Add Supports

1.0 Introduction

This tutorial will demonstrate how a support pattern can be added to a specific area of the model. Support patterns can be defined using two different menu options: 1) Add Support, and 2) Add Support to Surface. (Note that these options exclude geosynthetics which are added using their own options in the support menu.) This tutorial will provide step-by-step instructions for adding a support pattern using the Add Support option.

2.0 Results Without Supports

Select File > Recent > Tutorials and read in the file Add Support – starting file from the installation folder.
Select Analysis > Compute or select Compute icon in the toolbar.
Go to the Results tab

You should see the following results. The Bishop safety factor is about 1.3.

3.0 Add Supports

To add supports to the model, select Supports > Add Support
Begin by defining the Support Shape under the Shape tab in the Add Support Pattern dialog as following:

Select Shape = Rectangle
Enter Width (m) = 27
Enter Height (m) = 27
Leave the Basepoint as default.

Add Support Pattern Dialog

Next, select the Properties tab and enter the following parameters:

Bolt Length (m) = 7
Horizontal Spacing (m) = 1
Vertical Spacing (m) = 1

Add Support Pattern Dialog with Define Orientation Prompt

Click on Define in front of Orientation. In the Define Orientation dialog, enter the following parameters:

Select Defined By = Trend/Plunge
Trend = 45
Plunge = 45

Finally, select the Location tab. Notice that the load can be placed on the model using either Freehand Manipulation or by entering X, Y coordinates. Enter (-77, -6.5) for the (X, Y) coordinates. This will place the support on the model, with the basepoint (defined in the Shape tab) at the coordinates entered. The support will now appear on the model.
Select OK to finalize the placement of the support.