VII.

Coupled
p
Analysis
y

Seepage Stress Coupled Analysis

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis

Slope Stability Analysis reflecting Rainfall Intensity

SoilWorks

00. Table of Contents

Seepage

01 L
01.
Learning
i
Objective
Obj ti

02. Overview

1. Overview of Seepage-Levee Slope Coupled Analysis

2. Coupled Analysis using SoilWorks
3 Composition of Modeling
3.

03. Set Work Environment & Define Material Properties

1. Start SoilWorks / Import File

2. Convert to Slope Module

04. Modeling

10

1. Define Boundary Conditions (Define Arc Failure Surfaces)

05. Coupled Analysis

11

1. Other Analysis Result Loading

06. Analysis

12

1. Define
e e Analysis
a ys s Cases
2. Analysis

07. Analysis of Results

14

1. Analysis of Results

08 Analysis
08.
A l i Guide
G id

2 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

15

Slope

Seepage

Slope

From
o tthiss tuto
tutorial,
a , tthe
e use
user will u
understand
de sta d tthe
e workflow
o o assoc
associated
ated with
t tthe
e stab
stability
ty o
of a levee
e ee
slope in relation to seepage-slope coupled analysis. The user will also learn the use of various
basic functions of SoilWorks in the process, which involves numerical analysis for slope stability.
Result analysis and report generation will be also covered.
The workflow of seepage-slope coupled analysis in SoilWorks is as follows:
The process involves checking the stability of a river levee due to seepage by the tutorial 9, which
is then linked to the slope module to check the stability of the protected side at the full water level
at a steady flow state and the river side in a dry season at a transient flow state.

Tuttoria
als

SoilWorks

01. Learning Objective

STEP 01

Import the CAD model for the targeted

geometry for analysis

STEP 02

Create surfaces & assign material properties

STEP 03

Auto-generate mesh

STEP 04

Assign boundary conditions

(Seepage module)

STEP 05

Execute analysis

STEP 06

E
Extract
water pressure results
l at each
h stage

STEP 07

Assign boundary conditions

(Slope module)

STEP 08

Execute analysis

STEP 09

A l
Analyze
results
lt & generate
t reports
t

[Workflow in SoilWorks]
Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 3

SoilWorks

02. Overview

Seepage

Slope

1 O
1.
Overview
i
off Seepage-Levee
S
L
Slope
Sl
Coupled
C
l d Analysis
A l i
When a full water level continues in a levee due to rainfall, its embankment becomes saturated,
which causes an increase in instability of the slope of the protected side due to an increase in
pore water pressure from seepage. In a dry season on the contrary, the embankment becomes
unsaturated and the slope of the river side becomes unstable as the water pressure decreases
due to a receding water level.

The arc failure of a newly constructed levee is checked using the ground water level from
seepage analysis, the safety of which is based on an acceptable level of pore water pressure.

[Horizontal Stability Design Flow]

The river levee is analyzed for steady and transient flow seepage. The line of saturation for each
condition (that is, the pore water pressure results within the levee) is linked to the slope module

Tuttoria
als

for analysis.

4 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

Seepage

Slope

2 Coupled
2.
C
l d Analysis
A l i using
i
S ilW k
SoilWorks
1) Seepage Analysis
Seepage analysis in SoilWorks is classified into steady state analysis (boundary conditions
within and outside of the ground remain constant with time) and transient analysis (boundary
conditions within and outside of the ground change with time).
time) Similar to other general
purpose finite element programs, SoilWorks handles seepage analysis as boundary variant
problems. That is, the user specifies the parameters at the outer boundary lines of the
model, which are used to calculate variables within the model. The following three ways of
specifying the parameters are used in SoilWorks for seepage analysis:

Nodal water head: water heads at nodes are specified (total water head, pressure water
head)
Nodal flux/Surface flux: water flow quantities at nodes or surfaces are specified
Re-check boundary based on seepage condition: when the line of saturation is unknown

(1) Nodal water head

After selecting specific nodes, the boundary condition is assigned in the form of total water
head or pressure water head. The total water head value is entered relative to the origin
irrespective of the model location. For specifying the pressure water head, 0 is specified at
the nodes corresponding to the ground water surface.
SoilWorks can simulate confined flow in which a phreatic surface does not take place due to
seepage into the model and unconfined flow in which a line of saturation is developed due to
seepage. In each case, the method of applying the nodal water head is different. In the
case of unconfined flow in which the line of saturation needs to be determined, the drainage
and the condition for re-checking the boundary must be accurately considered.

Tuttoria
als

SoilWorks

02. Overview

Ph
Phreatic
ti surface
f

[Examples of specifying water head]

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 5

SoilWorks

02. Overview

Seepage

Slope

2. Coupled Analysis using SoilWorks

(2) Nodal flux/Surface flux
Nodal flux/Surface flux are boundary conditions, which are used to specify inflow or outflow
of water at specific nodes or element surfaces. In case of nodal flux, flow quantity per unit
time is specified. In case of surface flux, the input is based on the flow quantity per unit time
divided by the element area. The positive sign represents an inflow (due to rain), and the
negative sign represents an outflow (due to excavation or pumping).

(3) Re-check boundary based on seepage condition

y conditions change
g through
g a flow p
process in some types
yp of seepage
p g analyses.
y
Boundary
For example, if seepage is assumed to take place at the down-stream surface of a dam
consisted of a homogeneous material, then the location of the line of saturation intersecting
the down-stream surface of the dam is unknown. In order to specify a modified boundary
condition, an iterative calculation process is required as is done for solving nonlinear finite
element equations.
equations

All the nodes along the boundaries specified as unknown modified boundaries are assigned
to be re-checked, which must be initially defined as the boundary condition of a flux type.
The Re-check boundary function can be simply specified by checking on the option in the
input window for Nodal flux/Surface flux.
flux

Nodes to be re-checked

Tuttoria
als

[Specifying nodes to be re-checked (example)]

6 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

2) Stress-seepage coupled analysis

In SoilWorks, seepage analysis and stress analysis are independently performed, and then
pore water pressure can be reflected through the Other Analysis Result Loading function
as follows:
Seepage
module

Steady
flow analysis

Unsteady
flow
analysis

Other
Analysis
Result
Loading

Loading

Ground
module

Pore
water pressure

Stress
analysis

[Workflow of Coupled Analysis]

SoilWorks

02. Overview

Seepage

Slope

3 C
3.
Composition
iti
off M
Modeling
d li
This tutorial performs steady flow/transient flow seepage analyses by time steps considering the
changes in water level. Then slope stability is checked using the limit equilibrium method based
on the results of the seepage analyses. The model and the ground properties are as follows: The
completed file of Tutorial 9 (Stability Check for a River Levee) will be directly used.
1)

Composition of Modeling

Embankment Layer

Riprap

Existing Levee

Alluvial Layer

Weathered Soil
Weathered Rock

[Composition of Modeling]

2) Material Properties
Ground Properties (Slope Module)

Saturated Unit
Weight
(kN/m3)

Cohesion
(kN/m2)

Internal
Friction
Angle
(degree)

No

Ground Type

Model Type

Unit Weight
(kN/m3)

Embankment
Layer

Mohr Coulomb (LEM)

19

20

28

Existing Levee Mohr Coulomb (LEM)

18

19

25

Alluvial Layer

Mohr Coulomb (LEM)

19

20

15

32

Weathered Soil Mohr Coulomb ((LEM))

20

21

10

35

The table to the right is

nott used
d for
f
seepage
analysis, but used after
module.

the

slope

Tuttoria
als

activating

Weathered
Rock

Mohr Coulomb (LEM)

21

22

30

36

Riprap

Mohr Coulomb (LEM)

22

23

50

38

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 7

SoilWorks

03. Set Work Environment & Define Material Properties

Seepage

Slope

1 Start SoilWorks / Import File

1.
Import the enclosed completed analysis file of River Levee Stability Check to perform LEM linked
analysis for the levee slopes.
SoilWorks provides

Select the SoilWorks execution icon

modules, Ground, Slope,

Rock,

Soft

Foundation,

Ground,
Seepage

and Dynamic.

from the desktop.

1.

Project Manager > select Seepage

2.

Click

3.

Main Icon > Open > select Stability Check for a River Levee.spb

4.

Click

5.

Key in the command window Z (zoom) > e (Extents) and check the model data.

in Define Initial Variables.

3
4

Tuttoria
als

8 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

[Starting SoilWorks & Importing model]

SoilWorks

03. Set Work Environment & Define Material Properties

Seepage

Slope

2 C
2.
Convertt tto Sl
Slope M
Module
d l
The command entered
in

the

From the Main Menu, select Slope module icon

Command

Window may be used to

directly invoke the menu.

1. Save As other file name > save as River Levee Stability Check _LEM
2 Check the change in Module and click
2.

SoilWorks

permits

ground

material

properties

used

in

projects to be compiled
in a database.

The

database is created by
g the g
gdb file in
editing
SoilWorks/Dbase in the
Install folder.

Define the ground material properties for LEM analysis.

3. From the Main Menu, select Limit Equilibrium Method > Property > Ground Material
(command: gm)

Property

4. Revise the Model Type, 1.Embankment layer from Mohr-Coulomb to Mohr-Coulomb

(LEM)
5. General Parameter: Unit Weight, enter 19; Saturated Unit Weight, enter 20;
Cohesion, enter 5; Internal Friction Angle, enter 28 then click
6. Repeat the steps from 3 to 5 to modify the material properties on Page 7 for Existing
Levee to Riprap
7. After modifying all the material properties, click

Tuttoria
als

[ Modify Ground Material Properties]

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 9

SoilWorks

04. Modeling

Seepage

1 Define
1.
D fi B
Boundary
d
C
Conditions
diti
(Define
(D fi Arc
A F
Failure
il
Surfaces)
S f
)
Hide the Mesh Sets, not used in LEM analysis.
From the WorksTree, uncheck Mesh Set > uncheck the mesh sets.
Define the failure surfaces to perform LEM analysis for the protected and river sides.
From the Main Menu, select Limit Equilibrium Method > Boundaries > Arc Failure
Surface
1. Boundary Set: enter River Side
2. Grid Spacing: enter 1
3. Select Draw Grid Range, and draw the grid range as shown in the figure.
4. Check on Method of using Arc Tangent Lines.
5. Enter 1 for Arc radius increment.
6. Click Draw Arc Tangent, and draw the range of expected sliding surfaces
7. Enter 5 for the Number of Arc.
8 C
8.
Click
9. Repeat the steps from 1 to 8 to define the arc failure surfaces for the Protected Side.

2
3

4
5
6

Tuttoria
als

10 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

[River Side Arc Failure Surfaces]

[Protected Side Arc Failure Surfaces]

[Define Arc Failure Surfaces]

Slope

Seepage

Slope

1 Oth
1.
Other Analysis
A l i Result
R
lt Loading
L di
Among the seepage analysis results, Import the analysis results pertaining to the steady flow
analysis at the full water level and the transient flow analysis at the last stage after the sudden
drop of the water level.
From the Main Menu, select Loads | Boundaries
Boundaries> Loads > Result from Other Case
1. Click
2. Revise the file type to Seepage Model File (*.spb).
3. Select Stability Check for a River Levee.spb and click
4. Among the 5 result files, select Stability Check for a River Levee_spb_Steady Flow
Analysis and Stability Check for a River Levee_spb_Transient Flow
Analysis_(time:259200), and click
6. Click
5. Check the result items linked to Loads in WorksTree.

3
5

Tuttoria
als

SoilWorks

05. Coupled Analysis

2
3

[Analysis Result Link]

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 11

SoilWorks

06. Analysis

Seepage

Slope

1 Define
1.
D fi A
Analysis
l i C
Cases
From the Main Menu, select Analysis | Design > Analysis Control > Analysis Case
SoilWorks

(command: ac)

can

simultaneously check the

1. In the Define Analysis Case window, click

slopes on both sides.

2. Name: enter Steady Flow Analysis(Protected Side)

From Analysis Case >

Analysis Control Data,

3. Analysis Method: select Slope Stability (LEM) Analysis

define the arc failure

4. Click Analysis Control Data

surfaces

5. Analysis Method: select Bishop and Slope Direction: select Left to Right Direction and

and

the

corresponding slopes.

then click
6. In the Add/Modify Analysis Case window, click Use All Layer Sets, and drag & drop
Boundary Set: Protected
Protected Side
Side and Load Set: 1
1_Result-Stability
Result-Stability Check for a River
Levee_spb_Steady Flow Analysis into the Data used in Analysis window.
7. Click
8. Repeat the steps from 1 to 7 to modify Transient Flow Analysis to Transient Flow

Specify

the

corresponding

slope
to

Analysis(River Side)

the

y
river side from Analysis
Control Data.

2
4

Tuttoria
als

12 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

6
6
5

[Define Analysis Cases]

SoilWorks

06. Analysis

Seepage

Slope

2 A
2.
Analysis
l i
Using the analysis cases, perform analysis.
From the Main Menu, select Analysis | Design > Run > Analysis
1.
A
Any

d t
data

Check on Steady Flow Analysis(Protected Side) & Transient Flow Analysis(River

Side)

generated
t d

during the process of

(command: ra)

2.

Click

analysis is displayed at
the bottom of Analysis
Execution

Manager.

Especially, use caution

when Warnings appear

as the
h analysis
l i results
l
may

be

erroneous.

Analysis data is saved in

a text file format in .OUT
file in the same folder as
Save file.

Tuttoria
als

[Analysis]

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 13

SoilWorks

07. Analysis of Results

Seepage

Slope

1 A
1.
Analysis
l i off R
Results
lt
If

the

failure
away

center

of

surface
from

the

the

exists

From the analysis by Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM), the minimum safety factor is checked for

grid,

each slope. Select Arc Failure Surface from the Results tab. The minimum safety factor and

locate the grid so that

the corresponding center
can be located in the

other safety factors corresponding to the centers within the specified grid range can be checked.
Selecting a center within the grid displays the shape of the failure surface.

center of the grid, and

perform a new analysis
again.

1. From the Results tab, select Steady Flow Analysis-Protected Side > Arc Failure Surface
2. Check the minimum safety factors and the failure surfaces in the work window.
3. From the Results tab, check the minimum safety factors and the failure surfaces for the
protected side and the river side.

Tuttoria
als

4. Examine the line of saturation of the seepage analysis results within the levee.

14 | Coupled Analysis Tutorial

[Minimum safety factor and Failure surface for each Analysis Case]

Seepage

Slope

This tutorial has performed a simple example of seepage-slope coupled analysis.

The ground water flow within the levee changes in diverse ways depending on the change in
water level and the degree of saturation in the embankment of the levee. In general a slope
stability problem is analyzed with the assumption that the water level is determined by the
underground water level, which exerts static water pressure. On the contrary, the water level
within the levee can be determined only by seepage analysis.
The Seepage module enables us to accurately locate the ground water level based on the
unsaturated properties of the ground and the water level condition varying with time. The water
level is then linked to the Slope module to check the stability of the levee.
Not only can SoilWorks handle coupled seepage analysis based on the variation of water level,
but it also enables us to perform slope stability checks in the rainy season through modeling an
actual rainfall mapping.

Tuttoria
als

SoilWorks

08. Analysis Guide

Seepage Slope Coupled Analysis | 15