What We've Done For You Lately:
Customer Feedback Leads to Free Improvements All Users Can Benefit From
Recently, we’ve made significant improvements to our existing software versions and to the way we distribute our programs - all based on user suggestions. Our customers contribute important feedback that allows us to understand the new challenges that engineers are facing in the field and to enhance our software functionality accordingly. When we improve our programs, users simply have to download the latest updates to ensure that they’re working with the most cutting-edge geotechnical software available. All updates are free to existing Rocscience users and are seamlessly downloaded in seconds – by selecting the program, update histories can be viewed at http://www.rocscience.com/downloads/Downloads.asp, so you’ll know exactly what kind of new functionality you can benefit from.

Thanks to the Rocscience users who’ve kindly supplied us with feedback and ideas this year. Here are highlights from the first half of 2004 - improvements we think you’ll want to know about.
Slide (5.0)
Typically, we reserve major additions for new program upgrades, however, based on customer request, many Slide 5.0 enhancements have been made available quickly, at no additional cost to existing users. Our latest Slide update contains a major new feature requested by many customers – the B-bar method for modeling excess pore pressure due to undrained loading. The B-bar method can also be used to model a rapid drawdown analysis. Other additions based on popular demand include a new material model that combines drained and undrained strength properties and the ability to combine the Ru pore pressure method with water surfaces.


Slip surface through embankment on clay foundation. Graph shows initial pore pressure and excess
pore pressure (B-bar method) in the clay layer due to the rapid construction of the embankment.
Slide 5.0 has evolved, in large part, due to your invaluable feedback: when it was originally released, the Discrete Strength function option was included based on user suggestion. This option allows the user to specify shear strength at discrete x-y locations throughout a material, so shear strength can be interpolated at any point within the material and can be specified for either undrained or drained conditions.


Discrete Strength Function dialog.
Dips (5.0)
Dips users told us we’d simplify their work by allowing them to automatically save and restore Drawing Tools (e.g. Lines, Cones, Text and Arrows) and Sets, automatically open stereonet views at start up and automatically filter Set columns, so we’ve included all these options in the Preferences dialog. Another common customer request was the ability to save stereonet plots to a DXF file. Many other improvements have been made to Dips as a direct result of customer feedback.

All Drawing Tools and Set Windows are now automatically saved with a Dips file
and will re-appear when the file is opened.
RocSupport (3.0)
In our most recent RocSupport release, we’ve addressed a common request to install support based on a given tunnel wall deformation rather than upon the distance from the tunnel face. RocSupport now also includes the ability to enter a user-defined longitudinal deformation profile. Other user-requested enhancements include: the latest updates to the Hoek-Brown failure criterion (2002) and the Carranza-Torres solution method (2004) for the ground reaction curve, plotting of the long-term ground reaction curve based on a user-defined strength reduction and scatter plots for probabilistic analysis.

Support interaction plot can now display both short term and long-term ground reaction curves.
A new tunnel profile icon helps to visualize the distance of support installation from the tunnel face.



Dialog for defining a user-defined longitudinal tunnel deformation profile in RocSupport.
Online Help
Rocscience has just released new online Help systems for Slide, Swedge, Phase2, Unwedge and Dips. These improved systems have been created to save users time by answering their questions quickly and will eventually replace our paper software manuals. The new system is based on the popular WebHelp format and is compatible with all popular web browsers. Users will find that the interface easy to use, with its comprehensive contents, index and keyword search. The latest Help files for each program are also available on the Rocscience website. If you still need assistance after using our online Help system, e-mail us at techsupport@rocscience.com for a prompt response, or for more complex questions, call us for free technical support.

New WebHelp on-line system for Unwedge.
Software Distribution
Based on user suggestions, we’ve recently made significant improvements in the way we distribute our programs to you. Our new Multiple Serial Number Editor allows network administrators to manage serial numbers more easily. For Education Program participants, we’ve pre-programmed our installation procedures so a single set of machine codes, serial numbers and authorization numbers can be propagated across an entire network. And for USB hard lock users, our hard locks are now shipped with a tag attached that makes it easier to distinguish and manage multiple hard locks.

Rocscience’s focus has always been on making software that genuinely helps geotechnical engineers. To this end, your feedback is vital to us – please continue to let us know what we can do to make your life easier. We’re listening and we’re here to help.