Analysis of elastically supported slabs using modulus

of subgrade reaction and constrained modulus methods

and finite elements

GGU-SLAB
VERSION 5

Last revision: April 2006

Copyright: GGU Zentrale Verwaltung mbH, Braunschweig
Technical implementation and sales: Civilserve GmbH, Steinfeld
 Contents:

1 Preface .................................................................................................................................. 7
2 Licence protection................................................................................................................ 7
3 Language selection............................................................................................................... 8
4 Starting the program ........................................................................................................... 8
5 Short introduction ............................................................................................................... 9
5.1 General ............................................................................................................................. 9
5.2 Procedure for subgrade reaction modulus method ........................................................... 9
5.3 Procedure for the constrained modulus method ............................................................. 11
5.4 For both methods............................................................................................................ 13
6 Theoretical principles ........................................................................................................ 14
6.1 General ........................................................................................................................... 14
6.2 Modulus of subgrade reaction method ........................................................................... 15
6.3 Constrained modulus method......................................................................................... 16
6.4 Signs and designations ................................................................................................... 16
7 Description of menu items................................................................................................. 17
7.1 File menu........................................................................................................................ 17
7.1.1 "New" menu item................................................................................................... 17
7.1.2 "Load" menu item .................................................................................................. 17
7.1.3 "Save" menu item .................................................................................................. 17
7.1.4 "Save as" menu item .............................................................................................. 18
7.1.5 "Import ASCII file" menu item.............................................................................. 18
7.1.6 "Export as ASCII file" menu item ......................................................................... 18
7.1.7 "Print output table" menu item............................................................................... 19
7.1.7.1 Selecting the output format ........................................................................... 19
7.1.7.2 Button "Output as graphics".......................................................................... 20
7.1.7.3 Button "Output as ASCII"............................................................................. 22
7.1.8 "Printer preferences" menu item ............................................................................ 23
7.1.9 "Print and export" menu item ................................................................................ 23
7.1.10 "Batch print" menu item ........................................................................................ 25
7.1.11 "Exit" menu item.................................................................................................... 25
7.1.12 "1, 2, 3, 4" menu items........................................................................................... 25
7.2 FEM mesh menu ............................................................................................................ 26
7.2.1 "Preferences" menu item........................................................................................ 26
7.2.2 "FEM mesh" menu item......................................................................................... 26
7.2.3 "Outline" menu item .............................................................................................. 26
7.2.4 "Define (FEM) nodes" menu item ......................................................................... 26
7.2.5 "Change (FEM nodes)" menu item........................................................................ 27
7.2.6 "Move (FEM nodes)" menu item........................................................................... 28
7.2.7 "Edit (FEM nodes)" menu item ............................................................................. 28
7.2.8 "Array" menu item................................................................................................. 28
7.2.8.1 Select type of array........................................................................................ 28
7.2.8.2 Button "Regular" ........................................................................................... 28
7.2.8.3 Button "Irregular".......................................................................................... 30

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 7.2.9 "Circular slab, …" menu item................................................................................ 30
7.2.10 "Manual (FEM) mesh" menu item......................................................................... 31
7.2.11 "Automatic (FEM mesh)" menu item .................................................................... 31
7.2.12 "Round off (FEM mesh)" menu item..................................................................... 32
7.2.13 "Delete (FEM mesh)" menu item........................................................................... 32
7.2.14 "Optimize (FEM mesh)" menu item ...................................................................... 32
7.2.14.1 "Diagonals" button ........................................................................................ 32
7.2.14.2 "Topology" button......................................................................................... 33
7.2.15 "Align (FEM mesh)" menu item............................................................................ 33
7.2.16 "Refine individually" menu item ........................................................................... 33
7.2.17 "Section" menu item .............................................................................................. 34
7.2.18 "All" menu item ..................................................................................................... 34
7.2.19 Refinement methods .............................................................................................. 34
7.3 Subgrade menu (subgrade reaction modulus only) ........................................................ 36
7.3.1 General note on subgrade reaction moduli ............................................................ 36
7.3.2 "Default subgrade" menu item............................................................................... 36
7.3.3 "Individual subgrade" menu item .......................................................................... 36
7.3.4 "Modify" menu item .............................................................................................. 36
7.3.5 "In section" menu item........................................................................................... 37
7.3.6 "Subgrade contours" menu item ............................................................................ 37
7.3.7 "Interpolation mesh" menu item ............................................................................ 37
7.3.8 "Nodes" menu item ................................................................................................ 38
7.3.9 "Mesh" menu item ................................................................................................. 38
7.3.10 "Modify" menu item .............................................................................................. 38
7.3.11 "Contours" menu item............................................................................................ 39
7.3.12 "Import/export" menu item .................................................................................... 39
7.3.13 "Assign" menu item ............................................................................................... 39
7.4 Constrained mod. menu (constrained modulus method only)........................................ 40
7.4.1 General note on constrained moduli ...................................................................... 40
7.4.2 "Preferences" menu item........................................................................................ 40
7.4.3 "Layers" menu item ............................................................................................... 41
7.4.4 "Standard depths" menu item................................................................................. 41
7.4.5 "Contours layer base" menu item........................................................................... 42
7.4.6 "Edit layer depths" menu item ............................................................................... 43
7.4.7 "Determine" menu item ......................................................................................... 43
7.4.8 "Modify" menu item .............................................................................................. 44
7.4.9 "Display in section" menu item ............................................................................. 44
7.4.10 "Automesh" menu item.......................................................................................... 44
7.4.11 "Define nodes" menu item ..................................................................................... 45
7.4.12 "Change" menu item .............................................................................................. 45
7.4.13 "Move" menu item................................................................................................. 45
7.4.14 "Edit" menu item.................................................................................................... 46
7.4.15 "Manual mesh" menu item..................................................................................... 46
7.4.16 "Automatic" menu item ......................................................................................... 46
7.4.17 "Delete" menu item................................................................................................ 46
7.4.18 "Refine" menu item................................................................................................ 46

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 7.5 Boundary menu .............................................................................................................. 47
7.5.1 "Preferences" menu item........................................................................................ 47
7.5.2 "Check" menu item ................................................................................................ 47
7.5.3 "Single displacement" menu item .......................................................................... 47
7.5.4 "(Displacement) In section" menu item ................................................................. 47
7.5.5 "Point loads" menu item ........................................................................................ 48
7.5.6 "Line loads" menu item ......................................................................................... 48
7.5.7 "Distributed loads" menu item............................................................................... 49
7.5.8 "Individual materials" menu item .......................................................................... 49
7.5.9 "(Materials) In section" menu item........................................................................ 49
7.5.10 "Beams" menu item ............................................................................................... 49
7.5.11 "Delete all" menu item........................................................................................... 50
7.5.12 "Single springs" menu item ................................................................................... 50
7.6 System menu .................................................................................................................. 51
7.6.1 "Info" menu item ................................................................................................... 51
7.6.2 "Units + project identification" menu item ............................................................ 51
7.6.3 "Slab material" menu item ..................................................................................... 51
7.6.4 "Beam material" menu item ................................................................................... 52
7.6.5 "Test" menu item ................................................................................................... 52
7.6.6 "Analyse" menu item ............................................................................................. 53
7.6.6.1 Bandwidth optimisation/equation solver selection........................................ 53
7.6.6.2 Analysis using the modulus of subgrade reaction method ............................ 53
7.6.6.3 Analysis using the constrained modulus method .......................................... 54
7.6.7 "Reinforce slab" menu item ................................................................................... 56
7.6.8 "Foundation bases" menu item .............................................................................. 56
7.7 Graphics preferences menu ............................................................................................ 57
7.7.1 "Refresh and zoom" menu item ............................................................................. 57
7.7.2 "Zoom info" menu item ......................................................................................... 57
7.7.3 "Pen colour and width" menu item ........................................................................ 57
7.7.4 "Legend font selection" menu item........................................................................ 57
7.7.5 "Mini-CAD toolbar" and "Header toolbar" menu items ........................................ 58
7.7.6 "Toolbar preferences" menu item .......................................................................... 58
7.7.7 "3D Toolbar" menu item........................................................................................ 59
7.7.8 "General legend" menu item.................................................................................. 59
7.7.9 "Material legend" menu item ................................................................................. 60
7.7.10 "Constrained mod. legend" menu item .................................................................. 61
7.7.11 "Reinforcement legend" menu item....................................................................... 62
7.7.12 "Beam legend" menu item ..................................................................................... 62
7.7.13 "Section legend" menu item................................................................................... 62
7.7.14 "Move legends" menu item.................................................................................... 62
7.7.15 "Save graphics preferences" menu item................................................................. 63
7.7.16 "Load graphics preferences" menu item ................................................................ 63
7.8 Page size + margins menu .............................................................................................. 63
7.8.1 "Auto-resize" menu item........................................................................................ 63
7.8.2 "Manual resize (mouse)" menu item...................................................................... 63
7.8.3 "Manual resize (editor)" menu item....................................................................... 63

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 7.8.4 "Page size and margins" menu item....................................................................... 64
7.8.5 "Font size selection" menu item............................................................................. 64
7.8.6 "Margins + borders" menu item............................................................................. 65
7.8.7 "Draw Mini-CAD first" menu item ....................................................................... 65
7.9 Evaluation menu............................................................................................................. 65
7.9.1 General information on representation of contour lines, circles and tables........... 65
7.9.2 "Normal contours" menu item ............................................................................... 66
7.9.3 "Coloured" menu item ........................................................................................... 67
7.9.4 "3D" menu item ..................................................................................................... 67
7.9.5 "3D array" menu item ............................................................................................ 69
7.9.6 "Circles" menu item............................................................................................... 69
7.9.7 "Table" menu item ................................................................................................. 70
7.9.8 "Values in node section" menu item ...................................................................... 70
7.9.9 "Position of node section" menu item.................................................................... 71
7.9.10 "Any section" menu item ....................................................................................... 71
7.9.11 "Position of any section" menu item...................................................................... 72
7.9.12 "Support" menu item.............................................................................................. 73
7.9.13 "Principle moments" menu item ............................................................................ 74
7.9.14 "Reinforcement" menu item................................................................................... 74
7.9.15 "Beams" menu item ............................................................................................... 75
7.9.16 "Single springs" menu item ................................................................................... 76
7.9.17 "Individual values" menu item............................................................................... 76
7.9.18 "Subgrade reactions" menu item............................................................................ 77
7.9.19 "Difference" menu item ......................................................................................... 77
7.10 Special menu (constrained modulus method only) ........................................................ 78
7.10.1 "Define stress section" menu item ......................................................................... 78
7.10.2 "Preferences" menu item........................................................................................ 79
7.10.3 "Stress bulb section" menu item ............................................................................ 79
7.10.4 "(Stress bulb section) Normal contours" menu item.............................................. 79
7.10.5 "(Stress bulb section) Coloured" menu item.......................................................... 79
7.10.6 "Vertical settlements section" menu item .............................................................. 80
7.10.7 "(Vertical settlements section) Normal contours" menu item................................ 80
7.10.8 "(Vertical settlements section) Coloured" menu item............................................ 80
7.11 ? menu ............................................................................................................................ 80
7.11.1 "Copyright" menu item .......................................................................................... 80
7.11.2 "Maxima" menu item ............................................................................................. 80
7.11.3 "Help" menu item .................................................................................................. 80
7.11.4 "Test slab reinforcement" menu item..................................................................... 80
7.11.5 "Rotate all" menu item........................................................................................... 80
7.11.6 "GGU on the web" menu item ............................................................................... 81
7.11.7 "GGU support" menu item..................................................................................... 81
7.11.8 "What's new?" menu item...................................................................................... 81
7.11.9 "Language preferences" menu item ....................................................................... 81
7.11.10 "Benchmark" menu item (constrained modulus method only)........................... 81

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 8 Tips...................................................................................................................................... 82
9 Worked slab analysis examples ........................................................................................ 83
9.1 Example 1: Analysis using the modulus of subgrade reaction method .......................... 83
9.1.1 System description................................................................................................. 83
9.1.2 Step 1: Select the analysis method......................................................................... 84
9.1.3 Step 2: Define the FEM mesh................................................................................ 84
9.1.4 Step 3: Optimise the FEM mesh diagonals............................................................ 85
9.1.5 Step 4: Assign the modulus of subgrade reaction.................................................. 85
9.1.6 Step 5: Assign displacement boundary conditions ................................................ 86
9.1.7 Step 6: Assign slab material................................................................................... 87
9.1.8 Step 7: Analyse slab............................................................................................... 87
9.1.9 Step 8: Evaluation via individual values................................................................ 88
9.1.10 Step 9: Drawing the deflection curve .................................................................... 89
9.2 Example 2: Slab with constant subgrade........................................................................ 89
9.2.1 System description................................................................................................. 89
9.2.2 Step 1: Change the modulus of subgrade reaction................................................. 90
9.2.3 Step 2: Change the boundary conditions ............................................................... 90
9.3 Example 3: Analysis using the constrained modulus profile method ............................ 91
9.3.1 System description................................................................................................. 91
9.3.2 Step 1: Select the analysis method......................................................................... 91
9.3.3 Step 2: Define the constrained modulus profile..................................................... 91
9.3.4 Step 3: Define the constrained modulus profile mesh ........................................... 92
9.3.5 Step 4: Analyse slab............................................................................................... 93
10 Index.................................................................................................................................... 94

List of Figures and Tables:

Figure 1 Optimisation of diagonals ................................................................................................32

Figure 2 FEM refinement demonstration mesh .............................................................................34
Figure 3 FEM mesh refinement using Method 1............................................................................35
Figure 4 FEM mesh refinement using Method 2............................................................................35
Figure 5 FEM mesh refinement using Method 3............................................................................35
Figure 6 Example from Schwarz 1991...........................................................................................83

Table 1 Displacements at the slab centre [m] ...............................................................................88

Table 2 Displacements at the lower slab face [m].........................................................................88

GGU-SLAB User Manual Page 6 of 97 April 2006

1 Preface
The GGU-SLAB program can analyse slabs using the subgrade reaction modulus and the con-
strained modulus methods. The finite-element method using triangle elements is employed to
solve the differential equation. The subgrade modulus profile can be varied as required with al-
most no constraints. The constrained modulus distribution can be defined via stratigraphic profiles
and an interpolation mesh. This allows any imaginable stratigraphy to be generated. Further im-
portant capabilities include:

• any type of slab boundary including with holes,

• linearly variable subgrade within an element,
• beam elements for modelling foundation beams, for example,
• single springs, perpendicular to slab, e.g. for modelling piles.

The program system includes a powerful mesh generator and easy-to-use routines for comfortable
evaluation of the analysis results (contours, 3D graphics, etc.).

The application is designed to allow simple data input or modification. The input is immediately
shown on the screen, giving you optimum control over what you are doing. Graphics output sup-
ports the true-type fonts supplied with WINDOWS, so that excellent layout is guaranteed. Colour
output and any graphics (e.g. files in formats BMP, JPG, PSP, TIF, etc.) are supported. DXF files
can also be imported by means of the integrated Mini-CAD module (see the "Mini-CAD" man-
ual).

It is not the aim of this manual to offer an introduction to the finite-element method. For details of
the finite-element method, please see O. C. Zienkiewicz, "Methode der Finiten Elemente" ("Finite-
Element Methods") , Carl Hanser Verlag Munich, Vienna, 1984. The program system has been
used in a large number of projects and has been thoroughly tested (using analytical solutions and
in comparison with other FEM applications). No faults have been found. Nevertheless, liability for
completeness and correctness of the program and the manual, and for any damage resulting from
incompleteness or incorrectness, cannot be accepted.

2 Licence protection
In order to guarantee a high degree of quality, a hardware-based copy protection system is used
for the GGU-SLAB program.

The GGU software protected by the WIBU-KEY copy protection system is only available in con-
junction with the WIBU-BOX or WIBU-Codemeter copy protection component (hardware for
connection to the PC, "WIBU dongle"). Because of the way the system is configured, the pro-
tected software can only be operated with the corresponding WIBU dongle. This creates a fixed
link between the software licence and the WIBU dongle copy protection hardware; the licence as
such is thus represented by the WIBU dongle. The correct Runtime Kit for the respective WIBU-
BOX or WIBU-Codemeter must be installed on your PC. Upon start-up and during running, the
GGU-SLAB program checks that a WIBU-dongle is connected. If it has been removed, the pro-
gram can no longer be executed.

For installation of GGU software and the WIBU-KEY software please refer to the information in
the Installation notes for GGU Software International, which are supplied with the program.

GGU-SLAB User Manual Page 7 of 97 April 2006

3 Language selection
GGU-SLAB is a bilingual program.

The language preferences can be changed at any time in the "?" menu, using the menu item
"Spracheinstellung" (for German) or "Language preferences" (for English).

4 Starting the program

After starting the program, you will see two menus at the top of the window:

• File
• ?

After clicking the "File" menu, either an existing file can be loaded by means of the "Load" menu
item, or a new system can be created using "New". After clicking the "New" menu item a dialogue
box opens for specifying general preferences for your new system (see Section 7.1.1). You then
see nine or ten menus in the menu bar:

• File
• FEM mesh
• Subgrade / Contrained mod.
• Boundary
• System
• Graphics preferences
• Page size + margins
• Evaluation
• Special (only with Constrained modulus method)
• ?

After clicking one of these menus, the so-called menu items roll down, allowing you access to all
program functions.

The program works on the principle of What you see is what you get. This means that the screen
presentation represents, overall, what you will see on your printer. In the last consequence, this
would mean that the screen presentation would have to be refreshed after every alteration you
make. For reasons of efficiency and as this can take several seconds for complex screen contents,
the GGU-SLAB screen is not refreshed after every alteration.

If you would like to refresh the screen contents, press either [F2] or [Esc]. The [Esc] key additio-
nally sets the screen presentation back to your current zoom, which has the default value 1.0.

GGU-SLAB User Manual Page 8 of 97 April 2006

5 Short introduction

5.1 General

Since I know from personal experience that reading user-manuals is quite a chore, there will now
follow a short description of the main program functions. After studying this section you will be
in a position to carry out analysis of a slab using the finite-element method. Detailed information
on the program can be obtained from the subsequent chapters as you require it.

Because the program can perform an analysis using both the subgrade reaction modulus and the
constrained modulus methods, the descriptions are kept separate. Even if you want to stick to the
constrained modulus method only, you should still read the following section on the use of the
subgrade reaction modulus method. In order to get some practice we recommend analysing a slab
using the modulus of subgrade reaction method. The input for this method is somewhat simpler,
meaning you can get to know the program without a lot of unnecessary ballast.

Beside this short description, the final section of this manual contains a practical example, ex-
plaining in detail the use of the program.

5.2 Procedure for subgrade reaction modulus method

• Design the system to be analysed.
• Start the GGU-SLAB program and go to the "File / New" menu item. Select the type of
system (here: subgrade reaction modulus method) and the safety concept.
• If necessary, adapt the page coordinates to your system. To do this, go to the "Page size +
margins / Manual resize (editor)" menu item.
• Then select the "FEM mesh / Define nodes" menu item.
• Click the governing nodes (points) in your system using the mouse. The points are num-
bered. Alternatively, you can enter the system nodes in a table using the menu item "FEM
mesh / Edit". When defining new nodes the new node is assigned the default subgrade re-
action modulus. This can be edited in the "Subgrade / Default subgrade" menu item.
• If the nodes are outside of the page coordinates, go to the menu item "Page size + margins
/ Auto-resize" or use the [F9] function key.
• Then go to the "FEM mesh / Manual mesh" menu item and join groups of three nodes to
form triangle elements. You create the coarse structure for your system in this manner. Al-
ternatively, you can utilise the "FEM mesh / Automatic" menu item to have the program
do this job for you.
• If you want to alter the locations of mesh nodes, go to the menu item "FEM mesh / Edit",
"FEM mesh / Change" or "FEM mesh / Move".
• If you need to analyse a simple rectangular slab with a varying model point array, you can
use the menu item "FEM mesh / Array" ("irregular" button) to perform the mesh genera-
tion in just a few seconds.
• If you need to alter the subgrade reaction moduli, use the menu items "Subgrade / Indi-
vidual subgrade", "Subgrade / Modify" or "Subgrade / In section". Using "Subgrade /
Subgrade contours" it is possible to view the selected subgrade reaction moduli distribu-
tions.
• If you need to delete a triangle element, select the menu item "FEM mesh / Manual mesh"
once again and click the three corner nodes of the appropriate element. In this menu item,
try double-clicking in a triangle element.

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 • If you need to assign different material properties to triangle elements (e.g. a different slab
thickness), use the menu item "Boundary / Individual materials" or "Boundary / (Mate-
rials) In section" and assign different material numbers for one or more elements. An input
line appears for each material number in the "System / Slab material" menu item.
• The screen contents can be refreshed at any time using the [ESC] or [F2] keys.
• You can create a finer structure for your system from the coarse structure, by selecting the
menu items "FEM mesh / Refine individually", "FEM mesh / Section" or "FEM mesh /
All".
• You can edit the system as required even after refining your mesh by using "FEM mesh /
Define nodes", "FEM mesh / Manual mesh", etc.
• Whatever you do, in order to acquire a numerically favourable FEM mesh the menu item
"FEM mesh / Optimise", and here the "Diagonals" button in particular, should be used.
• You can create acute angled, and thus numerically unfavourable, triangle elements for
demonstration purposes using the menu item "FEM mesh / Move". Then select the "FEM
mesh / Optimise" menu item ("Topology" button) and follow the effects on the screen.
• Define the governing boundary conditions for your system, e.g. via the menu items
"Boundary / Single displacement" or "Boundary / (Displacement) In section".
• Define the governing action boundary conditions for your system, e.g. via the menu items
"Boundary / Point loads" or "Boundary / Line loads".
• If needed, edit the material numbers using the "Boundary / Individual materials" menu
item.
• If needed, edit the material properties using the "System / Slab material" menu item.
• If beam elements are used in the system (e.g. joists), define the location of beam elements
using the menu item "Boundary / Beams" by placing a section along the required node.
After pressing the [Return] key you can assign the defined beams a material number. The
beam stiffnesses (EJ and GJ) can then be edited in "System / Beam materials".
• If you need to simulate the influence of single springs perpendicular to the slab (e.g. piles
or slightly yielding supports), go to the menu item "Boundary / Single springs" and click
the system nodes to be assigned single springs. Then enter the spring constant.
• A simple check of the defined boundary conditions is possible by going to the "Boundary /
Check" menu item.
• Once mesh generation is complete, go to the "System / Analyse" menu item and start the
analysis. If necessary, the program performs a bandwidth optimisation before carrying on
with the analysis, in order to acquire a numerically favourably configured equation system.
After bandwidth optimisation the program asks which equation solver you want to use. If
you are not sure which of the two to use, click "Equation solver info". If you want to rule
out a disallowed tension bedding for certain soils, activate the appropriate check box in the
start dialogue box. Once the analysis is complete the program then checks whether bedded
slab areas are lifted. The subgrade reaction modulus is set to "0" in these areas and the
analysis performed once again. This process is carried on iteratively until no more bedded
slab areas are subject to tension.
• Once analysis is complete you can output the results as a log to the printer or save them to a
file, as preferred. In general though, this type of result presentation is less than satisfactory.
• Instead, go immediately to the "Evaluation" menu. A variety of evaluation options are pro-
vided here. The menu items "Evaluation / Coloured" or "Evaluation / 3D" are particu-
larly impressive. The dialogue boxes which then appear can almost always be closed using
"OK", without further changes having to be made. The program will generally suggest sen-
sible input data. The "Determine extreme values" button should be clicked once, how-
ever, otherwise an error message containing a correction suggestion will appear.

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 • If you have a WINDOWS colour printer installed you can create colour output by going to
"File / Print and export" and then pressing the "Printer" button in the subsequent dia-
logue box. Grey scale is used for mono printers.
• Experiment a little with the examples provided.

5.3 Procedure for the constrained modulus method

Definition of the FEM mesh follows the same procedure described for the modulus of subgrade
reaction method. Please read Section 5.2 first. The "Subgrade" menu is now replaced by the
"Constrained mod." menu.

It is necessary to define a triangle mesh for an analysis using the constrained modulus method.
This mesh is not related to the FEM mesh. The nodes of this triangle mesh are formed by drilling
points. The drilling points are connected to form a triangle mesh, allowing the program to interpo-
late the constrained modulus profile at each point. Proceed as follows to define the drilling points:

• First select the menu item "Constrained mod. / Layers". You can edit the soil properties
and the number of layers in the dialogue box. Click the "Edit number of layers" button
and enter the new number of layers.
• You should then (not absolutely necessary) go to the menu item "Constrained mod. / De-
fault depths". If you have defined three layers in "Constrained mod. / Layers", this dia-
logue box displays three layer depths. The associated soil properties are also listed for your
information. The depths given can be edited to suit your requirements. The depths are
given as depths in metres below grade (m bg). When subsequently defining triangle nodes
these layer depths are assigned to the corresponding node. You can then edit the layer
depths as required for each node. However, if the constrained modulus profile is the same
for almost all nodes of the triangle mesh, you can save some input effort by initially defin-
ing default depths. If you click the "For all" button, all existing triangle nodes are assigned
these depths.
• After making these preparations you can specify the locations of triangle nodes (drilling
points). A coordinate system is visible on the screen. If the field of view does not corre-
spond to your basic system go to the menu item "Page size + margins / Manual resize
(editor)" and enter the values for your system in the dialogue box.
• Then go to the menu item "Constrained mod. / Define nodes" (not "FEM mesh / Define
nodes"!). Using the left mouse button, click the triangle nodes (= location of points at
which the constrained modulus profile is known). The current coordinates of the tip of the
mouse pointer are shown in the program window title bar. Input entered by mistake can be
undone by right-clicking the node. If you press the [ESC] or the [F2] key, the screen is re-
freshed and you will see a graphical representation of the constrained modulus profiles.
• If this representation appears too small or too large, go to the "Constrained mod. / Prefer-
ences" menu item and adjust the factors for representation of the constrained modulus pro-
file width and depth to suit your needs.
• Alternatively to coordinate input using the mouse, you can enter the values in a table. To
do this, select the menu item "Constrained mod. / Edit".

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 • After node input you can edit the depths of the of the individual layers at the nodes. To do
this, select the menu item "Constrained mod. / Edit layer depths". Once this is done, a
double-click near a node is sufficient to open the following dialogue box:

This box is absolutely identical to the box for the default depths. The only difference is that
any alterations are with regard to the current node. The depths are given as depths in metres
below grade.
• Once you have defined at least 3 nodes (drilling points) you must connect these nodes to a
triangle mesh in order to allow the program to carry out interpolation during the analysis.
You have two options:
"Constrained mod. / Manual mesh"
Click three nodes to create each respective triangle. Mistakenly entered triangles can be de-
leted again by clicking the three nodes.
"Constrained mod. / Automatic"
The program carries out a so-called triangulation and connects all triangles to form a trian-
gle mesh. Even after this you still have the option of deleting triangles by clicking the three
nodes of a triangle using "Constrained mod. / Manual mesh". If a triangle mesh already
exists you will be asked before triangulation whether you want to delete this mesh. Only
press the "Supplement" button in exceptional cases. The triangulation follows certain laws
which may not allow sensible enhancement of an existing partial mesh.

The constrained modulus method requires an iteration process, in contrast to the modulus of sub-
grade reaction method. In the first step, the settlements at all FEM mesh nodes resulting from a
constant load of 1 kN/m² on the FEM elements are calculated. To do this, the Boussinesq equation
is numerically integrated, because there is currently no analytical solution to this problem. The
pressures exercised on the nodes (in the first step = 1 kN/m²; in all following iteration steps
= ks * w) are divided by the calculated settlements in order to acquire the modulus of subgrade
reaction for each node. Following this a calculation is performed using the modulus of subgrade
reaction method including determination of the node displacements. If the slab differential settle-
ments deviate from the user-defined settlement given at the start of analysis, the iteration is con-
tinued.

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5.4 For both methods

Once the analysis is complete the slab can be reinforced to DIN 1045 specifications (menu item
"System / Reinforce slab"). The shear design can follow either DIN 1045 Case 1 or Case 2. The
support forces calculated here are adopted for the shear design at support points. They are the
result of the first derivation of the moments.

Note:
Because the derivation causes a roughening of the function, shear force calculation represents a
fundamental problem when using the finite-element method. Remember that all finite-element
methods are approximation methods. The quality of the approximation increases with increasing
mesh density. In the current version, systems with a maximum of 45,000 triangle elements and
nodes can be processed.

This short description shows that the analysis of a slab only requires selection of a very few menu
items. All other menu items deal principally with saving your data, the layout and, if required,
further evaluation of the model. These are described in the following chapters.

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6 Theoretical principles

6.1 General

An analytical solution is only possible for simple systems. We must rely on numerical solution
methods when modelling complex systems. These primarily include the:

• finite-difference (FDM) and

• finite-element (FEM)

methods. When using finite methods, the total area is subdivided into many small (finite) sub-
areas (elements). FEM generally employs triangles for these small areas. Simple, generally quad-
ratic approximation functions are used within these triangles. The real, complex, mosaic-like over-
all solution is composed of the numerous simple partial solutions. This gives rise to equation sys-
tems comprised of a number of unknowns corresponding to the number of system nodes. Nor-
mally, using the finite difference method, the only option for discretising the total area is by means
of rectangular sub-areas. In contrast to FEM, then, FDM is considerably more flexible with regard
to adaptation to complicated boundary structures. In addition, mesh refinement is not as easy to
perform in some areas. The resulting equation systems are also numerically more stable for FEM.
The main advantage of FDM consists only of the theoretically less complex basic mathematical
relationships. These will generally be of little interest to the program user. The GGU-SLAB pro-
gram uses the finite-element method.

When using this program, please remember that all finite element or finite difference methods are
approximation methods. The quality of the approximation in terms of the actual solution increases
as the mesh refinement increases. Take care to ensure that the mesh is denser in those areas where
the principal forces act (e.g. support points, point loads). The shape of the triangles also exercises
a certain influence. Optimum conditions are achieved with isosceles triangles. You can get an idea
of the quality of the solution by modelling the same system again, but using a either a finer or a
coarser mesh and then comparing the results of the two models.

The following general comments on the GGU-SLAB program are also important:

• triangle elements are used,

• Hooke's Law applies.

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6.2 Modulus of subgrade reaction method

The program solves the differential equation:

d 4w d 4w d 4w 12 (1 − v ) 2
4
+2 2 2 + 4
+ (q + k s ⋅ w) = 0
dx dx dy dy Et 3

Where:

w = deflection of the slab [m]

x, y = coordinates [m]
ks = modulus of subgrade reaction [kN/m³]
q = distributed load [kN/m²]
ν = Poisson's ratio of slab [-]
E = Young's modulus [kN/m²]
t = thickness of slab [m]

Analytical solutions for this differential equation only exist for a few special cases. For problems
in daily design practice (with variously distributed loads, freely pivoted, restrained or supported
boundaries, etc.) numerical methods must be relied on.

The differential equation is solved by the program using finite-element-methods. Triangle ele-
ments are used. Simple assumptions are made for these triangular elements with regard to dis-
placements. In the present case, a displacement assumption is used that is described in Zien-
kiewicz (Carl-Hanser-Verlag, 1984, Page 236). This displacement approach produces very good
results compared to other approaches. The approach adopted leads to equation systems with a
number of variables corresponding to three times the number of system nodes. The overall solu-
tion is assembled like a mosaic from the many partial solutions via the triangle elements. It is clear
that the quality of the solution is increased with increasing finite-element mesh refinement.

The moment distribution is acquired from the two-fold numerical differentiation of the deflection
area. The numerical differentiation always produces an undesirable roughening effect. In order to
compensate for this the program offers two different methods for determination of moments:

• Method 1:
The moments are determined in the element centre in a post-processing calculation and
then proportionally distributed across the neighbouring nodes. Generally delivers the best
values. The moments may deviate, but only in the boundary regions.
• Method 2:
The moments are determined in the triangle nodes of each element in a post-processing cal-
culation. The actual value at each node is given by forming the mean. Only produces better
values than Method 1 (boundary region) for simple systems.

Shear force calculation represents a further fundamental problem when using the finite-element
method because the derivation of the moments cause additional roughening of the function.

The quality of the calculated displacements is, generally, excellent. If you are only interested in
the displacements you need not worry about the following explanations.

GGU-SLAB User Manual Page 15 of 97 April 2006

 Remember that all finite-element methods are approximation methods. The quality of the ap-
proximation increases with increasing mesh density. In the current version, systems with a maxi-
mum of 45,000 triangle elements and nodes can be processed.

Note on boundary conditions:

The case of a boundary with a free-earth support is automatically considered when the finite-
element-method is employed. All system boundaries or partial system boundaries possessing no
action or displacement boundary conditions automatically have a free-earth support. In finite-
element theory this type of boundary condition is also known as a natural boundary condition.

6.3 Constrained modulus method

The following condition must be met in order to employ the constrained modulus method:

Deflection curve of slab = settlement depression of elastic-isotropic half-space

The constrained modulus method therefore requires an iteration process, in contrast to the
modulus of subgrade reaction method. In the first step, the settlements (elastic-isotropic half-
space) at all FEM mesh nodes resulting from a constant load of 1 kN/m² on the FEM elements are
calculated. The settlement resulting from the triangular loading of the triangles must be deter-
mined for every FEM mesh node. For example, a mesh comprising 512 triangles and 289 nodes
requires

512 * 289 = 147,968 (!) settlement calculations.

The Boussinesq equation is numerically integrated for the settlement calculation because there is
currently no analytical solution to this problem. The pressures exercised on the nodes (in the first
step = 1 kN/m²; in all following iteration steps = ks * w) are divided by the calculated settlements
in order to acquire the modulus of subgrade reaction for each node. Following this a calculation is
performed using the modulus of subgrade reaction method including determination of the node
displacements. If the slab differential settlements deviate from the user-defined settlement given at
the start of analysis, the iteration is continued.

6.4 Signs and designations

The following rules apply to signs:

• Downward displacement w [m] positive.

• Rotation phi(x) [radians1] = rotation around the x-axis is positive clockwise (direction of
view for increasing values of x)
• Rotation phi(y) = rotation around the y-axis is positive clockwise (direction of view for in-
creasing values of y)
• Point load P [kN] positive downwards
• Moment mxx = moment generating stresses in x-direction, positive clockwise (direction of
view for increasing values of y)
• Moment myy = moment generating stresses in y-direction, positive clockwise (direction of
view for increasing values of x)

1
Radians: For example, a value of 0.02 means 0.02 * 180/π = 1.15°

GGU-SLAB User Manual Page 16 of 97 April 2006

7 Description of menu items

7.1 File menu

7.1.1 "New" menu item

You can enter a new system using this menu item. You will see the following dialogue box:

You can enter a description of the system being worked on; this will then be used in the "General
legend" (see Section 7.7.8).

First, specify the analysis method in the dialogue box. You can select the safety concept to be
employed for analysis and design of the reinforced concrete. Activate the standard required using
the corresponding command button.

If an FEM mesh has already been entered and you want to switch from the modulus of subgrade
reaction method to the constrained modulus method (or vice versa), retaining the same mesh, you
can elect to retain the existing FEM mesh after leaving the dialogue box using "OK".

7.1.2 "Load" menu item

You can load a file with system data, which was created and saved at a previous sitting, and then
edit the system.

7.1.3 "Save" menu item

You can save data entered or edited during program use to a file, in order to have them available at
a later date, or to archive them. The data is saved without query with the name of the current file.
Loading again later creates exactly the same presentation as was present at the time of saving.

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7.1.4 "Save as" menu item

You can save data entered during program use to an existing file or to a new file, i.e. using a new
file name. For reasons of clarity, it makes sense to use ".PLA" as file suffix, as this is the suffix
used in the file requester box for the menu item "File / Load". If you choose not to enter an exten-
sion when saving, ".PLA" will be used automatically.

If, at the time of saving, the current system has been analysed, you can decide in a dialogue box
whether to save the analysis results with the document. If you select "No" here you must reanalyse
the file if it is opened again later.

7.1.5 "Import ASCII file" menu item

If the coordinates of the FEM mesh nodes are available in ASCII file format, they can be imported
into the program. Each row of the file must contain the x- and y-value of a node. Decimal frac-
tions must use a point, not a comma. When importing the ASCII file you must specify the columns
containing the x- and the y-values.

The current line of the ASCII file is shown at the top. You can navigate through the file using the
arrow buttons on the right. If all the information is correct, the result for the row is shown in the
box below the column. Otherwise, an error message appears. You may need to change the column
delimiter. If the file contains invalid as well as valid rows, these will simply be skipped during the
subsequent import. Finally, select the "Import data" button. The imported coordinates can then
be processed to form an FEM mesh.

7.1.6 "Export as ASCII file" menu item

If an FEM mesh has been generated, the node coordinates can be saved to an ASCII file, allowing
them to be imported into other programs where required.

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7.1.7 "Print output table" menu item

7.1.7.1 Selecting the output format

You can have a table printed containing the current analysis results. The results can be sent to the
printer or to a file (e.g. for further editing in a word processor). The output contains all informa-
tion on the current state of analysis, including the system data.

You have the option of designing and printing the output table as an annex to your report within
the GGU-SLAB program. To do this, select "Output as graphics" from the following options.

If you prefer to easily print or process the data in a different application, you can send them di-
rectly to the printer or save them to a file using the "Output as ASCII" command button.

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7.1.7.2 Button "Output as graphics"

If you selected the "Output as graphics" button in the previous dialogue box a further dialogue
box opens, in which you can define further preferences for result visualisation.

You can define the desired layout for the output table in various areas of the dialogue box. If you
need to add a header or footer (e.g. for page numbering), activate the appropriate check boxes
"With headers" and/or "With footers" and click on the "Edit" button. You can then edit as re-
quired in a further dialogue box.

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 Automatic pagination can also be employed here if you work with the placeholders as described.
After exiting the dialogue boxes using "OK" you will see a further dialogue box in which you can
select the parameters to be used in the output table. If you click the "Start" button the output table
is presented on the screen page by page. To navigate between the pages, use the arrow tools
in the toolbar. If you need to jump to a given page or back to the graphical representa-
tion, click on the tool. You will then see the following box:

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7.1.7.3 Button "Output as ASCII"

You can have your calculation data sent to the printer, without further work on the layout, or save
it to a file for further processing using a different program, e.g. a word processing application.
After selecting the button "Output as ASCII" you will see a further dialogue box in which you
can select the parameters to be used. If you click the "Start" button, the following dialogue box
appears in which you can define output preferences.

In the dialogue box you can define output preferences:

• "Printer preferences" group box

Using the "Edit" button the current printer preferences can be changed or a different printer
selected. Using the "Save" button, all preferences from this dialogue box can be saved to a
file in order to have them available for a later session. If you select "GGU-SLAB.DRK" as
file name and save the file in the program folder (default), the file will be automatically
loaded the next time you start the program.
Using the "Page format" button you can define, amongst other things, the size of the left
margin and the number of lines per page. The "Header/footer" button allows you to enter a
header and footer text for each page. If the "#" symbol appears within the text, the current
page number will be entered during printing (e.g. "Page #"). The text size is given in "Pts".
You can also change between "Portrait" and "Landscape" formats.
• "Print pages" group box
If you do not wish pagination to begin with "1" you can add an offset number to the check
box. This offset will be added to the current page number. The output range is defined us-
ing "From page no." "to page no.".
• "Output to:" group box
Start output by clicking on "Printer" or "File". The file name can then be selected from or
entered into the box. If you select the "Window" button the results are sent to a separate
window. Further text editing options are available in this window, as well as loading, sav-
ing and printing.

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7.1.8 "Printer preferences" menu item

You can edit printer preferences (e.g. swap between portrait and landscape) or change the printer
in accordance with WINDOWS conventions.

7.1.9 "Print and export" menu item

You can select your output format in a dialogue box. You have the following possibilities:

• "Printer"
allows graphic output of the current screen contents (graphical representation) to the
WINDOWS standard printer or to any other printer selected using the menu item "File /
Printer preferences". But you may also select a different printer in the following dialogue
box by pressing the "Printer prefs./change printer" button..

In the upper group box, the maximum dimensions which the printer can accept are given.
Below this, the dimensions of the image to be printed are given. If the image is larger than
the output format of the printer, the image will be printed to several pages (in the above ex-
ample, 4). In order to facilitate better re-connection of the images, the possibility of enter-
ing an overlap for each page, in x and y direction, is given. Alternatively, you also have the
possibility of selecting a smaller zoom factor, ensuring output to one page ("Fit to page"
button). Following this, you can enlarge to the original format on a copying machine, to en-
sure true scaling. Furthermore, you may enter the number of copies to be printed.

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 If you have activated the table representation on the screen, you will see a different dia-
logue box for output by means of the "File / Print and export" menu item button
"Printer".

Here, you can select the table pages to be printed. In order to achieve output with a zoom
factor of 1 (button "Fit in automatically" is deactivated), you must adjust the page format
to suit the size format of the output device. To do this, use the dialogue box in "File / Print
output table" button "Output as graphics".
• "DXF file"
allows output of the graphics to a DXF file. DXF is a common file format for transferring
graphics between a variety of applications.
• "GGUCAD file"
allows output of the graphics to a file, in order to enable further processing with the
GGUCAD program. Compared to output as a DXF file this has the advantage that no loss
of colour quality occurs during export.
• "Clipboard"
The graphics are copied to the WINDOWS clipboard. From there, they can be imported
into other WINDOWS programs for further processing, e.g. into a word processor. In order
to import into any other WINDOWS program you must generally use the "Edit / Paste"
function of the respective application.
• "Metafile"
allows output of the graphics to a file in order to be further processed with third party soft-
ware. Output is in the standardised EMF format (Enhanced Metafile format). Use of the
Metafile format guarantees the best possible quality when transferring graphics.

If you select the "Copy area" tool from the toolbar, you can copy parts of the graph-
ics to the clipboard or save them to an EMF file.

Using the "Mini-CAD" program module you can also import EMF files generated using
other GGU applications into your graphics.

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 • "MiniCAD"
allows export of the graphics to a file in order to enable importing to different GGU appli-
cations with the MiniCAD module.
• "GGUMiniCAD"
allows export of the graphics to a file in order to enable processing in the GGUMiniCAD
program.
• "Cancel"
Printing is cancelled.

7.1.10 "Batch print" menu item

If you would like to print several appendices at once, select this menu item. You will see the fol-
lowing dialogue box:

Create a list of files for printing using "Add" and selecting the desired files. The number of files is
displayed in the dialogue box header. Using "Delete" you can mark and delete selected individual
files from the list. After selecting the "Delete all" button, you can compile a new list. Selection of
the desired printer and printer preferences is achieved by pressing the "Printer" button.

You then start printing by using the "Print" button. In the dialogue box which then appears you
can select further preferences for printer output such as, e.g., the number of copies. These prefer-
ences will be applied to all files in the list.

7.1.11 "Exit" menu item

After a confirmation prompt, you can quit the program.

7.1.12 "1, 2, 3, 4" menu items

The "1, 2, 3, 4" menu items show the last four files worked on. By selecting one of these menu
items the listed file will be loaded. If you have saved files in any other folder than the program
folder, you can save yourself the occasionally onerous rummaging through various sub-folders.

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7.2 FEM mesh menu

7.2.1 "Preferences" menu item

Using this menu item you can define the appearance of the FEM mesh on the screen. The element
no. and the material no. cannot be displayed simultaneously.

The "Display mesh" button produces a direct representation of the FEM mesh using the selected
preferences.

If the FEM mesh representation does not fill the screen, point to the "Auto-resize" menu item in
the "Page size + margins" menu or press [F9].

7.2.2 "FEM mesh" menu item

After going to this menu item the FEM mesh is displayed as defined in "FEM mesh / Prefer-
ences".

7.2.3 "Outline" menu item

After going to this menu item the outlines of the various slab materials used in the FEM mesh are
displayed as defined in "FEM mesh / Preferences".

7.2.4 "Define (FEM) nodes" menu item

You can use the left mouse button to define a new node or the right mouse button to delete a pre-
viously defined node. This menu item can also be reached using [F3]. If you are working a prob-
lem using the modulus of subgrade reaction method, each new point is assigned the default sub-
grade (see "Subgrade / Default subgrade" menu item, Section 7.3.1).

The current x- and y-coordinates of the mouse are shown in the window title bar. If you have
access to a scanner you can scan in the system to be processed and save it as a bitmap file (exten-
sion: *.BMP). This bitmap can be displayed on the screen using the Mini-CAD program module
(see the "Mini-CAD" manual). This greatly simplifies input of the principal system nodes.

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 Alternatively, you can also import a DXF file using Mini-CAD (see "Mini-CAD" manual). This
can contain the system outline, for example. If Mini-CAD data are already present, the initial
dialogue box provides a check box with the option of locking on to Mini-CAD lines.

If you activate this check box the mouse cursor appears as a rectangle with cross-hairs. If the end
point of a Mini-CAD line is located within this rectangle the program will lock on to this point
precisely; if a number of points are located within the rectangle, it will lock on to the one nearest
the centre of the cross-hairs.

7.2.5 "Change (FEM nodes)" menu item

The coordinates of existing nodes can be edited. Two options are available for this:

• "Via a table"
You can edit the coordinates of existing nodes or, alternatively, enter the coordinates of
new nodes.
If you need to edit the current number of nodes click the "x FEM nodes to edit" button and
enter the new number of nodes. You can navigate through the table using "Forw." and
"Back". If you are working a problem using the modulus of subgrade reaction method,
each new point is assigned the default subgrade (see "Subgrade / Default subgrade" menu
item, Section 7.3.1).
• "Via equation"
If you have entered the coordinates using the wrong scale, for instance, you can correct this
using this menu item.

You also have the option of applying the factor for one direction only. Activate the requi-
red option button.

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7.2.6 "Move (FEM nodes)" menu item

The defined FEM system is displayed with the finite-elements after selecting this function. The
nodes can be moved when holding the left mouse button. The coordinates of the current node are
displayed in the title bar. The last node movement can be undone using the [Backspace] key.

7.2.7 "Edit (FEM nodes)" menu item

By double-clicking a node using the left mouse button a dialogue box appears allowing the coor-
dinates to be edited via the keyboard.

7.2.8 "Array" menu item

7.2.8.1 Select type of array

After selecting this menu item you can decide whether new nodes are generated using a regular or
an irregular array.

If you are working a problem using the modulus of subgrade reaction method, each new point
generated using this menu item is assigned the default subgrade (see "Subgrade/Default sub-
grade" menu item, Section 7.3.1).

7.2.8.2 Button "Regular"

The regular array allows the nodes to be defined in a number of ways:

• "Line"- along one or more lines,

• "Rectangle" - in one or more rectangles,
• "Quadrilateral" - in one or more quadrilaterals.

The procedure is similar for all three cases. Therefore, only the rectangles will be described.

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 "Rectangle"

Enter the corner points of the array and the number of subdivisions. If the "Generate new mesh"
check box is activated, all existing nodes are deleted and then the user-defined FEM nodes in the
dialogue box are generated with the appropriate FEM mesh. If you want to add further nodes,
deactivate the Generate new mesh" check box.

You can define immovable boundaries directly when generating the FEM mesh. Just activate the
check boxes for the required sides. If the check boxes are not activated, all boundaries are gener-
ated with a free-earth support. Additional displacement or action boundary conditions can then be
defined individually using the "Boundary" menu.

If one of the newly generated nodes is located within an existing FEM mesh, all newly gen-
erated nodes will be rejected.

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7.2.8.3 Button "Irregular"

In contrast to the regular array procedure, where the generated nodes are evenly spaced within the
generated rows, the spacing can be varied using the irregular array. This can be done in the fol-
lowing dialogue box.

The array numbers can be defined using the "No. of dx values" and "No. of dy values" buttons.
Enter the array spacing in "dx" and "dy". If you press the "Recompute x and y values" button the
first column to the left of "dx" and "dy" are recalculated. These are absolute values for the array.
The array origin is entered in "x0" and "y0".

If one of the generated nodes is located within an existing FEM mesh and the "Delete cur-
rent mesh" check box is not activated, none of the generated nodes will be accepted.

If the "Generate new mesh" check box is activated an FEM mesh is generated together with the
FEM nodes. This only applies if the "Delete current mesh" check box is also activated.

7.2.9 "Circular slab, …" menu item

This menu item makes it simple to define circular slabs and define the FEM mesh. Two different
slabs can be selected:

• "Circular slab (simple)"

Create a simple circular slabs by means of the diameter, number of rings and segments. A
displacement of "0" can be defined for the slab centre and the outer edge. Dimensioning
can also be activated here.
• Any existing nodes and FEM mesh are automatically deleted. When you leave the dialogue
box the program recalculates the coordinates and displays the newly generated circular slab
on the screen with the optimum coordinates.

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 • "Circular slab (pro)"
You can generated a more complex slab.

• "Annular slab"
An annular slab can be generated via the number of rings and the internal and external di-
ameters. A displacement of "0" can be defined for the inner and/or outer edges.
• "Elliptical slab"
An elliptical slab can be generated. Simply define the diameters in the x and y directions.

7.2.10 "Manual (FEM) mesh" menu item

After input of the mesh nodes this menu item is used to define the FEM mesh. Three nodes must
be clicked using the left mouse button. Once the three nodes have been selected a box appears for
defining the material no. of the FEM element. This menu item can also be reached using [F4]. An
FEM element can be deleted by selecting the three corresponding nodes once again using the left
mouse button.

7.2.11 "Automatic (FEM mesh)" menu item

After entering the mesh nodes automatic mesh generation can be carried out using this menu item
(Delauney triangulation). If an FEM mesh already exists it can be either deleted or supplemented.
Under certain circumstances, "air holes" (incompletely filled FEM mesh) may occur in an existing
FEM mesh being supplemented if this mesh was not generated by means of Delauney triangula-
tion. These regions will require manual post-processing or re-triangulation of the complete FEM
mesh. All newly generated triangles are assigned the material number 1.

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7.2.12 "Round off (FEM mesh)" menu item

During Delauney triangulation a triangular mesh is generated that envelops all nodes. This can
lead to acute-angled triangle elements in the boundary regions. These triangles can be removed
from the FEM mesh using this menu item.

The radius ratio describes the relationship between external radius and internal radius of a triangle.
For an isosceles triangle, this ratio equals 2.0 (optimum). Before you arrive at the dialogue box
above you will be shown the maximum and minimum radius ratios. In the example above, all
external triangles with a radius ratio greater than 6 will be removed. To avoid chaos, only exterior
triangles will be removed.

7.2.13 "Delete (FEM mesh)" menu item

This menu item allows you to delete selected system triangles. You must first click four points in
anti-clockwise direction. All triangles with their centroid within this quadrilateral will be deleted.

7.2.14 "Optimize (FEM mesh)" menu item

You first select in a dialogue box whether the diagonals or the topology should be optimised.

7.2.14.1 "Diagonals" button

Optimisation of diagonals is implemented in order to create a numerically favourable FEM mesh,

i.e. where possible, isosceles triangles. The effect of optimisation of diagonals can best be seen
using an example:

Figure 1 Optimisation of diagonals

If an existing unfavourable diagonal cuts two different material areas, no optimisation takes place
because this would alter the system.

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7.2.14.2 "Topology" button

This program routine displaces the triangular element nodes so that, where possible, isosceles
triangles are created. Isosceles triangles have especially favourable numerical properties. Because
the displacement of system boundaries and element boundaries with neighbouring elements con-
sisting of different materials does not make much sense, these element boundaries are fixed from
the outset. Nodes with defined displacement boundary conditions also remain unaltered. Optimisa-
tion of the FEM mesh can be followed on the screen by setting the "With graphics" check box.
The optimisation routine can be aborted at any time by pressing the right mouse button.

7.2.15 "Align (FEM mesh)" menu item

The nodes can be aligned on a circle, for example, using this menu item. If you confirm the mes-
sage box and click a node a further editing window opens.

7.2.16 "Refine individually" menu item

Mesh elements can be selected for refinement using the following menu item.

Upon activating the "Consider displacement BC" check box, new nodes located immediately
between two nodes with displacement boundary conditions will be assigned the average of the two
values. This procedure is not unequivocal when applied to action boundary conditions and can
lead to misunderstandings. Action boundary conditions are therefore not refined in the course of
mesh refinement. A description of the 3 refinement methods can be found in Section 7.2.19.

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7.2.17 "Section" menu item

A number of elements previously enveloped in a polygon can be refined using this menu item.
Displacement boundary conditions can be taken into consideration (see "FEM mesh / Refine
individually" menu item, Section 7.2.16). A description of the 3 refinement methods can be found
in Section 7.2.19.

7.2.18 "All" menu item

The following dialogue box appears after selecting this menu item or, alternatively, pressing [F7]:

Either all elements or only element with certain material numbers can be refined. Here, too, dis-
placement boundary conditions can be taken into consideration (see " FEM mesh / Refine indi-
vidually" menu item, Section 7.2.16). A description of the 3 refinement methods can be found in
the following Section 7.2.19.

7.2.19 Refinement methods

Three different refinement methods can be applied for element refinement. Refinement will be
demonstrated on the following mesh using element 23 as an example.

Figure 2 FEM refinement demonstration mesh

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 • "Method 1"
An additional node is generated in the centroid of the selected triangle.

Figure 3 FEM mesh refinement using Method 1

• "Method 2"
The selected triangle element and the neighbouring triangle element are halved.

Figure 4 FEM mesh refinement using Method 2

• "Method 3"
A new triangle element is inserted at the median of the clicked triangle element. The neigh-
bouring triangle elements are halved.

Figure 5 FEM mesh refinement using Method 3

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7.3 Subgrade menu (subgrade reaction modulus only)

7.3.1 General note on subgrade reaction moduli

The "Subgrade" menu is only visible if the modulus of subgrade reaction method is selected in
"File / New". This menu enables simple definition of the subgrade reaction moduli assigned to
each mesh node.

7.3.2 "Default subgrade" menu item

The default modulus of subgrade reaction defined in this dialogue box is assigned to all new FEM
nodes defined using the "FEM mesh / Define nodes" menu item.

If you edit the given value and leave the dialogue box using "Done" the newly defined modulus of
subgrade reaction will be adopted as of this moment for newly defined nodes. If nodes are already
defined, they can also be retroactively assigned a default modulus of subgrade reaction using the
"For all" button.

7.3.3 "Individual subgrade" menu item

You can edit the modulus of subgrade reaction by double-clicking a node. In the opened dialogue
box you also have the option of editing the coordinates of the selected node.

7.3.4 "Modify" menu item

You can modify all subgrade reaction moduli as a function of the existing subgrade reaction
moduli. In the example shown in the following dialogue box the modulus of subgrade reaction at
all nodes was increased by 5000 kN/m³.

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7.3.5 "In section" menu item

After defining a quadrilateral, all nodes within it can be assigned a new modulus of subgrade reac-
tion. If the "Display subgrade reaction" check box is activated in the message box the nodes are
labelled with the current modulus of subgrade reaction. This provides a good overview of the
possible modulus of subgrade reaction ranges present.

7.3.6 "Subgrade contours" menu item

In order to better visualise the modulus of subgrade reaction situation you can generate a contour
diagram of the defined subgrade reaction moduli.

Define the type of contour diagram using the "Normal", "Coloured" and "3D" option buttons.
Details are described in Sections 7.9.2 to 7.9.4.

7.3.7 "Interpolation mesh" menu item

In principle, the subgrade reaction moduli can be completely defined using the previous menu
items. A further defining simplification is offered by the interpolation mesh. Similarly to the FEM
mesh, this interpolation mesh consists of nodes and triangles. Certain subgrade reaction moduli
can be defined at the nodes. After defining an interpolation mesh you can assign the thus defined
modulus of subgrade reaction profile to the underlying FEM mesh. These are assigned by means
of linear interpolation. The interpolation mesh should (but not must) completely cover the FEM
mesh. In the simplest case possible, this may consist of one triangle.

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7.3.8 "Nodes" menu item

In complete analogy to the FEM mesh you can define, move, edit or change the interpolation mesh
nodes.

7.3.9 "Mesh" menu item

In complete analogy to the FEM mesh you can edit the interpolation mesh.

7.3.10 "Modify" menu item

The subgrade reaction moduli of given interpolation mesh nodes can be modified. After clockwise
definition of a quadrilateral the following dialogue box appears:

Once a constant has been entered the two options shown in the dialogue box are available for
modifying the selected subgrade reaction moduli.

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7.3.11 "Contours" menu item

You can create a contour diagram of the interpolation mesh subgrade reaction moduli. Either col-
oured contours or a 3D representation can be selected (also see the "Subgrade / Contours, menu
item, Section 7.3.5).

7.3.12 "Import/export" menu item

The x- and y-coordinates of the interpolation mesh can be imported from an ASCII file.

If this is done in PLT format, the triangle and subgrade reaction moduli information will also be
exported or imported. A dialogue box as described in Section 7.1.5 opens for the "Import ASCII"
option.

7.3.13 "Assign" menu item

After completely processing the interpolation mesh the subgrade reaction moduli associated with
the interpolation mesh can be assigned to the FEM mesh.

Because no undo is possible after assigning the subgrade reaction moduli, it is expedient to
save the file beforehand.

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7.4 Constrained mod. menu (constrained modulus method only)

7.4.1 General note on constrained moduli

The "Constrained mod." menu is only visible if the constrained modulus method is selected in
"File / New". This menu serves simple definition of the constrained modulus.

It is necessary to define a triangle mesh for analysis using the constrained modulus method. This
mesh is not related to the FEM mesh. The nodes of this triangle mesh are described by the drilling
points. The drilling points are then connected to form a triangle mesh, from which the program
can interpolate the constrained modulus profile at any point. The constrained modulus profiles are
described by a mesh, structured similarly to the interpolation mesh (see the "Subgrade" menu).
The difference is that the subgrade reaction moduli are not defined at the nodes of this mesh, but a
constrained modulus profile. In the simplest case this mesh can consist of a single triangle com-
prising three constrained modulus profiles.

7.4.2 "Preferences" menu item

Using this menu item general presentation parameters can be given, thus influencing the system
graphics.

"Factor for depths" allows you to control the length of the profile columns in the presentation. If
the "Automatic soil colours" check box is activated, the profiles will be automatically colour-
filled by the program. Otherwise, the colours defined in "Soil colours" will be used for the indi-
vidual soil layers.

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7.4.3 "Layers" menu item

After clicking this menu item the following dialogue box appears:

In the dialogue box you can enter the names, constrained moduli and Poisson's ratios of the indi-
vidual layers. If you need to edit the number of layers, select the "Edit no. of layers" button and
then enter the new number of layers. Edit the soil properties if required.

In order to ensure a sensible interpolation within the triangle mesh it is necessary that all nodes
possess the same number of layers. If your system contains areas in which certain soil layers do
not occur (e.g. peat lenses only in certain areas), then simply assign these layers a thickness of
"0.0" at the appropriate nodes, using the "Default depths" menu item (see Section 7.4.4), i.e. a
height corresponding to the layer above.

7.4.4 "Standard depths" menu item

After clicking this menu item the following dialogue box appears:

If you have entered two layers using the "Constrained mod. / Layers" menu item, two layers will
also be shown in this dialogue box. The corresponding constrained moduli and the Poisson's ratio
are also shown for your information. The given depths can be edited to suit your wishes. Depths
are entered as m below grade. During the subsequent definition of triangle nodes, these layer
depths are assigned to the corresponding nodes. The layer depths for each node can be edited as
required. If the constrained modulus profile is equal for almost all nodes, you can save input work
during the initial definition of default depths. A previously saved depth distribution can be loaded
using the "Load" button. Using "Save" you can save the current depth distribution to a file in
order to have it available later without requiring renewed input. If you press the "For all" button
all current triangle nodes will be assigned these depths . In the dialogue box a maximum of 8 lay-
ers are displayed. If more than one layer is present you can navigate through the table using the
"Forw." and "Back" buttons or use "Go to no." to leap directly to the number given.

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7.4.5 "Contours layer base" menu item

After selecting this menu item the following dialog box appears:

This menu item serves as a check for the layer depth input data. Enter the number of the layer for
which you would like to see a contour diagram of the base. If you activate the "Coloured" check
box you will see a colour filled contour diagram. Otherwise a normal contour of diagram will be
drawn (also see Section 7.9.2).

For colour-filled graphics you will see the above dialogue box.

• "Contour data" group box

Press the "Determine extreme values…" button. The program then determines the mini-
mum and maximum values for the corresponding layer base. You can then edit these val-
ues, for example in order achieve a defined start value.

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 • "Colour fill" group box
You can control the colour subdivisions of the contour diagram using "No. of colours". In
the example above, 16 colours will be displayed between "Colour 1" and "Colour 2". The
default setting is a colour course from red to blue. These colours can be edited as required
after selecting the "Colour 1" and "Colour 2" buttons, or simply reverse the choice by se-
lecting the "Change colour series" check box.
• "Further preferences" group box
In addition to the colour presentation you can also have the triangle mesh and/or the outline
displayed. Additional contour lines can also be drawn. Line labelling preferences can be
defined by means of the "Labelling preferences" button.
• "OK"
The colours will be drawn after confirmation. A colour bar at the right edge of the sheet al-
lows correlation between the colour and the corresponding value. If this colour bar is
drawn in the right page margin, specify a larger value for the right plotting margin (e.g. 25
mm) in the "Page size + margins / Page size and margins" menu item (see Section 7.8.4).

7.4.6 "Edit layer depths" menu item

This menu item allows editing of the base of a layer at the individual nodes of the triangle mesh.
After double-clicking near the node to be edited you can change the depth of the layer base.

7.4.7 "Determine" menu item

Have the constrained modulus profile displayed for any point within the triangle mesh.

If more than 8 layers have been entered you can navigate through the box using "Forw." and
"Back" or use "Go to no." to leap to the layer required.

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7.4.8 "Modify" menu item

After clicking this menu item the following dialogue box appears:

• "Paste layers"
A new layer can be defined by duplicating an existing layer. The depth range of the se-
lected layer is divided between 2 new layers. The final depth of the constrained modulus
profile thus remains neutral.
• "Raise layers"
A layer can be selected and raised or lowered by a given amount. This action applies to all
constrained modulus profiles.
• "Fixed value"
A selected layer can be retroactively assigned a given depth in all constrained modulus pro-
files.

7.4.9 "Display in section" menu item

A section can be drawn at any location through the constrained modulus profile mesh and the
applicable geological section displayed. This procedure corresponds to the section representation
described in the "Evaluation / Any section" menu item (see Section 7.9.10).

7.4.10 "Automesh" menu item

If this menu item is selected a rectangular constrained modulus mesh with the default depths can
be generated. You need only enter the corner coordinates.

But beware: The existing constrained modulus mesh is deleted!

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 If you first click the "Include existing foundations" button the program automatically determines
the required coordinates around the foundation and enters them into the input boxes.

7.4.11 "Define nodes" menu item

Using this menu item the triangle nodes for the constrained modulus profile mesh can be defined
by mouse click. Nodes are defined using the left mouse button and deleted using the right mouse
button.

7.4.12 "Change" menu item

After selection of this menu item, the following dialog box appears:

In this box it is possible to change or enter the x- and y-coordinates of the nodes (drilling points)
using the keyboard. If you increase the number of nodes using the "Edit no. of nodes" button the
new nodes are assigned the default depths with regard to the constrained modulus profile. The
button operations correspond to those in the "Constrained mod. / Layers" menu item ( see Sec-
tion 7.4.3).

7.4.13 "Move" menu item

After clicking this menu item it is possible to move current triangle nodes using the mouse and
thus alter the x- and y-coordinates.

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7.4.14 "Edit" menu item

Using this menu item it is possible top retroactively edit individual nodes of the constrained
modulus profile mesh. By double-clicking near a node the following dialogue box opens, allowing
the coordinates to be edited.

After clicking the "Layer depths" button a further dialogue box opens for editing the layer depths.

7.4.15 "Manual mesh" menu item

You can manually combine triangle nodes to a triangular mesh. Normally, you would have the
triangulation (see below) carried out automatically. However, if the triangle mesh generated auto-
matically by the program does not suit your requirements you can carry out the triangulation
manually. If you need to delete an existing triangle, click the nodes of this triangle again.

7.4.16 "Automatic" menu item

The "Automatic" menu item runs a program controlled mesh generation routine (triangulation).
You have the option of deleting or supplementing an existing triangle mesh. You should Only
select "Supplement" in exceptional cases, as triangulation follows certain laws which may not
allow sensible complementing of an existing current partial mesh.

7.4.17 "Delete" menu item

You can delete selected system triangles using this menu item. You must click the four points of a
quadrilateral. All triangles with the centroid within the quadrilateral will be deleted.

7.4.18 "Refine" menu item

The program allows the refinement of an existing triangle mesh. Refinement is generally only
necessary if you need to supplement an existing triangle mesh with further, possibly fictitious,
nodes.

Refinement of the constrained modulus profile mesh is in analogy to the refinement of the FEM
mesh (see Sections 7.2.16 to 7.2.19).

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7.5 Boundary menu

7.5.1 "Preferences" menu item

In the dialogue box for this menu item preferences for the presentation of the boundary conditions
on the screen can be specified.

7.5.2 "Check" menu item

This menu item provides a good overview of the locations of all boundary conditions by display-
ing the required boundary conditions on the screen.

7.5.3 "Single displacement" menu item

With the assistance of this menu item a displacement boundary condition can be defined at an
FEM node using the left mouse button or deleted using the right. You can choose to define a dis-
placement or a rotation in x- or y-direction.

7.5.4 "(Displacement) In section" menu item

After selecting this menu item several FEM nodes can be simultaneously assigned a displacement
boundary condition in a defined section, or an existing boundary condition be deleted. First select
the type of displacement boundary condition. Then click four points in an anti-clockwise direction
using the left mouse button. The right mouse button will undo. The definition refers to all nodes
within the quadrilateral.

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7.5.5 "Point loads" menu item

Using this menu items the point loads are defined within the FE system in analogy to the dis-
placement boundary conditions. The action boundary conditions can be defined as Load P and
Moment myy and Moment mxx. When analysing with the new partial safety factors you will also
see the "Live" check box because of the differentiation between permanent and changeable lateral
pressures.

Note on free-earth supports:

The case of a free-earth support is automatically considered by the finite-element-method.
All system boundaries or partial system boundaries possessing no action or displacement
boundary conditions automatically have a free-earth support.

7.5.6 "Line loads" menu item

The procedure for defining line loads is explained in a dialogue box. Define the line load by click-
ing the system nodes to which a boundary condition is then assigned. The action is completed by
pressing [Return]. A dialogue box into which you can enter the start and end value then opens.
The load is then assigned corresponding to the point distance of the neighbouring element edges.
When analysing with the new partial safety factors you will also see the "Live" check box be-
cause of the differentiation between permanent and changeable lateral pressures.

If line loads have already been defined an additional "Delete all line loads" button appears in the
dialogue box. If you leave the dialogue box by using this button, all line loads are deleted and a
new line load can be defined. Individual line loads can be deleted by pointing to this menu item
once again and clicking the nodes to which the line load was assigned. The following dialogue
box then appears:

Click the "Delete old load" until all sections of the marked line load are deleted and then define
the new line load if required.

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7.5.7 "Distributed loads" menu item

Certain elements can be assigned distributed loads by defining the area required as a polygon
using 4 counter-clockwise points. You will then see the following dialogue box:

When analysing with the new partial safety factors you will also see the "Live" check box be-
cause of the differentiation between permanent and changeable lateral pressures. If you activate
the "Add distributed load" check box, the value entered will be added to any distributed loads
already present. If negative entries are made the distributed load is reduced correspondingly. If
you click the "Delete all" button, all existing distributed loads are deleted and you can define a
new distributed load after specifying a new polygon.

7.5.8 "Individual materials" menu item

After selecting the type of FEM system screen representation the material number assignments can
be edited for individual elements of the FEM mesh. This assigns these elements the material prop-
erties that were defined in the "System / Slab material" menu item (see Section 7.6.3).

7.5.9 "(Materials) In section" menu item

After selecting the type of FEM system screen representation you define a polygon by clicking 4
points in counter-clockwise direction. All elements with their centroid within this polygon can be
assigned a different material number. The associated material properties are defined in the "Sys-
tem / Slab material" menu item (see Section 7.6.3).

7.5.10 "Beams" menu item

After you have defined an FEM mesh you can define beams along nodes of the FEM mesh. Their
stiffness can later be taken into consideration during the slab calculations. This can be useful when
taking the influence of foundation beams or similar elements into account, for example. In princi-
ple, it is also possible to model a foundation beam by thickening the slab in the appropriate areas.

After completing node selection by pressing the [Return] key a dialogue box opens for assigning
the defined beam a material number. If there are several foundation beams in the system, with
differing thicknesses and/or widths, for example, you can assign a different material number for
each type.

The defined beams are shown with the appropriate material number in the graphics. The colour
and width of the lines can be edited using the "Graphics preferences / Pen colour and width"
menu item (see Section 7.7.3) .

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 If you need to delete certain beams, click on these beams once again. Individual sections of the
defined beam are deleted using the "Delete old beam" button, i.e. some of the defined beam may
remain.

7.5.11 "Delete all" menu item

All defined beams are deleted after a prompt.

7.5.12 "Single springs" menu item

Beside beam elements, individual system nodes can also be assigned single springs. The applica-
tion of single springs may be required if you need to investigate a slab, for example, resting on
only slightly load-bearing ground and which is therefore supported in various locations by piles.

After clicking a node a dialogue box opens for defining the magnitude of the single spring in
kN/m. Input ≤ 0.0 delete an existing spring.

The size of the single spring is acquired from the resistance-settlement diagram to DIN 4014, for
example. For instance, if a pile displays a settlement of s = 0.95 cm with a bearing capacity of P =
1340 kN, the single spring size CB is calculated from:

CB = P/s = 1340/0.0095 = 141,000.0 kN/m

If you also need to take the axial stiffness of the pile into consideration the spring constant of the
pile CP must be determined from:

CP = E * A/L

E = Young's modulus of pile

A = cross-sectional area of pile
L = length of pile

Example:

E = 30,000,000 kN/m² (concrete)

A = 0.20 m²
L = 12.0 m

Giving

CP = 30,000,000 * 0.20/12.0 = 500,000.0 kN/m

The size of the single spring (overall spring constant) C is acquired from:

1/C = 1/CB + 1/CP

1/C = 1/141,000 + 1/500,000 = 9.0922 * 10-6

C = 109,984 kN/m

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7.6 System menu

7.6.1 "Info" menu item

You will see information on the current system with the number of elements, nodes and boundary
conditions in a dialogue box.

7.6.2 "Units + project identification" menu item

You can enter a description of the current system; this will then be used in the general legend (see
Section 7.7.8).

Select the units for the constrained modulus and the displacement in the second input line.

7.6.3 "Slab material" menu item

The slab parameters can be edited. Depending on the number of material numbers assigned using
the "Boundary / Individual materials)" (Section 7.5.8) or "Boundary / (Materials) In section"
(Section 7.5.9) menu items, a dialogue box opens with the corresponding number of input lines:

The numerical input for "d(1)top", "d(2)top", "d(1)bottom" and "d(2)bottom" are important for
subsequent reinforcement of the slab. This defines the distance of the centroid of the reinforce-
ment from the upper and lower slab surface for the principal directions of reinforcement 1 and 2.

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7.6.4 "Beam material" menu item

You can edit the parameters of any beams defined. A dialogue box opens containing a number of
input lines dependent on the number of beam materials specified in "Boundary / Beams" (Section
7.5.10).

The following designations apply:

• EJ = beam bending stiffness

• GJ = beam torsional stiffness
• E = modulus of elasticity of beam
• G = modulus of rigidity of beam = 0.5 * E/(1 - ν)
• J = moment of inertia of beam

Due to the fractured tension zone often only a fraction of the theoretical torsional stiffness GJ
(often even = 0.0) is adopted for reinforced concrete. If the values are not known they can be cal-
culated by pressing the "Calculate" buttons.

7.6.5 "Test" menu item

The system is tested for the minimum node spacing and overlapping of triangle elements. The test
can be aborted at any time by pressing the right mouse button.

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7.6.6 "Analyse" menu item

7.6.6.1 Bandwidth optimisation/equation solver selection

After pointing to the "System / Analyse" or, alternatively, pressing [F5], the equation system
bandwidth is examined and a message box displayed where necessary. If you do not agree with
the bandwidth optimisation the analysis is cancelled.

NOTE ON BANDWIDTH:
Finite-element methods give rise to equation systems which, depending on the system, only have
values different to "0" in the region of the principle diagonals. The iterative equation solver con-
tained in the FEM applications uses this in order to save memory and thus shorten computation
time. The maximum distance between the principle diagonal and the system’s non-zero element
most distant from the principle diagonal is known as the bandwidth. In principle, iterative equa-
tion solvers do not require bandwidth optimisation. However, the results are much more stable and
the computation time shorter if the bandwidth is small.

Following the bandwidth optimisation a dialogue box opens where "Cholesky" or "Iterative" can
be selected as equation solver. Information on the differences between the two equation solvers
can be read by pressing the "Equation solver info" button. If you start the analysis by clicking
"OK" different dialogue boxes open depending on the selected analysis method (modulus of sub-
grade reaction or constrained modulus).

7.6.6.2 Analysis using the modulus of subgrade reaction method

The following analysis dialogue box opens:

According to the theory of the elastically supported slab the modulus of subgrade reaction also
acts as a tensional spring, a physically impossible effect for slabs supported by the soil. If you
activate the "Suppress tension bedding" the program checks for this effect after analysis and, if
necessary, sets the modulus of subgrade reaction for these areas to 0 and repeats the analysis. This
is repeated until tension bedding is eliminated at all points. Please refer to Section 6.2 for details
of the determination of moments.

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7.6.6.3 Analysis using the constrained modulus method

The following analysis dialogue box opens:

The following condition must be adhered to when using the constrained modulus method:

Deflection curve of slab = settlement depression of elastic-isotropic half-space

Max. spacing settlement calculation

In contrast to the modulus of subgrade reaction method the constrained modulus method therefore
requires an iteration process. In the first step the settlements (elastic-isotropic half-space) at all
FEM mesh nodes are calculated for a constant load of 1 kN/m² on the FEM elements. The settle-
ment resulting from the triangular load at every FEM mesh node must be determined for this. For
example, a mesh comprising 512 triangles and 289 nodes requires:

512 * 289 = 147,968 (!)

settlement calculations. In an attempt to limit the settlement computation time the "Max. spacing
settlement calculation" allows input of a spacing. The settlements at system nodes are only de-
termined from triangles with their centroids at a smaller distance to the system node than is de-
fined here.

Cancellation criteria displacement

the end of iteration is defined using "Cancellation criteria displacement". If the difference be-
tween the displacement of the slab and the calculated settlement (elastic-isotropic half-space) is
smaller than the specified value at all points of the FEM mesh, the analysis is stopped.

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 Damping
The program recalculates the subgrade reaction moduli for the next iteration step from the quo-
tients of the pressure at the node (ks * w) and the settlement (elastic-isotropic half-space) after
every iteration step. In complicated systems this can lead to oscillations around the actual solution,
the calculation does not converge. In this case, a damping can be specified. The value 0.2 given in
the dialogue box has provided good results in the past. Values between 0.0 and 0.95 make the
most sense. A value of 1.0 (complete damping) makes no sense and will therefore not be accepted
by the program.

Max. allowable foundation pressure

Theoretically infinitely high foundation pressures occur at the system boundaries when employing
the constrained modulus method. This effect is reduced to stress peaks by use of finite analysis
methods. If you need to avoid these stress peaks you may define a maximum allowable foundation
pressure. After every iteration step the program checks whether this maximum foundation pressure
has been exceeded. If it is exceeded the modulus of subgrade reaction is reduced before carrying
on with the next iteration step. This is done by calculating the modulus of subgrade reaction at the
appropriate points not from:

ks*w/s
but instead by using:
ks = max. allow. Foundation pressure/s

to calculate. Unfavourable numerical oscillations can also occur in the solution. You can therefore
specify a maximum reduction of the subgrade reaction moduli at the appropriate locations so that a
complete reduction is not immediately applied. Instead, the existing modulus of subgrade reaction
can be reduced by, for example, a maximum of 10% each time. Enter this percentage value in
"Reduction ks for iter. Max. found. pr.".

Gaussian settlement integration

The settlement calculations for the elastic-isotropic half-space are performed using a Gaussian
numerical integration. Integration using 7 points and 13 points is available. If you need higher
precision (for slightly longer computation times) and are not superstitious, use integration with 13
points. The option of analytic-numerical determination of settlements is also provided. The analy-
sis is precise, but takes a little longer.

Moment determination
With regard to the determination of moments, please see the description in the section on the
modulus of subgrade reaction method (see Section 6.2).

A cancellation window opens after analysis starts. If you press the "Cancel" button the
analysis is not immediately aborted; you may first edit all the parameters described above
and, if required, continue with the analysis.

An analysis using the constrained modulus method takes considerably longer than the
modulus of subgrade reaction method due to the extensive settlement calculations neces-
sary.

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7.6.7 "Reinforce slab" menu item

Before concluding with the slab reinforcement, the system must be analysed. Once the analysis is
complete you can select in the dialogue box whether the reinforced concrete is designed using the
old global safety factor concept to DIN 1045 or the new partial safety factor concept to
DIN 1045-1.

The angle for the directions of reinforcement is measured positively clockwise from the horizontal
axis.

The result is initially displayed in a message box, later in the reinforcement legend (see Section
7.7.11). This menu item can also be started using the [F6] function key.

7.6.8 "Foundation bases" menu item

This menu item is only visible if you analyse using the constrained modulus method.

You can define foundation bases for each material or accept the mean value using the "Set to slab
thickness" button.

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7.7 Graphics preferences menu

7.7.1 "Refresh and zoom" menu item

The program works on the principle of What you see is what you get. This means that the screen
presentation represents, overall, what you will see on your printer. In the last consequence, this
would mean that the screen presentation would have to be refreshed after every alteration you
make. For reasons of efficiency and as this can take several seconds for complex screen contents,
the screen is not refreshed after every alteration.

If, e.g., after using the zoom function (see below), only part of the image is visible, you can
achieve a complete view using this menu item. The zoom factor may be user-defined. It is much
simpler, however, to get a complete overview using the [Esc] key. Using the [F2] key, you can
refresh the screen without altering the zoom factor.

7.7.2 "Zoom info" menu item

By clicking two diametrically opposed points you can enlarge a section of the screen in order to
view details better. An information box provides information on activating the zoom function and
on available options.

7.7.3 "Pen colour and width" menu item

In order to enhance the clarity of the graphics you can edit the pen settings for various graphic
elements (e.g. moment, reinforcement, beams, etc.). You can edit the pen widths for the elements
shown in the dialogue box; by clicking on the button with the element designation you can also
edit the pen or fill colours.

On black and white printers (e.g. laser printers), colours are shown in a corresponding grey scale.
Graphic elements employing very light colours may be difficult to see. In such cases it makes
sense to edit the colour preferences.

7.7.4 "Legend font selection" menu item

With this menu item you can switch to a different true-type font. All available true-type fonts are
displayed in the dialogue box.

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7.7.5 "Mini-CAD toolbar" and "Header toolbar" menu items

Using these menu items you can add free text to the graphics and add lines, circles, polygons and
images (e.g. files in formats BMP, JPG, PSP, TIF, etc.). For details please see the supplied "Mini-
CAD" user manual. The differences between the Mini-CAD and CAD for Header are as follows:

• Elements created with "Mini-CAD" are based on the coordinate system (generally in me-
tres), in which the drawing is produced, and are shown accordingly. You should use "Mini-
CAD" when you wish to add information to the system (for example, labelling of slope in-
clinations or the location of any foundations).
• Elements created with the "Header toolbar" are based on the page format (in mm). This
makes you independent of the coordinate system and keeps you in the same position on the
page. You should select the "Header toolbar" if you wish to place general information on
the drawing (company logo, report numbers., plan numbers, stamp etc.). Once you have
saved the header information to disk (see "Mini-CAD" user manual), you can load it into
completely different systems (with different system coordinates). The saved header infor-
mation will appear in exactly the same position on the page, which greatly simplifies the
creation of general page information.

7.7.6 "Toolbar preferences" menu item

After starting the program a horizontal toolbar appears below the program menu bar. If you would
rather work with a popup window with several columns, you can specify your preferences using
this menu item. The smarticons can also be switched off.

At the bottom of the program window you find a status bar with further information. You can also
activate or switch off the status bar here. The preferences will be saved in the "GGU-
RETAIN.ALG" file (see menu item "Graphics preferences / Save graphics preferences") and
will be active at the next time the program is started.

By clicking on the tools (smarticons) you can directly reach most of the program functions. The
meaning of the Smarticons appears as a text box if you hover with the mouse pointer over the
tools. Some of the tool functions can be activated from the normal menu items.

"Next page" / "Previous page"

Using this icon, you can navigate between the individual pages in the tabular representation.

"Select page"
If you are in the tabular representation, you can use this icon to jump to a specific page or to
return to the normal representation, that is, to the graphics.

"Zoom out"
If you have previously zoomed in, this tool returns to a full screen display.

"Zoom (-)" / "Zoom (+)"

With the zoom functions you can zoom in or out of parts of the image, by clicking the left mouse
button.

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 "Colour on / off"
If you need to remove the colour from the system presentation, to create a black and white print-
out, for example, use this on / off switch.

"Copy area"
Use this tool if you would like to copy only parts of the graphics in order to paste them, e.g. to a
report. You will see information on this function and can then mark an area, which will be copied
to the clipboard or can be saved in a file.

7.7.7 "3D Toolbar" menu item

This menu item allows you to choose a pop-up window with tools for rotating and zooming three
dimensional images.

The tools in this pop-up 3D window allow you to rotate the graphics around one of the three axes.
The plus and minus signs designate the direction of rotation. The angle of rotation (default: 45°)

can be adjusted as wished using the tool.

7.7.8 "General legend" menu item

A legend with general properties will be displayed on your output sheet if you have activated the
"Show legend" check box. Using this menu item you can alter the type of presentation.

Beside the heading this legend contains information on the current graphics and preferences.

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 You can define and edit the position of the legend using the values "x" and "y". You control the
size of the legend using "Font size" and "Max. no. of lines"; where necessary, several columns
are used.

The fastest way to modify the position of the legend is to press the [F11] function key and
then to pull the legend to the new position with the left mouse button pressed.

In the general legend you can, if wished, display information on the file. Any project identification
entered (see Section 7.6.2) will also be shown in the general legend.

7.7.9 "Material legend" menu item

A legend with the slab material will be displayed on your output sheet if you have clicked the
"Show legend" check box. Using this menu item you can alter the type of presentation or turn off
the legend completely.

You can define and edit the position of the legend using the values "x" and "y". You control the
size of the legend using "Font size".

The fastest way to modify the position of the legend is to press the [F11] function key and
then to pull the legend to the new position with the left mouse button pressed.

• "Legend coloured"
The material colours are displayed in the legend. Otherwise, they will be numbered.
• "Automatic material colours"
The materials are assigned colours automatically by the program. If the check box is not se-
lected, the colours individually defined using the "Material colours" button will be
adopted.

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 • "Material colours"
You will see a dialogue box, in which you can define your preferences. After clicking the
button with the desired number you can assign each soil layer a new number or reorganise
using the "Material colours / Reorganise" command button. You can save your colour
preferences to a file with "Material colours / Save" and use them for different systems by
means of the "Material colours / Load" command button. In the lower group box you can
also transfer the colour preferences to the Windows colour management dialogue box, or
vice versa, as user-defined colour preferences for example. You can read a further descrip-
tion by pressing the "Info" button.

The material colours specified using this menu item are - regardless of whether activated
for the legend - always used for visualisation of the FEM mesh, assuming the "Coloured"
check box was activated in the preferences (see menu item "FEM mesh / Preferences",
Section 7.2.1).

7.7.10 "Constrained mod. legend" menu item

When using the constrained modulus method you can display a legendprofile comprising the con-
strained modulus soil properties (Es and ν) by activating the "Show legend" check box.

You can define and edit the position of the legend using the values "x" and "y". You control the
size of the legend using "Font size". The fastest way to modify the position of the legend is to
press the [F11] function key and then to pull the legend to the new position with the left mouse
button pressed.

• "Legend coloured"
The soil colours are displayed in the legend. Otherwise, they will be numbered.
• "Automatic soil colours"
The soils are assigned soils colours automatically by the program. If the check box is not
selected, the soil colours individually defined using the "Soil colours" button will be
adopted.

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 • "Soil colours"
You will see a dialogue box, in which you can define your preferences. After clicking the
button with the desired number you can assign each soil layer a new number or reorganise
using the "Soil colours / Reorganise" command button. You can save your colour prefer-
ences to a file with " Soil colours / Save" and use them for different systems by means of
the " Soil colours / Load" command button. In the lower group box you can also transfer
the colour preferences to the Windows colour management dialogue box, or vice versa, as
user-defined colour preferences for example. You can read a further description by press-
ing the "Info" button.

The soil colours specified using this menu item are - regardless of whether activated for the
legend - always used for visualisation of the constrained moduli, assuming the "With
constr. mod." check box was activated in the preferences (see menu item "FEM mesh /
Preferences", Section 7.2.1).

7.7.11 "Reinforcement legend" menu item

If you activate the "Show legend" check box in the dialogue box for this menu item, a legend
containing general information on the reinforcement is displayed on the screen. The position of
the legend is defined by the values "x" and "y". The size of the legend is controlled using "Font
size" and "Max. no. of lines"; where necessary, several columns are used.

The fastest way to modify the position of the legend is to press the [F11] function key and
then to pull the legend to the new position with the left mouse button pressed.

7.7.12 "Beam legend" menu item

If you activate the "Show legend" check box in the dialogue box for this menu item, a legend
containing general information on any beams is displayed on the screen. The position of the leg-
end is defined by the values "x" and "y". The size of the legend is controlled by the values for
"Font size".

The fastest way to modify the position of the legend is to press the [F11] function key and
then to pull the legend to the new position with the left mouse button pressed.

7.7.13 "Section legend" menu item

If you activate the "Show section course" check box in the dialogue box for this menu item, a
legend containing a sketch showing the location of the section is displayed on the screen. The
position of the legend can be defined and edited using the values "x" and "y", "Width" and
"Height".

7.7.14 "Move legends" menu item

Select this menu item in order to position legends at the desired position on the output sheet. You
can also move legends by pressing [F11] and then positioning the legend box with the left mouse
button pressed. In that case an info-box appears no more.

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7.7.15 "Save graphics preferences" menu item

Some of the preferences you made with the menu items of the "Graphics preferences menu" can
be saved to a file. If you select "GGU-SLAB.ALG" as file name, and save the file on the same
level as the program, the data will be automatically loaded the next time the program is started and
need not be entered again.

7.7.16 "Load graphics preferences" menu item

You can reload a graphics preferences file into the program, which was saved using the "Graph-
ics preferences / Save graphics preferences" menu item. Only the corresponding data will be
refreshed.

7.8 Page size + margins menu

7.8.1 "Auto-resize" menu item

This menu item provides a to-scale visualisation, in both x and y coordinates, of the system and
result graphics. If you have previously altered the image coordinates using "Page size + margins /
Manual resize (mouse)" or "Page size + margins / Manual resize (editor)", you can quickly
achieve a complete view using this menu item. This function can also be accessed using the [F9]
function key.

7.8.2 "Manual resize (mouse)" menu item

You can use the coordinates of a section of the visualisation as the new image coordinates by
marking the desired area with the mouse, pressing the left mouse button and holding the [Ctrl]
and [Shift] keys. The scales of the x- and y-axes are adjusted accordingly. If the previous propor-
tions (scale x-direction/scale y-direction) need to be retained, the "Proportional section" check
box must be activated.

Alternatively, you can simply "Redefine origin" of the visualisation. The previous scale prefer-
ences are not affected by this.

7.8.3 "Manual resize (editor)" menu item

You can alter the image coordinates by direct numerical input in a dialogue box. This allows pre-
cise scale input. The coordinates refer to the drawing area. This can be defined in the "Page size
+ margins / Page size and margins" menu item by means of the plot margins (see Section 7.8.4).

The image coordinates entered here can be saved in a file with the extension ".BXY" and be re-
loaded later for the same file or for different files.

If you want to recover the previous values during input or use the menu item again after editing
the coordinates, you can do this by pressing the "Old values" button.

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7.8.4 "Page size and margins" menu item

The default page set-up is A3 when the program is started. You can edit the page format in the
following dialogue box.

• "Page in general" defines the size of the output sheet. The A3 format is set as default. The
program automatically draws thin cutting borders around the page, which are required
when using a plotter on paper rolls. The borders can be switched off using the "With bor-
ders" switch in the "Page size + margins / Margins + borders" menu item (see Section
7.8.6).
• "Page margin" defines the position of a frame as a distance to the margins. This frame en-
closes the subsequent diagram. You can switch off the frame deactivating the "With mar-
gins" switch in the "Page size + margins / Margins + borders" menu item (see Section
7.8.6).
• The "Plot margin" define a set distance between the page margin and the actual drawing
area in which the graphical evaluation of your input is presented.

7.8.5 "Font size selection" menu item

You can edit font sizes for labelling the various drawing elements.

The font sizes of text within legends are edited in the respective legend editor. Just double-click in
a legend to do this.

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7.8.6 "Margins + borders" menu item

The program automatically draws thin cutting edges around the page, which are required when
using a plotter on paper rolls. Page margins (see menu item "Page size + margins / Page size and
margins") defines the position of a frame as a distance to the cutting border. This frame encloses
the subsequent diagram. You can switch off the lines by deactivating the "With margins" and
"With borders" switches.

7.8.7 "Draw Mini-CAD first" menu item

Elements added using the "Mini-CAD" module are normally drawn via the system representation.
For example, if you want to visualise your FEM mesh over an imported site map, activate this
menu item.

7.9 Evaluation menu

7.9.1 General information on representation of contour lines, circles and tables

Numerous options are available for evaluation and graphical representation. If you point to one of
the contour line diagrams or the menu item "Evaluation / Circles" or "Evaluation / Table", you
must first select the parameter to be displayed. The following box opens if you are working with
the partial factor concept.

In addition to the required state variable, decide whether the display should include permanent (G)
and/or live loads (Q). If you want to display the reinforcement click the "Reinforcement" button
and the following dialogue box opens:

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 Using the four upper option buttons you select the required reinforcement at the upper and lower
slab faces and fort he two reinforcement directions, 1 and 2. If the slab has a minimum reinforce-
ment you can enter the minimum reinforcement fort he upper and lower slab faces (reinforcement
directions 1 and 2) in "Min. reinforcement [cm²/m] for delta" and then have the further rein-
forcement requirement displayed using, for example, the "delta req fe(1) top" option button. If
you press the "State variables" button the dialogue box for selecting the state variables opens
again (see above).

7.9.2 "Normal contours" menu item

After selecting the required parameter you will see the following dialogue box where you can
specify preferences for the display of contour lines.

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 The program shows you the existing smallest and largest values and the spacing of the contour
lines. If you want the visualisation to begin at a different value, the initial value can be entered
here. You can also vary the spacing, for example, in order to reduce the number of contour lines
drawn.

When you select this menu item the settings displayed here are always those automatically se-
lected by the program. Using the "Old values" button, the preferences used for the previous con-
tour line diagram are adopted. This information is saved with the record.

You can also select from three smoothing out procedures:

• "Do not smooth"

As a linear method is implemented within the triangle elements, this will provide analysis
results without smoothing performed by the program.
• "Method 1" and "Method 2"
these smoothing out procedures employ two different Bezier splines. Smoothing out inten-
sities can be given for both in order to acquire smooth contour lines. Method 2 creates very
"round" contours, with the danger that the true results may be falsified.

The "Dash preferences" and "Further preferences" buttons can be used to specify the type of
visualisation of the contour lines.

7.9.3 "Coloured" menu item

After selecting the required parameter the lines of equal state variables or the reinforcement pa-
rameters can be displayed in colour.

The preference options for the dialogue box were explained in the "Constrained mod. / Contours
layer base" menu item (see Section 7.4.5).

7.9.4 "3D" menu item

After selecting the required parameter the lines of equal state variables or the reinforcement pa-
rameters can be displayed in 3D for the existing nodes. In the following dialogue box you can
choose between perspective and parallel projection, as well as selecting the position of the "eye".

The program will generally make sensible suggestions for the input values in the dialogue box, so
you will not normally need to make alterations.

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 After leaving the dialogue box by pressing "OK" you will see the following dialogue box. It
greatly resembles the box shown in the menu item "Constrained mod. / Contours layer base".

You can also specify whether an enclosing cube should be displayed; in some cases this improves
the 3D effect. The "Shade from colour 1 to colour 2" check box represents a bit of a special
effect. If this check box is activated a light source is simulated in the region of the "eye". The
angle between the light beam and the respective 3D surface represents a measure of the reflection.
The area is shaded in accordance with colours 1 and 2. A good choice of colours, for example,
would be dark grey for colour 1 and pale grey for colour 2.

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7.9.5 "3D array" menu item

The 3D effect is usually lost in an irregular triangular mesh. The "Evaluation / 3D array" menu
item is useful here. After selecting the required parameter the following dialogue box opens where
you can define the array.

After leaving the dialogue box by pressing "OK" you will at first see the same box as that de-
scribed in "Evaluation / 3D". The program calculates the state variables at the array points by
linear interpolation of the results of the FEM analysis. You then see the dialogue box for coloured
contours preferences as described in "Evaluation / 3D".

7.9.6 "Circles" menu item

After selecting the required parameter a circle chart can be generated containing the appropriate
state variable as differently sized (value-dependent) circles.

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 If you activate the "Fill circles" check box the state variables are represented with a colour fill
defined using the "Positive colour" or "Negative colour" buttons, corresponding to their sign.
The "Max. circle diameter" defines the circles diameter for the largest state variable. The "Num-
ber of circle segments" specifies the resolution of the circle. For example, triangles are repre-
sented for a value of 3. Each circle can be annotated with the value of the state variable. The sys-
tem boundaries or the FEM mesh can be drawn in addition to the circles. The colour and width of
the pens can be specified for the graphical visualisation.

7.9.7 "Table" menu item

All state variables can be graphically displayed in a table. The dialogue box is slightly different to
that for the contour lines.

A number of state variables can be selected in the dialogue box. They are represented in the graph-
ics directly after closing the box using "OK". The font size used in the tables can be specified
using the menu item "Page size + margins / Font size selection" (see Section 7.8.5).

7.9.8 "Values in node section" menu item

You can display state variables in a section. To do this, define a section by clicking the appropri-
ate nodes using the left mouse button. Intermediate points are inserted automatically by the pro-
gram. The last point in the list is deleted by clicking the right mouse button. When the section is
located where you want it press [Return]. Select the state variable to be represented.

You will first see a dialogue box for specifying preferences for the section representation, such as
labelling or representation as a fence diagram at FEM. Here, you also have the option of saving
the section to a file using the "Save section" button. If you click this menu item a second time the
following dialogue box opens:

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 By pressing "OK" you can now create a new section or, using the other buttons, either return to
the previous section or load one saved earlier.

If you have activated "Show section course" using the menu item "Graphics preferences / Sec-
tion legend" (see Section 7.7.13), a location sketch is automatically displayed on the screen show-
ing the slab outline and the defined section.

7.9.9 "Position of node section" menu item

You can display the location of the section defined using the menu item "Evaluation / Values in
node section" and send it to the printer.

7.9.10 "Any section" menu item

After selecting the required parameter you will see the following dialogue box for defining the
section:

For this type of evaluation the section course is no longer bound to the FEM nodes, but consists of
a start and an end point. Using the "By hand" button you can specify the start and end points
using numerical values instead of the mouse. If you have previously saved a section it can be
loaded again using "Load section". The "Prev. section" button is only visible if a section has
already been defined and loads the section defined immediately prior.

After completing the section definition by pressing [Return] the number of subdivisions can be
specified in a further dialogue box. This defines the number of points are required for calculation
of the sectional values. After confirming with "OK" the following dialogue box opens:

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 You can now specify whether the section should be displayed in colour. You can also define the
intercept of the x-axis with the y-axis by entering a value for "y0". In this case the "Use" check
box must be activated. If you do not use this option, the x axis will intercept the y axis at the
smallest y value. The section can also be displayed as a fence diagram. You can save the section
in order to load it again at a later date (see above).

If you have activated "Show section course" using the menu item "Graphics preferences / Sec-
tion legend" (see Section 7.7.13), a location sketch is automatically displayed on the screen show-
ing the slab outline and the defined section.

7.9.11 "Position of any section" menu item

You can display the location of the section defined using the menu item "Evaluation / Any sec-
tion" and send it to the printer.

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7.9.12 "Support" menu item

You can generate a circle chart of the support forces using this menu item. The current supports
are shown at the top of the dialogue box.

Select the support to be displayed in the upper group box of the dialogue box.

• Q = support resulting from displacement boundary condition w

• Mxx = support resulting from displacement boundary condition phi(y)
• Myy = support resulting from displacement boundary condition phi(x)

All other input is identical to the input in menu item "Evaluation/Circles" (see Section 7.9.6).

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7.9.13 "Principle moments" menu item

The principal moments can be displayed as value-dependent lines. The following dialogue box
opens if you have selected the partial safety factor concept.

The line colour and line thickness can be specified separately for positive and negative principal
moments in the menu item "Graphics preferences / Pen colour and width" (see Section 7.7.3).
The lines for positive principal moments have a small vertical line at both ends.

7.9.14 "Reinforcement" menu item

The reinforcement is displayed as lines according to direction and size. Shear reinforcement can
also be displayed as a circle diagram; otherwise the numerical values are displayed.

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 The line colour and line thickness, and the labelling colour can be specified in the menu item
"Graphics preferences / Pen colour and width", "Reinforcement" check box (see Section
7.7.3).

7.9.15 "Beams" menu item

If there are beams in the system the state variables for these beams can be displayed.

Depending on the selected state variable you will see a further dialogue box displaying the maxi-
mum values. You can then specify further preferences for the display, such as labelling.

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7.9.16 "Single springs" menu item

If there are single springs in the system they can be displayed as a circle chart.

The dialogue box is almost identical to the dialogue box in menu item "Evaluation / Circles" (see
Section 7.9.6).

7.9.17 "Individual values" menu item

By licking a node using the left mouse button all data for this node can be viewed. If you are ana-
lysing a problem using the constrained modulus method, you may first decide whether to deter-
mine the state variables or the settlements.

If you click the "Settlements" button the program carries out a settlement calculation for every
clicked point for the elastic-isotropic half-space. These points are then no longer connected to the
system nodes. They may be located outside of the slab as long as a constrained modulus profile is
defined at this particular point.

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7.9.18 "Subgrade reactions" menu item

When using the subgrade reaction modulus method you can draw the contour lines of the subgrade
reaction moduli resulting from the program's iteration analysis.

Define the type of contour diagram using the "Normal", "Coloured" and "3D" option buttons.
Descriptions of the various types of contour lines can be found in Sections 7.9.2 to 7.9.4.

7.9.19 "Difference" menu item

When using the constrained modulus method you can display the differences between the settle-
ments s (elastic-isotropic half-space) and the displacements w (bedded slab) as contour lines. Se-
lect the type of contour in the dialogue box by means of the "Normal", "Coloured" and "3D"
option buttons. Descriptions of the various types of contour lines can be found in Sections 7.9.2 to
7.9.4.

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7.10 Special menu (constrained modulus method only)

7.10.1 "Define stress section" menu item

The stresses for any given section can be displayed using this menu item. Specify the means of
defining the section in the dialogue box.

For this type of evaluation the section course is no longer bound to the FEM nodes, but consists of
a start and an end point. Using the "By hand" button you can specify the start and end points
using numerical values instead of the mouse. If you have previously saved a section it can be
loaded again using "Load section". The "Prev. section" button is only visible if a section has
already been defined and loads the section defined immediately prior.

After completing the section definition by pressing [Return] the number of subdivisions can be
specified in a further dialogue box. This defines the number of points are required for calculation
of the sectional values. After confirming with "OK" the following dialogue box opens:

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 You can specify a number of preferences for displaying the stresses. After leaving the dialogue
box via the "Display" button the program first calculates the stresses and then displays the stress
distribution at depth for the specified points. It is also possible to save the section from within the
dialogue box.

7.10.2 "Preferences" menu item

If you have already defined a section and displayed it on the screen, you may retroactively edit the
preferences for the graphical representation using this menu item. A dialogue box for the section
representation opens; this can also be reached by going to the menu item "Special / Define stress
section" (see Section 7.10.1). After leaving the dialogue box the stresses are first determined once
again and then the section displayed.

7.10.3 "Stress bulb section" menu item

When you initially go to this menu item the same dialogue boxes open as shown in "Special /
Define stress section" in Section 7.10.1. However, after leaving the graphical preferences dia-
logue box by using the "Display" button you select the type of contours.

Once you have selected the type of contours required the program calculates the stresses along the
specified section. You then see the familiar dialogue boxes for the normal or the coloured contour
line diagram (see Sections 7.9.2 and 7.4.5).

7.10.4 "(Stress bulb section) Normal contours" menu item

If the stresses for the specified section have already been calculated using the previous menu item
"Special / Stress bulb section" you can move directly to the normal contour diagram using this
menu item. The familiar dialogue box opens (see Section 7.9.2).

7.10.5 "(Stress bulb section) Coloured" menu item

If the stresses for the specified section have already been calculated using the menu item "Special
/ Stress bulb section" you can move directly to the coloured contour diagram using this menu
item. The familiar dialogue box opens (see Section 7.4.5).

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7.10.6 "Vertical settlements section" menu item

Specification of the section for displaying the vertical settlements is in analogy to the menu item
"Special / Define stress section" (see Section 7.10.1). If you close the dialogue box for the
graphical representation preferences using the "Display" button, the program first calculates the
settlements in the user-defined section. You will then see a combo box for selecting the type of
contour representation.

7.10.7 "(Vertical settlements section) Normal contours" menu item

If the vertical settlements for the specified section have already been calculated using the previous
menu item "Special / Vertical settlements section" you can move directly to the normal contour
diagram using this menu item. The familiar dialogue box opens (see Section 7.9.2).

7.10.8 "(Vertical settlements section) Coloured" menu item

If the vertical settlements for the specified section have already been calculated using the menu
item "Special / Vertical settlements section" you can move directly to the coloured contour dia-
gram using this menu item. The familiar dialogue box opens (see Section 7.4.5).

7.11 ? menu

7.11.1 "Copyright" menu item

You will see a copyright message and information on the program version number.

The "System" button shows information on your computer configuration and the folders used by
GGU-SLAB.

7.11.2 "Maxima" menu item

A box opens showing the maximum values allowed by the program for the nodes and elements of
the FEM mesh.

7.11.3 "Help" menu item

The GGU-SLAB online-help is opened using an installed browser (e.g. MS Internet Explorer).
The help function can also be accessed using the [F1] function key.

7.11.4 "Test slab reinforcement" menu item

If the appropriate input has been completed you can test the slab reinforcement using this menu
item.

7.11.5 "Rotate all" menu item

Once entered, the system can be rotated through a user-defined angle. It is also possible to in-
crease or decrease the scale or to displace the system in the x- or y-directions. The boundary con-
ditions phix and phiy as well as mxx and myy are not altered.

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7.11.6 "GGU on the web" menu item

Using this menu item you can access the GGU Software website: www.ggu-software.com.
Keep in touch with new program versions and the regular download offers.

If you would like to be automatically notified about program innovations, please register for the
Newsletter in our Knowledge Base. Go to the following website: http://kbase.civilserve.com.

7.11.7 "GGU support" menu item

This menu item takes to the GGU-Software Support area at www.ggu-software.com.

7.11.8 "What's new?" menu item

You will see information on program improvements in comparison to older versions.

7.11.9 "Language preferences" menu item

This menu item allows you to switch the menus and the graphics from German to English and vice
versa. To work in German, deactivate the two switches "Dialoge + Menüs übersetzen (translate
dialogues, menus)" und "Graphiktexte übersetzen (translate graphics)".

Alternatively, you can work bilingually, e.g. with German dialogue boxes but with graphic output
in English.

7.11.10 "Benchmark" menu item (constrained modulus method only)

Average computation times are displayed.

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8 Tips
You can scroll the screen with the keyboard using the cursor keys and the "Page up" and "Page
down" keys.

If you click the right mouse button anywhere on the screen a context menu containing the princi-
pal menu items opens.

By double-clicking the left mouse button on legends, you will immediately move to the editor for
the selected element and can then edit it.

By clicking and pulling with the mouse, with [Ctrl] pressed, you activate the zoom function, i.e.
the selected section will fill the screen.

You can simplify system input by integrating graphics or DXF files into the system via the Mini-
CAD module (see Mini-CAD manual). The size of the graphics or the DXF data can be imported
to the correct scale. However, this is not absolutely necessary for mesh generation. If you do not
model the system to scale using a graphics file, you can perform a scale correction after input is
complete using the menu item "FEM mesh / Change (nodes)", "via equation" button.

Some of the function keys are assigned program functions. The allocations are noted after the
corresponding menu items. The individual function key allocations are:

• [Esc] refreshes the screen contents and sets the screen back to A3 format. This is useful if,
for example, you have used the zoom function to display parts of the screen and would like
to quickly return to a complete overview.
• [F1] opens the online-help.
• [F2] refreshes the screen without altering the current magnification.
• [F3] opens the menu item "FEM mesh / Define (FEM) nodes".
• [F4] opens the menu item "FEM mesh / Manual (FEM) mesh".
• [F5] opens the menu item "System / Analyse".
• [F6] opens the menu item "System / Reinforce slab".
• [F7] opens the menu item "FEM mesh / (Refine) All".
• [F9] opens the menu item "Page size + margins / Auto-resize".
• [F11] activates the menu item "Graphics preferences / Move legends".

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9 Worked slab analysis examples

9.1 Example 1: Analysis using the modulus of subgrade reaction method

9.1.1 System description

Below, slab analysis is demonstrated using a practical example. The example is taken from

• H. R. Schwarz
Methode der finiten Elemente (Finite-Element Methods), Teubner, Stuttgart 1991

The example is shown in Section 6.1.5.2 on pages 391 pp of the book. It deals with a bridge slab
with the following dimensions:

10.0
10.0 m

supported
te d
y p i vo
fre e l

3.1
3.0 m
supported

te d

3.1
3.0 m
y pivo
fre el

Figure 6 Example from Schwarz 1991

The following slab data are given:

• thickness d of slab = 0.40 m

• Young's modulus of concrete = 40,000.0 MN/m²
• Poisson's ratio of concrete = 1/6 = 0.1667
• specific weight of concrete = 2.548 g/cm³ → γ = 25 kN/m³

The loading on the slab results entirely from self weight.

Because this is a bridge slab the system is first analysed without subgrade.

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9.1.2 Step 1: Select the analysis method

Start the program and go to the "File / New" menu item.

In the dialogue box, select the "Subgrade reaction mod. method" button and "Global safety
factor concept".

9.1.3 Step 2: Define the FEM mesh

A quadrilateral system is used. Mesh generation is simplest using the menu item "FEM mesh /
Array".

Press the "Regular" button first and then the "Quadrilateral" button.

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 Enter the data as given in the dialogue box. Activate the "Generate new mesh" check box. The
immoveable left and right system boundaries can be defined in the above dialogue box by activat-
ing the "right" and "left" check boxes. If all of the check boxes are deactivated, i.e. all boundaries
are assigned a free-earth support, define the immovable boundaries in Step 5 (see Section 9.1.4).

The slab is displayed. Go to the menu item "Page size + margins / Auto-resize" in order to
achieve a screen-filling representation of the system.

9.1.4 Step 3: Optimise the FEM mesh diagonals

Normally, an optimal FEM mesh is generated. For this example, go to the menu item "FEM mesh
/ Optimise" and press the "Diagonals" button. The mesh then corresponds to the example used by
Schwarz.

9.1.5 Step 4: Assign the modulus of subgrade reaction

Go to the menu item "Subgrade / Default subgrade".

Enter a 0 as subgrade and press the "For all" button. This assigns all nodes the same subgrade.

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9.1.6 Step 5: Assign displacement boundary conditions

If you have already generated the immovable boundaries at the left and right of the system using
the array function while defining the FEM mesh, you may skip this step. Otherwise, go to the
menu item "Boundary / (Displacement) In section".

Activate the "Displacement [m]" option button and leave the box using "OK". Then encompass
the left 5 nodes of the system with the quadrilateral. The following dialogue box then opens:

Press the "Define" button. This assigns a vertically immovable support to the left boundary. Do
the same for the right 5 systems nodes. The free boundaries at the top and bottom slab faces do not
need defining separately. The case of a free-earth support applies at all boundaries at which no
action or displacement boundary condition is defined (also see Section 6.2).

If you define your FEM mesh using the "FEM mesh / Array" function you can specify
immovable boundaries in the preferences for the node array by activating the correspond-
ing option buttons for the sides required (see Section 9.1.3, "Step 2: Define the FEM
mesh").

If you wish, you can check the entered boundary conditions by pointing to the menu item "Bound-
ary / Check".

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9.1.7 Step 6: Assign slab material

Go to the "System / Slab material" menu item.

Enter the values given in the dialogue box. The numerical input for d(1)top, d(2)top, d(1)bottom
and d(2)bottom are only important for subsequent slab reinforcement. This defines the distance of
the centroid of the reinforcement from the upper and lower slab surface for the principal directions
of reinforcement 1 and 2.

9.1.8 Step 7: Analyse slab

Go to the menu item "System / Analyse" and if necessary optimise the bandwidth. Press the
"Start" button.

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9.1.9 Step 8: Evaluation via individual values

In order to compare the results to those of Schwarz go to the menu item "Evaluation / Individual
values". If you click the required node using the left mouse button you will see a result box for
this nodes, e.g. for the node in the slab centre at x = 2.0 m:

For the slab centre and the lower slab face for the values of x = 2, 4, 6 and 8 m Schwarz gives the
displacements listed in the following tables. The results ascertained using GGU-SLAB are listed
beside them.

x [m] y [m] Schwarz's GGU-SLAB

solution result
2,0 2,1 0,00373 0,00374
4,0 2,7 0,00604 0,00606
6,0 3,3 0,00604 0,00606
8,0 3,9 0,00373 0,00374

Table 1 Displacements at the slab centre [m]

x [m] y [m] Schwarz's GGU-SLAB

solution result
2,0 0,6 0,00367 0,00368
4,0 1,2 0,00608 0,00608
6,0 1,8 0,00623 0,00624
8,0 2,4 0,00396 0,00396

Table 2 Displacements at the lower slab face [m]

The results are practically identical.

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9.1.10 Step 9: Drawing the deflection curve

Finally, the deflection curve will be drawn through the slab centre. Go to the menu item "Evalua-
tion / Values in node section" and click the central node on the left slab boundary and then the
central node on the right slab boundary. To conclude, press [Return].

Activate the "Displacement w" option button and confirm using "OK". You can specify a number
of preferences for the visualisation. The deflection curve is then displayed.

Go to the menu item "File / Print and export" if you want to print the deflection curve. You can
display contours of displacements, moments, etc. in a similar manner (menu item "Evaluation /
Normal contours", etc.) or determine the support forces (menu item "Evaluation / Support").
All node values can be annotated with the results in table form (menu item "Evaluation / Table").
You can generate circle charts displaying the respective state variables as circles of varying
(value-dependent) size (menu item "Evaluation / Circles"). You can annotate the graphics using
the "Mini-CAD" module or create a sheet header using the "Header CAD" module. Please see the
Mini-CAD manual.

You can now reinforce the slab to DIN 1045 (menu item "System / Reinforce slab").

Save your analysis results to a file before carrying on (menu item "File / Save as").

9.2 Example 2: Slab with constant subgrade

9.2.1 System description

The bridge slab in Example 1 will now be seriously abused by:

• applying a subgrade of 1000 kN/m³ at all nodes,

• eliminating support conditions at the left and right boundaries and
• applying a point load of 100 kN at the points (x = 3.0; y = 2.4) and (x = 7.0; y = 3.6) re-
spectively.

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9.2.2 Step 1: Change the modulus of subgrade reaction

Go to the "Subgrade / In section" menu item and activate the "Display subgrade reaction"
check box. Encompass the entire system with the quadrilateral, ensuring that all nodes are within.

Enter 1000 for the modulus of subgrade reaction and confirm with "OK". All nodes have now
been assigned this modulus of subgrade reaction. This could also have been done (and perhaps
even easier) using the menu item "Subgrade / Default subgrade" and then the "For all" Button.

9.2.3 Step 2: Change the boundary conditions

Delete the boundary conditions at the left and right slab boundary. Go to the "Boundary / (Dis-
placement) In section" menu item. Encompass the entire system with the quadrilateral and press
the "Delete" button in the dialogue box.

Now define the point loads. Go to the "Boundary / Point loads" menu item.

Click the nodes with the two coordinates given above (node 33 and node 73) and enter the follow-
ing:

Now analyse the system and evaluate it, as previously described above.

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9.3 Example 3: Analysis using the constrained modulus profile method

9.3.1 System description

The system analysed in the previous section will now be analysed again using the constrained
modulus method. The slab is supported on a surface with the following constrained modulus pro-
file:

• to 3.0 m below slab: Es = 1,000 kN/m²,

• to 7.0 m below slab: Es = 20,000 kN/m².

The largely non-deformable bedrock lies at 7.0 m below slab.

9.3.2 Step 1: Select the analysis method

Go to the "File / New" menu item and activate the "Constrained modulus method" option but-
ton.
Confirm the query

with "Yes" to get the mesh. The "Constrained mod." menu now appears in place of the "Sub-
grade" menu.

9.3.3 Step 2: Define the constrained modulus profile

Select the menu item "Constrained mod. / Layers". Press the "Edit number of layers" and enter
a 2, because we have 2 layers in the system.

Enter the values given in the dialogue box. In this case "nue" represents the Poisson's ratio of the
soil.

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 Select the "Constrained mod. / Default depths" menu item and enter the values from the follow-
ing dialogue box:

The depths entered here correspond to those specified at the beginning of this section.

9.3.4 Step 3: Define the constrained modulus profile mesh

Now go to the menu item "Constrained mod. / Define nodes" (not in the "FEM mesh" menu!)
and click four points, located roughly at:

• constrained modulus profile 1 at x = -1 and y = -1,

• constrained modulus profile 2 at x = -1 and y = +4,
• constrained modulus profile 3 at x = +11 and y = 2,
• constrained modulus profile 4 at x = +11 and y = 7

These coordinates ensure that all of the slab's nodes are included. Using the menu item "Page size
+ margins / Auto-resize" or, more simply, by pressing [F9], a screen-filling representation can be
achieved if the point in question lies outside of the current view. The drilling points (constrained
modulus profile) are displayed parallel to input with the mouse. The profiles look a bit rough in
comparison to the slab. If necessary, correct the optics by going to the menu item "Constrained
mod. / Preferences" and making the following input:

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 Now connect the four constrained modulus profiles to form a mesh. To do this, go to the menu
item "Constrained mod. / Automesh" (not the "FEM mesh" menu!).

9.3.5 Step 4: Analyse slab

All necessary input is now complete and you can start the analysis. It may be necessary to opti-
mise the bandwidth first.

You do not need to alter anything in the start dialogue box. A detailed description can be found in
the corresponding menu items (see Section 7.6.6.3).

After the completion message you can evaluate the system as described above.

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10 Index
Constrained mod. profile,
contours of layer bases ................................. 42
A Constrained mod. profile, define colours.......... 40
Analysis method, select .................................... 17 Constrained mod. profile,
Analysis results, save in file ............................. 18 define layer depths in advance ..................... 41
Angle of rotation, 3D graphics ......................... 59 Constrained mod. profile, define layers............ 41
Approximation method..................................... 14 Constrained mod. profile,
Array, irregular................................................. 30 define soil properties .................................... 41
Array, regular ................................................... 28 Constrained mod. profile,
Axial stiffness of pile, consider ........................ 50 display individual profile ............................. 43
Constrained mod. profile, duplicate layer......... 44
Constrained mod. profile,
B edit individual layer depths .......................... 43
Bandwidth ........................................................ 53 Constrained mod. profile,
Beam materials, assign numbers....................... 49 edit/assign layer depths retroactively ........... 44
Beam materials, define parameters................... 52 Constrained mod. profile,
Beams, assign material numbers....................... 49 presentation parameters................................ 40
Beams, define ................................................... 49 Context menu.................................................... 82
Beams, define material parameters................... 52 Contour lines, dashing ...................................... 67
Beams, delete all............................................... 50 Contours, differences between settlements
Beams, delete individual................................... 50 and displacements ........................................ 77
Beams, display.................................................. 75 Contours,
Boundary conditions, free-earth support .......... 48 layer bases of constrained mod. profile........ 42
Boundary conditions, natural............................ 16 Contours, preferences 3D ~ .............................. 67
Boussinesq equation ......................................... 16 Contours, preferences 3D array ~ ..................... 69
Contours, preferences coloured ~ ..................... 42
Contours, preferences normal ~........................ 66
C Contours, select state variable .......................... 65
Contours, subgrade reaction moduli
CAD for Header ............................................... 58
of FEM mesh................................................ 37
Centroid of the reinforcement........................... 51
Contours, subgrade reaction moduli
Cholesky........................................................... 53
of interpolation mesh.................................... 39
Circle chart, representation preferences............ 69
Contours, subgrade reaction moduli
Clipboard .......................................................... 24
resulting from iteration................................. 77
Colour bar, contours ......................................... 43
Convergence of solution ................................... 55
Colours, constrained mod. profile .................... 40
Coordinates FEM mesh, import as ASCII file .. 18
Colours, interpolation/FEM mesh..................... 37
Coordinates FEM mesh, save to ASCII file...... 18
Colours, Material slab ...................................... 61
Coordinates, alter using an editor ..................... 63
Colours, pens for graphical elements................ 57
Coordinates, alter with mouse .......................... 63
Colours, soils constrained modulus profile....... 62
Coordinates, edit for individual FEM nodes..... 36
Colours, switch on/off ...................................... 59
Coordinates, optimise ....................................... 63
Company logo .................................................. 58
Coordinates, save/load...................................... 63
Constrained mod. profile mesh,
Copy area.................................................... 24, 59
define nodes using editor ............................. 45
Cutting borders, switch on/off .......................... 65
Constrained mod. profile mesh,
define nodes using mouse ............................ 45
Constrained mod. profile mesh, D
define/delete elements using mouse ............. 46
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Damping ........................................................... 55
delete several elements................................. 46 Data set description, enter .......................... 17, 51
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Dataset description, display .............................. 60
edit individual node...................................... 46 Default subgrade............................................... 36
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Deflection curve, display.................................. 89
generate automatically ................................. 46 Delauney triangulation ..................................... 31
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Delete, beams ................................................... 50
generate automatically with default depths .. 44 Delete, distributed loads ................................... 49
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Delete, individual elements of
move individual node using mouse .............. 45 constrained mod. profile mesh ..................... 46
Constrained mod. profile mesh, Delete, individual FEM elements ..................... 31
refine elements ............................................. 46 Delete, line loads .............................................. 48
Constrained mod. profile, Delete, several elements of
assign default layer depths ........................... 41 constrained mod. profile mesh ..................... 46

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 Delete, several FEM elements .......................... 32 Font size, constrained modulus profile legend.. 61
Delete, single springs........................................ 50 Font size, drawing elements ............................. 64
Differences between settlements and Font size, general legend .................................. 60
displacements, display as contours............... 77 Font size, reinforcement legend........................ 62
DIN 1045/DIN 1045-1...................................... 56 Font size, slab material legend.......................... 60
Displacement assumption to Zienkiewicz ........ 15 Footer, output table........................................... 20
Displacement boundary condition, Foundation bases, define for slab materials...... 56
define for individual FEM node ................... 47 Foundation beams, consider ............................. 49
Displacement boundary condition, Free-earth support............................................. 48
define for several FEM nodes ...................... 47 Function keys ................................................... 82
Displacement boundary condition,
delete for individual FEM node ................... 47
Displacement boundary condition,
G
delete for several FEM nodes....................... 47 Gaussian numerical integration ........................ 55
Distributed loads, define................................... 49 General page informations................................ 58
Distributed loads, raise/reduce.......................... 49 Geological section, display............................... 44
Dongle ................................................................ 7 GGUCAD ......................................................... 24
Drawing area .............................................. 63, 64 GGUMiniCAD ................................................. 25
DXF, export...................................................... 24 Graphics, integration of .................................... 58
DXF, import ....................................................... 7
H
E
Header, output table.......................................... 20
Editor window, output table ............................. 22 Hooke's Law ..................................................... 14
Elastic-isotropic half-space............................... 54
EMF format ...................................................... 24
Equation solver................................................. 53 I
Evaluation, select state variable Individual values, display ................................. 76
for contour lines ........................................... 65 Installation .......................................................... 7
Interpolation mesh,
F contours of subgrade reaction moduli .......... 39
Interpolation mesh, edit mesh........................... 38
FEM elements, refinement methods ................. 34 Interpolation mesh, edit nodes.......................... 38
FEM mesh, Interpolation mesh, modify
contours of subgrade reaction moduli .......... 37 subgrade reaction moduli using constants .... 38
FEM mesh, define using mouse........................ 31 Interpolation mesh,
FEM mesh, subgrade reaction mod. distribution ............. 37
delete FEM elements automatically ............. 32 Iteration process,
FEM mesh, delete FEM elements using mouse 31 constrained modulus method.................. 16, 54
FEM mesh, generate automatically .................. 31 Iteration, cancellation criteria ........................... 54
FEM mesh, maximum values ........................... 80
FEM mesh, optimise FEM elements................. 33
FEM mesh, preferences .................................... 26 K
FEM mesh, refine a number of FEM elements. 34 Knowledge Base ............................................... 81
FEM mesh, refine certain FEM elements ......... 34
FEM mesh, refine individual FEM elements.... 33
FEM nodes, adjust scale ................................... 27 L
FEM nodes, assign default subgrade modulus.. 36
Language preferences ................................... 8, 81
FEM nodes, define for circular slabs ................ 30
Layout, output sheet ......................................... 64
FEM nodes,
Layout, output table.......................................... 20
define subgrade modulus in advance............ 36
Legend, beams.................................................. 62
FEM nodes, define using array......................... 28
Legend, constrained modulus profile................ 61
FEM nodes, define using editor........................ 27
Legend, reinforcement...................................... 62
FEM nodes, define using mouse....................... 26
Legend, section course ..................................... 62
FEM nodes, edit coordinates ...................... 28, 36
Legend, slab material........................................ 60
FEM nodes, edit subgrade reaction modulus.... 36
Legend, system properties ................................ 59
FEM nodes, move using editor ......................... 27
Licence protection .............................................. 7
FEM nodes, move using mouse........................ 28
Line loads, define ............................................. 48
Fence diagram, state variables at FEM node .... 70
Fence diagram,
state variables between any points ............... 72 M
Finite-difference method .................................. 14
Finite-element method...................................... 14 Material colours/numbers, slab......................... 60
Font size, beam legend ..................................... 62 Material slab, assign numbers
for individual FEM elements........................ 49

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 Material slab, assign numbers S
for several FEM elements ............................ 49
Material slab, define parameters....................... 51 Safety factor concept,
Material slab, display outline............................ 26 select for reinforcement.......................... 17, 56
Max. foundation pressure, define for analysis .. 55 Scale, define ..................................................... 63
Metafile ............................................................ 24 Scale, edit ......................................................... 80
Mini-CAD ........................................................ 25 Scroll the screen ............................................... 82
Mini-CAD, application..................................... 58 Section course, display ..................................... 62
Mini-CAD, Section, fence diagram ..................................... 72
display elements behind system graphics..... 65 Section, state variables between any points...... 71
Minimum reinforcement, define ....................... 66 Section, state variables representation
Moment determination ..................................... 15 at FEM nodes ............................................... 70
Section, stresses between any points ................ 78
Sectional values, calculate for fence diagram... 71
N Sectional values,
Navigation, output table ................................... 58 calculate for stress distribution..................... 78
Settlement, display for any points .................... 76
Settlement, limit computation time................... 54
O Shear design, support forces ............................. 13
Output table navigation .................................... 21 Shear force, calculation .............................. 13, 15
Output table, as ASCII...................................... 22 Shear reinforcement, display ............................ 74
Output table, as graphics .................................. 20 Sign................................................................... 16
Output table, select the output format............... 19 Single spring size CB ........................................ 50
Overall spring constant C ................................. 50 Single springs, define ....................................... 50
Single springs, display...................................... 76
Slab, assign material numbers
P for individual FEM elements........................ 49
Slab, assign material numbers
Page format, define........................................... 64
for several FEM elements ............................ 49
Page margins, define ........................................ 64
Slab, define material parameters....................... 51
Page margins, switch on/off ............................. 65
Smarticons, 3D graphics................................... 59
Pagination, automatic ................................. 21, 22
Smarticons, menu items.................................... 58
Pen preferences................................................. 57
Smoothing out procedures, contours................. 67
Plot margins, define.......................................... 64
Soil, colours/numbers,
Point loads, define ............................................ 48
constrained modulus profile ......................... 61
Poisson's ratio, define ....................................... 41
Spring constant of pile CP ................................. 50
Principal moments, display............................... 74
State variables,
Print, graphics................................................... 23
display results of one FEM node.................. 76
Print, output table ............................................. 24
Status bar .......................................................... 58
Print, section..................................................... 24
Stress distribution at depth................................ 79
Print, several files ............................................. 25
Stress peaks ...................................................... 55
Printer preferences...................................... 22, 23
Stresses, display as contours in section ............ 79
Program, improvements.................................... 81
Stresses, display in section ............................... 78
Program, information........................................ 80
Subgrade reaction mod. distribution,
Program, preferences ........................................ 63
display results of iteration ............................ 77
Project data ....................................................... 58
Subgrade reaction mod. distribution,
Project identification, display ........................... 60
representation for FEM mesh ....................... 37
Project identification, enter......................... 17, 51
Subgrade reaction mod. distribution,
representation for interpolation mesh........... 39
Q Subgrade reaction moduli,
assign from interpolation mesh .............. 37, 39
Quality of the approximation............................ 16 Subgrade reaction moduli,
Quality of the solution ...................................... 14 edit for all FEM nodes.................................. 36
Subgrade reaction moduli,
R edit for individual FEM nodes...................... 36
Subgrade reaction moduli,
Radius ratio, FEM elements ............................. 32 edit for several FEM nodes .......................... 37
Refinement methods ......................................... 34 Support forces, display as circle chart .............. 73
Reinforcement directions, define...................... 56 Support forces, for shear design ....................... 13
Reinforcement slab, System coordinates, alter using editor .............. 63
select safety factor concept .......................... 56 System coordinates, optimise ........................... 63
Reinforcement, display..................................... 74 System coordinates, save/load .......................... 63
Reinforcement, System input, using DXF files.......................... 27
select variable for contour lines ................... 65 System, analyse ................................................ 53
Resistance-settlement diagram to DIN 4014 .... 50

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 System, edit ...................................................... 80 V
System, information ......................................... 80
System, test....................................................... 52 Vertical settlements,
display as contours in section....................... 80
T
W
Tables, representation preferences.................... 70
Tension bedding, consider ................................ 53 What you see is what you get ........................... 57
Toolbar, 3D graphics ........................................ 59 WIBU-BOX/WIBU-Codemeter ......................... 7
Toolbar, menu items ......................................... 58
Translation........................................................ 81
True-Type font ................................................. 57
Z
Zienkiewicz ...................................................... 15
U Zoom function ............................................ 57, 58

Units constrained mod./displacement, define ... 51

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