Strength Parameters Overview

In the Material Properties dialog, there are several options for defining the strength of materials, depending on the type of analysis you are performing. These are summarized below.

Strength

Select Material Properties > Strength

The primary method of defining the strength of materials is to select the Strength tab in the Material Properties dialog, then select a Failure Criterion and enter the required parameters for the failure criterion.

Unsaturated Shear Strength

Select Material Properties > Unsaturated Shear Strength

The Unsaturated Shear Strength option allows you to account for shear strength which is generated by negative pore pressures computed in the unsaturated zone above a water table.

Strength above water table

Select Material Properties > Water Parameters

For some materials, you may wish to define different strength criteria above and below the water table. This can be defined under the Water Parameters tab.

Rapid Drawdown

Select Material Properties > Rapid Drawdown

If the Rapid Drawdown option is enabled in Project Settings > Groundwater, then you will be able to define the strength parameters for rapid drawdown conditions.