Add Supports

1. Introduction

This tutorial will demonstrate how a support pattern can be added to a specific surface area of the model. In Slide3 2017, users were required to imprint geometry to add a support to a specific area; Slide3 2019 no longer requires that supports be imprinted on geometry using a polyline. Supports are now defined using two different menu options: 1) Add Supports, and 2) Add Supports to Selected (first select face). This tutorial will provide step-by-step instructions for adding a support using the new and improved Add Support option.

2. 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. 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.
  

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

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

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.

The final model with the support pattern added should now appear.

4. Slip surfaces

Now we will change the settings in the slip surface before computing. Select Surface > Slip Surface Options and click on the "Filters” option. Click Cancel to keep the default values.

5. Results

Save the file and Compute.

You should see the following results. The Bishop safety factor is about 1.1. You can see the failure surface be outside the reinforced area.

Add Surface Safety Map

Select: Interpret > Add Surface Safety Map

By selecting this feature you can see the safety map of the computed model.

This concludes the 12 - Add Supports tutorial.