Tutorials

Simulation Workflow

Follow these steps to configure properties for a selected section in OptimalSlope to run a simulation:

1. Importing or Generating Sections

It is recommended to directly import sections if you already have them defined in DXF files. This method is straightforward and speeds up the process without the need to import often large 3D model files to make sections.

In OptimalSlope, you have two methods available for defining cross-sections:

Importing 3D Solid/Wireframe and Making Sections

You can import a 3D solid or wireframe (File -> Import Stratigraphy -> DXF) and then use our slicing tool to create a section. For more information on slicing, refer to the Slicing.

Directly Importing DXF Section File

Alternatively, you can directly import a DXF section file using the pathway: File -> Import Section -> DXF.

Use Quality Input Data

Ensure your DXF model data meets general quality standards to ensure the best simulation results. For guidelines on data preparation and ensuring quality, refer to the Data Preparation.

2. Define Section Properties

Define Bench Properties

Specify properties for benches if your cross-section includes them:

• Unit Weight: Weight of material per cubic meter.
• Bench Face Angle: Inclination angle of bench faces.
• Min Berm Width: Minimum width of berms between benches.
• Number of Benches: Total benches count.
• Bench Height: Height of each bench.

Set Rock Properties

Choose between Hoek-Brown and Mohr-Coulomb models and set properties like:

• Strength characteristics.
• Friction parameters.

Section rock properties are set for each section layer separately. Alternatively, if 3D models are used to generate sections, properties can be provided at the 3D level initially. When making a section using our slicing tool, they are automatically inherited from parent 3D models.

General Section Properties

Set general properties for the section:

• Horizontal Crest Position: Position of the crest relative to the section origin.
• Slope Height: Total height of the slope.
• Target FoS (Factor of Safety).

The above properties (bench, rock, and general properties) must be provided to run simulations. Optional properties below can be added if needed.

Optional Properties

• Water Table: Location and properties of the water table, if applicable.
• Surcharge: Additional loads like magnitude and inclination, if applicable.
• Roads: Presence and properties of roads on or near the slope.
• Tension Crack Properties: Characteristics of any tension cracks.

Ensure all values are accurate and reflect the physical/mechanical characteristics of your material and cross-section specifics.

For detailed guidance, refer to the OptimalSlope Manual on Bench Properties.

3. Running Simulations

After the input data is defined, simulations can be started in the simulation window. Here are the steps to perform before starting a simulation:

1. Select a section of interest. Any section with prescribed properties.
2. Set a simulation folder. This informs where to write simulation results and logs.
3. Make sure user’s profile is configured. When running a simulation for the first time, go to Tools -> Settings -> Account and enter provided credential information, click Configure. This ensures that your simulation can run on the cloud.

An example of input and output slope profile

An example of 2D output slope profile

• Note: results in the 2D plot is always shown as slope is on the right side (mirrored if it is on the left side). When exporting output profile to DXF or visualising in 3D, a produced slope profile is shown in the original position.

4. Exporting Output Profile to DXF

The obtained results of a simulation are shown in 2D plot window and also displayed in the form of logs. The estimated shape of the slope profile can be exported to DXF and later imported to other software.

• Navigate to the tools section in the simulation window (Export output profile to DXF).
• Select one of the export configurations:
  • Global - exported coordinates of profile are in the original global coordinate system. Useful when the result is visualized with respect to the original section or 3D models.
  • Local XZ - exported coordinates of profile are aligned to the XZ plane (Y coordinate is fixed).
  • Local XY - exported coordinates are flattened, i.e., the section is on the XY plane and is horizontal (Z coordinate is fixed). Useful when exporting to software like Rockscience RS2.

5. Importing Output into Rockscience RS2

Since results from OptimalSlope may be used in RS2 for stability analysis, this step explains how to import output from our software. There are several steps required to import an output profile DXF file into RS2.

Step 1: Export output profile to DXF from our software

• Export output profile as DXF (as explained in step 4) using the Local XY export method. This is required as RS2 expects a 2D section, so coordinates are flattened to have a horizontal section on the XY plane.

  Step 2: Modify the DXF File in AutoCAD

• Open the DXF file in AutoCAD.
• Convert Block References: Use the EXPLODE command to convert all block references into simpler entities. This is crucial as RS2 cannot handle block references in the DXF.
• Save the File: After exploding the blocks, save the file again as an ASCII DXF 2000 format. Note: Other software such as Rhino can be used to achieve such operation.

  Step 3: Import into RS2

• Import the DXF File: Open RS2 and import the modified DXF file.
• Set Boundary Types: RS2 assigns Boundary Types based on layer names. Ensure your layer names match the expected Boundary Types in RS2. If a layer name does not match, it will be set to ‘Not Assigned’.
• Defining the Model: For a slope model, set the boundary type as ‘Material’. Note that the ‘External’ role should not be used for the top and bottom portions of the slope, which should be defined by two different polylines.

By following these steps, you can successfully prepare and import a DXF file into RS2, ensuring that all elements are correctly interpreted by the software.