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Loading
Settle3D allows you to apply vertically oriented distributed loads to a ground surface in order to model soil settlement due to foundation loads, embankments, fills, etc. The loads can be of any shape, can have uniform or variable magnitude, can be applied at any depth and can be staged (i.e. applied at different times, sequences or load increments).
Loads are assumed to be flexible. Rigid loading is NOT available in this version of the program.
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Loading: Circular Loads
A circular load can be applied with the Add Circular Load option. Simply enter the circle radius and load magnitude in the Define Load dialog, enter the coordinates of the circle center in the Plan View, and the load will be added to the model.
Circular load and settlement contours in 3D view
Load properties for circular load
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Loading: Rectangular Loads
A rectangular load can be applied with the Add Rectangular Load option. Enter the length, width and load magnitude in the Define Load dialog, enter the coordinates of the rectangle center in the Plan View, and the load will be added to the model.
Rectangular load and settlement contours in 3D view
Load properties for rectangular load
For a rectangular load, the magnitude can be uniform or variable over the area of the load. To define a variable load magnitude, select the variable checkbox in the Define Load dialog, and you will see the following dialog, which allows you to define the load magnitude at each vertex of the rectangle.
Defining variable load magnitude for a rectangular load
For example, using variable loading you could easily model a rectangular ramp as shown in the following figure.
Rectangular load with variable magnitude
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Loading: Polygonal Loads
Loads of any two-dimensional shape can be defined with the Add Polygonal Load option. Use the mouse or keyboard to enter the polygon coordinates in the Plan View, enter the load properties in the Define Load dialog, and the load will be added to the model.
Polygonal loads in 3D View
Load properties for polygonal load
For a polygonal load, the magnitude can be uniform or variable over the area of the load. To define a variable load magnitude, select the variable checkbox in the Define Load dialog, and you will be able to define the load magnitude at each vertex of the polygon, in the following dialog.
Defining variable load magnitude for a polygonal load
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Loading: Embankment Loads
Settle3D provides a specialized embankment designer, which lets you easily define an embankment load. Embankments are defined by a constant 2-dimensional cross-section, but represent 3-dimensional loads, because the embankments have a finite length, with user-defined end angles, and can be placed at any orientation with respect to other loads.
Embankment load in 3D view
Embankments can have multiple layers with user-defined staging sequence. Embankment properties are defined in the Embankment Designer dialog shown below.
Definition of embankment cross-section parameters
Embankment designer dialog
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Loading: Excavation
Excavations can be defined with the Add Excavation option. An excavation is defined as a polygon in the Plan View, and represents the removal of material to a specified depth. Loading can be applied within excavations, and both loading and excavation (depth) can be staged.
It is important to note that excavations in Settle3D (version 1.0) are only intended to model the unloading effect of the removed material. The true 3-dimensional stress, displacement and groundwater distribution due to excavation is NOT computed.
Rectangular excavation in 3D view
Load applied within excavation
The main purpose of defining an excavation in Settle3D (version 1.0) is to accurately model the net loading at some depth below ground surface within an excavated area.
Excavation properties
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Loading: Load Staging
A Settle3D analysis can be performed using multiple stages. Staging represents the sequence in which you would like to define and analyze your model. For example:
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Loads can be applied at any stage
Load magnitudes can be applied in user-defined increments
Load depth can be changed at different stages
For time-dependent modeling, stages can represent different times
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In the simplest case, you can select the installation stage of a load, as shown below.
Choosing the installation stage of a load
For more advanced staging requirements, select the advanced staging checkbox, and you will be able to define a load factor and depth for each stage, as shown below. The load factor is applied to the load magnitude, and allows you to increase or decrease the load magnitude at any stage.
Advanced load staging options
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Loading: Load Editing
After adding a load to a model, you can easily edit the load properties (magnitude, staging information, depth) or coordinates (location, size, orientation). This allows you to quickly perform parametric analysis of different loading scenarios. Editing options are available through the menu, toolbar or convenient right-click shortcuts as shown in the following figures.
Right-click editing options for polygonal load
Right-click editing options for vertices of polygonal load
Right-click load editing options in 3D view
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Loading: Display Properties
Load display properties can also be customized. You can customize the colours used to display each load, and you can also define the apparent load height. Load height is only used for display purposes and does not affect the analysis results.
Load display properties can be customized
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