GEOTEC Office 13 Enhancements

One of the key enhancements in the recent version of GEOTEC Office is the improved graphic scaling functionality. With this new feature, users can now easily fit their graphics to the paper size and adjust the margins without the need to manually adjust the scale.

In previous versions of the software, users would often have to spend a significant amount of time manually adjusting the scale of their graphics to fit the paper size and margins with which they were working. This could be a time-consuming and frustrating process, and it could also lead to errors and inconsistencies in the final output.

With the new scaling and margins feature, however, users can simply select the paper size they want to work with from page setup, and the software will automatically adjust the scale of their graphics to fit. Users can also adjust the margins easily, without the need to manually adjust the scale.

This new functionality not only saves time and effort, but it also ensures that the final output is accurate and consistent. Users can now create graphics of data and results with ease, all while maintaining the integrity and quality of their graphics.

In addition to the scaling and margins enhancements, the recent version of our software includes a range of other improvements and upgrades, such as enhanced performance, new tools and features, and improved user interfaces. We believe that these enhancements will make our software even more powerful and effective for graphic designers and other creative professionals. 

One of the major enhancements in the latest version of our software is the "What You Print or Send to Word is What You See". With this new feature, users can now ensure that what they print or send to Word is exactly what they see on the screen, without any discrepancies or inaccuracies.

In previous versions of the software, users would sometimes encounter issues where the printed or exported output did not match what they saw on the screen. This could be frustrating and time-consuming, as it would often require multiple printouts and adjustments to get the output exactly right.

However, users can be confident that the printed or exported output will be an exact match for what they see on the screen. This not only saves time and effort, but it also ensures that the final output is accurate and consistent.

The new functionality works by ensuring that the software considers all aspects of the printing or exporting process, such as printer or export settings, file types, and formatting options, and adjusts the on-screen display accordingly. This means that users can preview their output on the screen before printing or exporting and be confident that the final output will be an exact match.

In addition, the latest version of our software includes a range of other enhancements and upgrades, such as improved performance, new tools and features, and enhanced user interfaces. We believe that these enhancements will make our software even more powerful and effective for users across a range of industries and applications.

In the recent version of the program, the "Redo" and "Undo" commands have been enhanced to make it easier for users to edit the project data.

The "Redo" command typically refers to the action of performing an operation or making a change to the data, while the "Undo" command allows the user to reverse the most recent change that was made.

With the enhanced commands, users will be able to perform multiple "Undo" and "Redo" operations, rather than just undoing the most recent change. This means that if a user makes several changes to their data and then decides to undo them, they can now undo each change one by one, in the order in which they were made. This provides greater flexibility and control over the editing process.

Additionally, the new version of the program also includes a "Redo" command that allows users to reapply changes that were previously undone in case they change their mind and want to restore some or all of the changes they made.

Overall, these enhancements to the "Redo" and "Undo" commands should make it easier for users to edit their data and ensure that they have greater control over the editing process.

It is possible to use the same data for analyzing beam foundations by five different conventional and refined calculation methods based on the three standard subsoil models using GEO Tools program. The subsoil models for analyzing beam foundations (standard models) available in GEO Tools are:

a) Simple assumption model

b) Winkler's model

c) Continuum model

The simple assumption model does not consider the interaction between the beam foundation and soil. The model assumes a linear distribution of contact pressures beneath the foundation. Winkler's model is the oldest and simplest one. That considers the interaction between the beam foundation and the soil. The model represents the soil as elastic springs. The continuum model is a complicated one. Also, this model considers the interaction between the beam foundation and soil. It represents the soil as a layered continuum medium.

The three standard soil models are described through five different numerical calculation methods. The methods graduate from the simplest to the more complicated one covering the analysis of the most common beam foundation problems.

According to the three standard soil models (simple assumption model - Winkler's model - Continuum model), five numerical calculation methods are considered to analyze the beam foundation as follows:

1- Linear Contact Pressure

(Simple assumption model)

2- Elastic Beam Foundation using Modulus of Subgrade Reaction by Kany/ El Gendy (1995) (Winkler's model)

3- Elastic Beam Foundation using Modulus of Compressibility by Kany (1974)

(Continuum model)

4- Rigid Beam Foundation using Modulus of Compressibility by Kany (1972)

(Continuum model)

5- Flexible Beam Foundation using Modulus of Compressibility

(Continuum model)

It is also possible to consider irregular soil layers and the thickness of the base beam that varies in each element. Furthermore, the influence of temperature changes, the additional settlement on the beam foundation, and the concrete design can be considered.

From the "Analysis of a beam foundation" command, a new form will appear with different tabs. The first tab in this form is the "Calculation Method" tab, Figure 28. You can choose the soil model. Also, you have two options to determine the modulus of the subgrade reaction, which could be calculated from soil layers or defied by the user. If you choose to calculate the modulus of the subgrade reaction from soil layers, you can define the subsoil model as a layered or half-space model. In addition, determining limit depth, the influence of temperature change on the settlements, the influence of additional settlements on the raft, and concrete design options could be selected.

The modified Cam-Clay model is a widely used constitutive model for soil mechanics that can capture the nonlinear elastic and plastic behavior of saturated clay soils under various loading conditions. The model is based on the concept of critical state soil mechanics, which assumes that there is a unique relationship between the mean effective stress, the deviatoric stress, and the specific volume of the soil at the critical state, where the soil flows as a frictional fluid without any change in stress or volume. The model uses an elliptical yield surface in the mean effective stress-deviatoric stress plane, which evolves with plastic deformation according to a hardening rule that depends on the specific volume. The model also uses an associated flow rule, which implies that the direction of plastic strain increment is normal to the yield surface. The model parameters are determined from experimental data, such as isotropic compression tests and triaxial tests, and can be related to soil properties such as initial void ratio, pre-consolidation pressure, and friction angle. The modified Cam-Clay model can reproduce some important features of clay behavior, such as compression and swelling, shear hardening and softening, and dilatancy and contractancy.

The axially and laterally loaded pile can be analyzed by Mindlin solutions. The elastic pile is analyzed using the finite element method, and the soil stiffness is determined from Mindlin analytical solutions. Linear and nonlinear pile analyses can be carried out using hyperbolic functions by defining the limit load. In addition, the pile could be analyzed as a single pile, or a pile connected with (Column/ Foundation). Furthermore, the pile head could be free/ fixed or any other constraint, also the column or foundation edge. Half-space and layered soil models are considered.

Sheet pile walls can be categorized into anchored or cantilever types and can be analyzed in three ways: as a cantilever, free earth support, or fixed earth support. The Limit Equilibrium Analysis (LEA) method is used to analyze and determine the sheet pile length while the finite element method is used to determine deformations of the sheet pile.

The Limit Equilibrium Analysis (LEA) method is a commonly used technique for analyzing the stability of sheet piles. This method involves evaluating the forces and moments acting on the sheet pile and determining whether the pile is stable under the given loading conditions. The LEA method considers the forces acting on the sheet pile in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The horizontal forces include the soil pressure and any external loads acting on the structure, while the vertical forces include the weight of the pile and any soil or water above the pile. To perform a LEA analysis for a sheet pile, the following steps are typically followed:

1- Determine the soil properties: The first step in the analysis is to determine the soil properties, including the soil type, strength, and stiffness. This information is used to calculate the soil pressure acting on the sheet pile.

2- Define the loading conditions: The next step is to define the loading conditions, including any external loads and the water level. This information is used to calculate the forces and moments acting on the sheet pile.

3- Calculate the forces and moments: Using the soil properties and loading conditions, the forces and moments acting on the sheet pile are calculated. This includes the soil pressure, water pressure, and any external loads.

4- Evaluate stability: The final step is to evaluate the stability of the sheet pile. This is done by comparing the forces and moments acting on the pile to its capacity to resist those loads. If the pile is stable, the analysis is complete. If not, modifications to the design may be necessary.

LEA is a widely used method for analyzing the stability of sheet piles, and it can be used to evaluate the performance of different sheet pile configurations and installation methods. However, it is important to note that the results of the analysis are only as accurate as the input data, and careful consideration must be given to the assumptions and limitations of the method.

The Limit Equilibrium Analysis (LEA) method is commonly used to determine sheet pile length and stability, considering forces and moments acting on the sheet pile in both horizontal and vertical directions. The analysis involves determining the soil properties, loading conditions, calculating forces and moments, and evaluating stability. However, the accuracy of the results depends on the input data, and assumptions and limitations of the method must be considered. These are different types of sheet pile walls used in the field of geotechnical engineering and construction five of these can be used in GEO Tools:

1- Cantilever sheet pile wall: This is a type of retaining wall made up of interlocking steel, concrete or wood sheet piles that are driven into the ground. The piles are designed to act as cantilevers, resisting the lateral pressure of soil and water on one side, while being supported by the soil on the other side.

2- Anchored sheet pile wall with free earth support: This type of retaining wall is similar to the cantilever sheet pile wall, but it includes additional support in the form of anchors that are installed into the soil behind the wall. The anchors provide additional resistance against the lateral pressure of the soil and water.

3- Anchored sheet pile wall with fixed earth support (Blum's Method): In this type of retaining wall, the sheet piles are anchored to a rigid structural element such as a concrete beam or slab. The structural element acts as a fixed support, preventing the sheet piles from deflecting inward.

4- Anchored sheet pile wall with fixed earth support (Equivalent beam Method): This method involves treating the sheet pile wall as an equivalent beam and analyzing the forces acting on it. The fixed end of the beam is anchored to a rigid structure, while the free end is supported by the soil. The analysis is used to determine the required size and spacing of the anchors.

5- Anchored sheet pile wall with fixed earth support (Bowels's beam Method): This method is similar to the equivalent beam method, but it also takes into account the soil resistance acting on the sheet pile wall. The analysis involves calculating the bending moment and shear forces acting on the sheet piles and designing the anchor system accordingly.

This book describes the procedures and methods available in GEO Tools to analyze the single pile. The methods consider various analysis aspects of the single pile such as linear analysis, nonlinear analysis, half-space soil, and multi-layered soil. 

This book describes the essential methods used in GEO Tools to analyze sheet pile walls with verification examples. GEO Tools is a simple user interface program and needs little information to define a problem.