to develop a properly formed 3D conceptual model of the site. With the 3D model built, the analysis of the stability portion of the dam could proceed in the PLAXIS LE software. Tierra Group identified the slip direction close to the corner, which produced the minimum factor of safety by using the orientation analysis in PLAXIS LE. The resulting analysis also highlighted the interplay between the engineered structure and the geo-strata in the foundation, which had the potential to affect the factor of safety calculation in 3D.

Impact #1	The use of 3D analysis with Bentley’s PLAXIS LE software allowed Tierra Group to effectively analyze the corner of an earth dam retaining structure in highly variable soil conditions. The software enabled them to create a 3D conceptual model of the site, which was crucial for the analysis of the stability portion of the dam. The analysis highlighted the interplay between the engineered structure and the geo-strata in the foundation, providing valuable insights that could potentially affect the factor of safety calculation in 3D. This solution not only resolved the immediate project challenges but also provided a robust methodology for future projects with similar complexities.

Impact #1

The use of 3D analysis with Bentley’s PLAXIS LE software allowed Tierra Group to effectively analyze the corner of an earth dam retaining structure in highly variable soil conditions. The software enabled them to create a 3D conceptual model of the site, which was crucial for the analysis of the stability portion of the dam. The analysis highlighted the interplay between the engineered structure and the geo-strata in the foundation, providing valuable insights that could potentially affect the factor of safety calculation in 3D. This solution not only resolved the immediate project challenges but also provided a robust methodology for future projects with similar complexities.

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Overview

Tierra Group Utilizes 3D Analysis for Complex Slope Stability Project

Operational Impact