Units

Stress Units

A variety of metric and imperial measurement units are available in RS3. The units used for a model are determined by selecting the desired unit of stress measurement in the Project Settings dialog. You may select one of the following options:

• Metric units (stress) - MPa, kPa, tonnes/m2
• Imperial units (stress) - tons/ft2, ksf, psf

All input parameters in the program (e.g. material properties, field stress) will correspond to the selected stress measurement unit. The units of length, force, stress, and unit weight are indicated in the Project Settings dialog, just below the Units drop-list.

Time Units

The Time Units are only applicable for finite element groundwater analysis / consolidation analysis, and determine the following:

• The Time Units used to define stages for a transient groundwater analysis.
• The Time Units used for time-dependent output quantities such as discharge velocity and flow rate through discharge sections. This is applicable for both steady state and transient groundwater analysis.

You may choose from seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years.

If you are not performing finite element groundwater analysis, then the Time Units have no effect on input or output data.

Permeability Units

The Permeability Units are applicable if you are performing finite element groundwater seepage analysis, either steady state or transient. The available Permeability Units depend on the selection of Stress Units (metric or imperial). The selected Permeability Units determine the units of permeability in the Define Hydraulic Properties dialog.

If you are not performing finite element groundwater analysis, then the Permeability Units have no effect on input or output data.

Coordinate

RS3 assumes a Cartesian x,y,z coordinate system.

There are two Coordinate systems available in RS3. Select one of the following options:

• Cartesian x,y,z
• Compass North, East, Up