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8 - Automate Probabilistic Analysis

1.0 Introduction

The Automate Compute option helps users quickly generate results for several RocSupport analysis cases at a time by reading in various model inputs from Excel. In this tutorial, we will familiarize you with the Automate Compute feature by automating the computation of three unique Probabilistic analysis cases, each with 10,000 samples (i.e., 3 x 10,000 = 30,000tunnel cases).

Topics Covered in this Tutorial:

  • Probabilistic Analysis RocSupport Model
  • Input Excel File Format
  • Adding Input Excel File(s) to Automate Compute File Queue
  • Output RocSupport Automate Compute Results File
  • RocSupport Automate Compute Error Log

Finished Product:

The finished products of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic Analysis folder, located in the Examples > Tutorials folder in your RocSupport installation folder. Inside, you will find:

  • Tutorial 08 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_base file.rsp RocSupport model file setup for automation
  • Tutorial 08 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_inputs.xlsx Excel input file
  • Tutorial 08 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_inputs folder containing the computed results files

2.0 Creating a New File

If you have not already done so, run the RocSupport program:

  1. Double-click the RocSupport icon in your installation folder or select Programs > Rocscience > RocSupport > RocSupport in the Windows Start menu.

When the program starts, there are no Models loaded. You need to create a new project as follows:

  1. Select: File > New new icon

Whenever a new file is created, the Ground Reaction View is displayed. The view shows the Ground Reaction Curve based on the default Tunnel and Rock Parameters.

Ground reaction curve view

If the RocSupport application window is not already maximized, maximize it now so that the full screen is available for viewing the model.

Before we are ready to run the Automate Compute, we must first set up the model environment in the following dialogs:

  1. Project Settings
  2. Tunnel and Rock Parameters
  3. Support Parameters
This RocSupport model file is meant to be used as a base file for automation, It contains the appropriate settings to be used for all automated cases and the engine for computation. It is not meant to be used for model creation and result viewing, as it does not save the model state for every case.

3.0 Project Settings

First, set the model Units, and Analysis Type.

  1. Select Project Settings Project Settings Icon from the Analysis menu to open the Project Settings dialog.
  2. Set the Units = Metric, stress as MPa
  3. Set the Analysis Type = Probabilistic
  4. Set Solution Method = Vrakas and Anagnostou (2014)
  5. Set Modulus Estimation Method for Generalized Hoek-Brown Materials = Simplified Hoek-Diederichs (2006)
    Project Settings Dialog - General Tab
  6. Set the Sampling Method = Latin Hypercube
  7. Set the Number of Samples = 10,000
    Project Settings Dialog - Sampling Tab
  8. Select the Pseudo-random (constant seed value) radio button option.
  9. Set the Number Generator = Park and Miller v.3
    Project Settings Dialog - Random Numbers Tab
  10. Select OK to close the dialog.
The above Project Setting will apply to all cases analyzed in Automate Compute. Each case being analyzed is Probabilistic (i.e., 10,000 sample Ground Reaction Curves, as defined) in this case.

4.0 Tunnel and Rock Parameters

Next, set the optional Tunnel and Rock Parameters.

  1. Select Define Tunnel Parameters Tunnel Parameters Iconfrom the Analysis menu to open the Probabilistic Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog.
    1. Click on the Use Compressive Strength radio box
    2. Set the Tunnel Radius = Normal
    3. Set the Poisson Ratio = Normal
    4. Set the Compressive Strength of Rock Mass = Normal
  2. Keep all other Statistical Distributions = None. Keep in mind that the following are required input parameters that have to be specified later on in the Input Excel File:
    • Tunnel Radius Mean, Standard Deviation, Relative Minimum, and Relative Maximum
    • In-Situ Stress Mean
    • Young's Modulus of Rock Mass Mean
    • Poisson Ratio Mean, Standard Deviation, Relative Minimum, and Relative Maximum
    • Compressive Strength of Rock Mass Mea, Standard Deviation, Relative Minimum, and Relative Maximum
    • Friction Angle Mean
    • Dilation Angle Mean

    Probabilistic Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog

  3. Select Apply and click Close to close the dialog.
You can learn about RocSupport Tunnel and Rock Parameters in detail in Overview of RocSupport Tunnel and Rock Parameters

5.0 Support Parameters

  1. Select Support Parameters Support Parameters Icon from the Analysis menu to open the Support Parameters dialog.
  2. Navigate to the Steelsets tab and click on the Add Support radio box.
  3. Keep all other check box controls in the default state. Keep in mind that the following are required input parameters that have to be specified later on in the Input Excel File:
    • Cross sectional area
    • Yield Strength
    • Young's modulus
    • Out of Plane Spacing
    • Distance from tunnel face

    Support Parameters Dialog

  4. Select Apply and click Close to close the dialog.
You can learn about RocSupport Support Parameters in detail in Overview of RocSupport Support Parameters

6.0 Input Excel File

Now, let's take a look at the structure of the input Excel file.

  1. Obtain the RocSupport Probabilistic Excel Template by selecting Analysis > Automate Compute > Probabilistic Excel Template from the menu.

A Read-Only Excel workbook titled RocSupport Automation Template_Probabilistic.xlsx will be automatically opened (if you have Excel installed on your local machine).

Probabilistic Excel Template

The RocSupport Probabilistic Input Data Automation Template Excel workbook and worksheets are protected to prevent any accidental modification to the tab structure and headers. The input Excel template contains 7 worksheets for inputting numerical parameters for automation.

  1. Create a folder called Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic.
  2. Navigate to the VRAKAS AND ANAGNOSTOU worksheet

Each worksheet contains fields for the necessary inputs related to each solution method available in RocSupport. For this tutorial, we will choose the Vrakas and Anagnostou method.

  1. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnel cases. We will name them arbitrarily Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel C. Each row in the input Excel file represents one Probabilistic Analysis case in RocSupport.
  2. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID

Tunnel Parameters

Radius

In-Situ Stress

Mean

Std. Dev.

Rel. Min.

Rel. Max.

Mean

Tunnel A

6.8

1.0

3.6

3.6

1.5

Tunnel B

7.5

1.2

3.0

3.0

2.5

Tunnel C

7.2

1.3

3.9

3.9

2.2

Rock Parameters

Young's Modulus

Poisson Ratio

Compressive Strength

Friction Angle

Dilation Angle

Mean

Mean

Std. Dev.

Rel. Min.

Rel. Max.

Mean

Std. Dev.

Rel. Min.

Rel. Max.

Mean

Mean

506

0.32

0.01

0.03

0.03

0.4

0.1

0.30

0.30

23.52

0

606

0.35

0.01

0.03

0.03

0.38

0.08

0.24

0.24

23.52

0

600

0.28

0.02

0.06

0.06

0.45

0.12

0.36

0.36

25

5

As set up previously in RocSupport Probabilistic Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog, only the above input data are required since the Cohesion is not applicable (i.e., checkbox control is unchecked). Be aware of units set in RocSupport Project Settings when entering data into the input Excel file. The units should be the same for bot!h!

The VRAKAS AND ANAGNOSTOU worksheet should look like this:

Vrakas And Anagnostou Worksheet

  1. Navigate to the SUPPORT PARAMETERS worksheet.
    1. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnels (Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel C).
    2. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID

SUPPORT PARAMETERS

Steelsets Properties

Support installation

Cross section area

Yield strength

Young's modulus

Out of Plane spacing

Distance from tunnel face

Tunnel A

12300

245

207000

1.3

2.2

Tunnel B

14500

250

217000

1.1

2

Tunnel C

15000

270

220000

1.5

2

As set up previously in the RocSupport Support Parameters dialog, only the above input data are required since Rockbolt supports and Shotcrete supports are not added.

The SUPPORT PARAMETERS worksheet should look like this:

Support Parameters Worksheet

  1. Save the Excel file as Tutorial 7 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_inputs.xlsx to the Tutorial 7 Automate Compute - Deterministic folder previously created
Since the RocTopple Automation Template_Probabilistic.xlsx file is Read-Only, you must rename and save in a new location

We are now ready to automate computations in RocSupport by reading from the input Excel file.

7.0 Automate from Excel

  1. Return back to the RocSupport model.

The Automate Compute dialog allows you to add Excel input automation files to the queue, select an output format, and compute the results. To open the dialog:

  1. Select: Analysis > Automate Compute > Automate from Excel Excel Icon

Automated Compute Dialog

7.1 ADD FILES TO FILE QUEUE

To add multiple files to the File Queue:

  1. Select Automate from Excel Excel Icon from Analysis menu to open the Automated Compute dialog.
  2. Select the Open Open File Icon button to open a standard dialog to choose an Excel input file. Navigate to the Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic folder and select the Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_inputs.xlsx file.

You will see the Excel input file appear under the File Queue list box.

Automated Compute Dialog

Alternatively, you can choose a folder containing multiple files by selecting the Add Folder button

8.0 Output Result Files

Results files are automatically generated and saved into the same directory as the input Excel file after Automated Compute is complete. Before we run Compute, first ensure that the Output File Format is set to the desired format. Users can select from either Test File or Excel format.

8.1 TEXT FILE FORMAT

While still in the Automated Compute dialog:

  1. Set the Output File Format dropdown to Text File.
  2. Select the Compute button to start the automated computing process

The Total Progress can be seen at the bottom of the dialog. When files have finished computing, they will appear in the Completed Files list box.

Automated Compute Dialog

  1. When all files have finished computing, select Close to exit the dialog.

For each input Excel file, a test file (.txt) containing all results data is generated.

For a Probabilistic Analysis (Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic_inputs.xlsx), the results data for each case are output to a separate text file since each case tends to contain hundreds or thousands of tunnel samples. Inside each text file, results for all probabilistic tunnel samples in the case are outputted following the header row. Each row of data represents one sample tunnel case. Each data type is separated by a comma (,) for easy parsing.

  1. Take a look at the ResultsTunnel A[0].txt result file

ResultsTunnel A[0].txt result file

Note that a total of 3 files with the same format (i.e ResultsTunnel A[0].txt, ResultsTunnel B[1].txt, ResultsTunnel C[2].txt) have been created; one file per case.

8.2 EXCEL FILE FORMAT

Now, we will do the same as before, but this time we will generate the results as an Excel output file format.

  1. Select Automate from Excel Excel Icon from the Analysis menu to open the Automated Compute dialog
  2. Select the Open Open File Icon button to open a standard dialog to choose an Excel input file. Navigate to the Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic folder and select the Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic.xlsx file.

You will see the Excel input file appear under the File Queue list box.

  1. Set the Output File Format dropdown to Excel
    Automated Compute Icon
  2. Select theCompute button to start the automated computing process.
  3. When all files have finished computing, select Close to exit the dialog.

For each input Excel file, an Excel file (.xlsx) containing all results data is generated.

For a Probabilistic Analysis (Tutorial 8 Automate Compute - Probabilistic.xlsx), the results data for each case are output to a separate Excel file since each case tends to contain hundreds or thousands of tunnel samples. Inside each Excel file, results for all probabilistic tunnel samples in the case are outputted following the header row. Each row of data represents one sample tunnel case. Each data type is separated by a column.

  1. Take a look at the ResultsTunnel A[0].xlsx result file.

 ResultsTunnel A[0].xlsx result file.

Note that a total of 3 files with the same format (ResultsTunnel A[0].xlsx, ResultsTunnel B[1].xlsx, ResultsTunnel C[2].xlsx) have been created; one file per case.

9.0 Error Log

As you may have noticed, an Error Log is also generated for each input Excel file. For each input Excel file, an Error Log text file (Automate Compute Error Log.txt) is generated, and saved into the same directory as the output file directories. Always check that the Error Log reports "No errors found" before post-processing the raw results data. If any errors do occur as a result of missing (i.e., blank cells) or invalid inputs, the Error Log will indicate which worksheet(s) and cell(s) are problematic.

This concludes the tutorial. You are now ready for the next tutorial, Tutorial 09 - Convergence-Confinement Method for TBM segmental lining design (Almog et al. 2015).

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