Tutorial 5 Water Pressure Grid

• Pore water pressure grid (total head)

• Ponded water above slope defined by water table
• Circular surface search (Grid Search)
Slide v.7.0 Tutorial Manual Tutorial 5: Water Pressure Grid

Introduction
This tutorial will demonstrate how to use a water pressure grid to model pore water
pressure in Slide.
The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 05 Water Pressure
Grid.slim data file. All tutorial files installed with Slide 7.0 can be accessed by selecting File >
Recent Folders > Tutorials Folder from the Slide main menu.
This model is also presented in the Groundwater Tutorial (file: Tutorial 07 Groundwater
Seepage.slim). A seepage analysis is carried out, and results are compared with the Water
Pressure Grid tutorial.

Model
If you have not already done so, run the Slide Model program by double-clicking on the Slide
icon in your installation folder. Or from the Start menu, select Programs → Rocscience →
Slide 7.0 → Slide.
If the Slide application window is not already maximized, maximize it now, so that the full
screen is available for viewing the model.

Project Settings
In order to use a water pressure grid for pore pressure calculations, we must first set the
Groundwater Method to one of the three available pore pressure grid options (Total Head,
Pressure Head or Pore Pressure) in the Project Settings dialog. In this case we will be using a
grid of discrete Total Head values.
Select: Analysis → Project Settings

Select the Groundwater page, and set the Groundwater Method = Grid (Total Head).

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Note that Slide can use one of several different methods for interpolating pressures at any
point in the soil, from the grid values. We are using the default method (Modified Chugh).
See the Slide Help system for a description of the interpolation methods available.
Select the Project Summary page and enter a project title – Water Pressure Grid Tutorial.
Select OK.

Add External Boundary

The first boundary that must be defined for every Slide model is the External Boundary. To
add the external boundary, select Add External Boundary from the toolbar or the
Boundaries menu.

Select: Boundaries → Add External Boundary

Enter the following coordinates in the prompt line at the bottom right of the screen.
Enter vertex [esc=cancel]: 15 20
Enter vertex [u=undo,esc=cancel]: 65 20
Enter vertex [u=undo,esc=cancel]: 65 35
Enter vertex [c=close,u=undo,esc=cancel]:50 35
Enter vertex [c=close,u=undo,esc=cancel]:30 25
Enter vertex [c=close,u=undo,esc=cancel]: 15 25
Enter vertex [c=close,u=undo,esc=cancel]: c

Note that entering “c” after the last vertex has been entered, automatically connects the
first and last vertices (closes the boundary), and exits the Add External Boundary option.

Adding a Water Pressure Grid

Now let’s add the water pressure grid to the model. To add a water pressure grid, select the
Water Pressure Grid option from the Boundaries menu (or you can select Project Settings >
Groundwater > Water Pressure Grid).
Select: Boundaries → Water Pressure Grid
The points defining a water pressure grid can be entered in this dialog, by entering X and Y
coordinates, and a value (in this case, Total Head), defining the pressure at each grid point.

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Rather than entering the data manually, a water pressure grid file has been provided, which
you can simply read in using the Import option in the Water Pressure Grid dialog.
1. Select the drop-arrow at the right of the Import button. You will see a shortcut to
the Tutorials folder appear.

2. Click on the Tutorials folder shortcut and you will see an Open file dialog. Water
pressure grids can be imported from various file formats including .pwp files (these
are simple text files where each line of the file contains X, Y and VALUE for one grid
point) or .dxf format files (useful if a flownet has been digitized using AutoCAD, for
example).
3. We will read in a .pwp file. Open the file called Tutorial 05 Water Pressure
Grid.pwp. The grid data appears in the Water Pressure Grid dialog.
4. Now select OK in the Water Pressure Grid dialog and the grid will be added to the
model. Each blue triangular symbol represents one grid point.
Your model should appear as follows:

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Water pressure grid data such as this could come from a flow net, field measurements, or a
numerical analysis such as the groundwater seepage analysis which is available in the Slide
or RS2 programs.
In this case, the values at each grid point are Total Head values, which were originally
obtained by digitizing the flownet shown below, using a digitizing tablet and AutoCAD. (The
grid was originally saved as a .DXF file, and then converted to a .PWP file).
Remember that Slide also has the capability of using pressure head or pore pressure grids,
as selected in the Project Settings dialog.

Flownet used to obtain total head measurements

The actual values at each grid point can be displayed on the model with the Display Options
dialog or the sidebar. Let’s take a quick look. Turn on the Pressure Grid Values checkbox in
the Display Options in the sidebar:

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The water pressure grid values will be displayed on the model.

If the values overlap, use one of the Zoom options (e.g. Zoom Window, Zoom Mouse or
rotate the mouse wheel forward), to zoom in to approximately the center of the grid, so
that the values are readable. The total head values were obtained at the intersections of
each flowline and equipotential line of the flownet in the previous figure.
Now select Zoom All or press F2 to bring the whole model back into view.

Water pressure grid values displayed on model

Now hide the grid values again. Clear the Pressure Grid Values checkbox in the sidebar.

Defining Ponded Water

You will notice that some of the water pressure grid points at the left of the model are
above the ground surface. That is because this model will include ponded water at the foot
of the slope, which we have not yet defined.
Ponded water in Slide can be created as follows:

• If a Water Table is drawn above the External Boundary, Slide will automatically
create a region of ponded water below the Water Table and above the External
Boundary. This is the simplest method of defining ponded water.
NOTE: a Water Pressure Grid CANNOT define ponded water. A Water Pressure Grid is only
used to obtain values of pore pressure within the soil. The Grid does not simulate the
weight and hydrostatic forces which act on the slope due to the ponded water.

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Add Water Table

As demonstrated in previous tutorials, a Water Table can be used in Slide to define pore
pressure conditions for a slope model. In this tutorial, the Water Table will NOT be used for
pore pressure calculations, since the water pressure grid will be used for this purpose.
Regardless of the method of pore pressure definition (with the exception of the Finite
Element Analysis method), a Water Table can always be used to define ponded water above
a slope. Let’s add a Water Table to see how this works.
Select: Boundaries → Add Water Table
Enter the following coordinates in the prompt line.
Enter vertex [esc=cancel]: 15 26
Enter vertex [u=undo,esc=cancel]: 32 26
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: 33.9 26.9
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]:35.8 27.5
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]:37.3 27.9
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: 39.8 28.3
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: 45 29.1
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: 52.3 30.2
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: 65.1 31.8
Enter vertex [enter=done,esc=cancel]: press Enter

Note that pressing Enter with nothing in the prompt line, after the last vertex has been
entered, adds the Water Table to the model, and exits the Add Water Table option. Your
model should now appear as follows:

Water table added to define ponded water.

As you can see at the left of the model, the region above the ground surface and below the
water table is filled with a hatched pattern. This region is automatically determined by Slide
when the water table is drawn above the slope, and indicates the existence of ponded
water.

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As we have already emphasized, pore pressures for this model will be calculated using the
water pressure grid and NOT the Water Table, since we have configured the method of pore
pressure calculation in the Project Settings dialog. However, we will point out one extra
feature of using a Water Table in conjunction with a pore pressure grid:
• All points ABOVE the Water Table will automatically be assigned a ZERO pore
pressure, even if the water pressure grid interpolation procedure, determines a
non-zero pore pressure for a point above the water table. This may be useful in
some situations, for example, if a water pressure grid is defined by an insufficient
number of points.

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Slip Surfaces
For this tutorial, we will be performing a Grid Search, to attempt to locate the critical
circular slip surface (i.e. the slip surface with the lowest safety factor). Select the Surfaces
workflow tab.
A Grid Search requires a grid of slip centers to be defined. We will use the Auto Grid option,
which automatically locates a grid for the user.
Select: Surfaces → Auto Grid
You will see the Grid Spacing dialog.

Enter a 20 x 20 spacing. Select OK. The Grid will be added to the model, and your screen
should appear as follows:

Slip center grid added to model.

NOTE: the Grid Search is discussed in detail in the Quick Start Tutorial. Please refer to that
tutorial or the Slide Help system for more information.

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Properties
To complete our modeling, we still have to define our material properties, and we will then
be ready to run the analysis.
Select: Properties → Define Materials
In the Define Material Properties dialog, enter the following parameters, with the first
(default) material selected. Select OK.

• Name = Soil 1
• Unit Weight = 20
• Strength Type = Mohr-Coulomb
• Cohesion = 11
• Phi = 28
• Grid (Total Head) = On

In the Define Material Properties dialog, you will notice the Grid (Total Head) On / Off
toggle, under Water Parameters. This allows you to toggle the effect of a Water Pressure
Grid ON or OFF for any given soil. If the water pressure grid is turned OFF, then pore
pressure will be ZERO for that soil. In this example, we are of course leaving the grid ON,
since we want to see the results of using the water pressure grid.
Since we are dealing with a single material model, and since you entered properties with
the first (default) material selected, you do not have to Assign these properties to the
model. Slide automatically assigns the default properties (i.e. the properties of the first
material in the Define Material Properties dialog) for you. For multiple material models, it is
necessary for the user to assign properties with the Assign Properties option. This is
discussed in Tutorial 2.
We are now finished with the modeling, and can proceed to run the analysis and interpret
the results.

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Compute
Before you analyze your model, save it as a file called WPG.slim. (Slide model files have a
.slim filename extension).
Select: File → Save
Use the Save As dialog to save the file. You are now ready to run the analysis.
Select: Analysis → Compute
The Slide Compute engine will proceed in running the analysis. This should only take a few
seconds. When completed, you are ready to view the results in Interpret.

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Interpret
To view the results of the analysis:
Select: Analysis → Interpret
This will start the Slide Interpret program. You should see the following figure.

By default, the Global Minimum surface for a Bishop analysis, is initially displayed. The
minimum safety factor = 1.498.
Notice the slip center grid, in this case, has a blank (white) area which is not contoured, at
the left of the grid. This occurs when no valid slip circles are generated at one or more slip
center grid points. For this grid, most circles generated at these points have intersected the
horizontal segment of the external boundary at the left of the model. This generally leads to
zero driving force and an invalid slip surface (safety factor cannot be calculated).

TIP: when a slip center grid displays blank areas such as this, you may want to go back to
the modeler, and modify the grid size or location. This is left as an optional exercise after
completing this tutorial. You can edit grids using right-click shortcuts, or use the Edit sub-
menu in the Surfaces menu.

The appearance of the contours in the slip center grid can be customized by the user with
the Contour Options dialog. Let’s try this now. Contour Options is available in the View
menu, however, a convenient shortcut is to right-click the mouse and select Contour
Options from the popup menu.

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In the Contour Options dialog, enter a Contour Range Min = 1.4 and Max = 2.5. Select Apply.
Now use the “roll-up” arrow  to minimize the dialog without closing it. You can also
minimize / maximize the dialog, by double-clicking on the title bar of the dialog.
The new contour range makes the low safety factor area of the slip center grid more
apparent, as shown in the figure below. Many different contour options are available and
customized contour formats can be saved for future use with the Define Auto-Format
option. The user is encouraged to experiment with these options after completing this
tutorial.

Select Done or X, to close the Contour Options dialog.

Now display the minimum circles at the slip center grid points.
Select: Data → Minimum Surfaces
The minimum surfaces are displayed. Note that the circle colours correspond to the safety
factor contour colours in the slip center grid, and the legend at the upper left of the view.
Let’s view the results for another analysis method. Select Janbu Simplified from the drop-list
in the toolbar.

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For this model, the Janbu Global Minimum slip surface is different from the Bishop surface.
Global Minimum surface information, for each analysis method, is always available in the
Info Viewer.
Select: Analysis → Info Viewer
Scroll down the Info Viewer, to view the Global Minimum surface information. Note that
each surface has different center coordinates, and radius. Close the Info Viewer view, by
selecting the X in the upper right corner of the view (make sure you select the view X and
not the application X, so you don’t close the INTERPRET program!)
NOTE: for the Janbu Simplified analysis method, you will have noticed a blank (white) area
in the low safety factor area of the slip center grid contours. This is because we customized
the contour range for the Bishop results, but results for the Janbu Simplified method were
outside of our custom range. Let’s restore the default contour range.
Right-click the mouse and select Contour Options. Select the “0 to 6” button in the Contour
Options dialog, to restore the default 0 to 6 safety factor contour range. Select Done.
Now select different analysis methods again from the toolbar, and observe the default
contours for each method.

Add Query
Let’s now add a query on the Global Minimum for the Bishop analysis, and plot pore
pressure along the slip surface.
First, select the Bishop analysis method from the toolbar, if it is not already selected.
Queries can be added with the Add Query option in the Query menu. However, a shortcut
for adding a query corresponding to a Global Minimum slip surface, is to right-click
anywhere on the slip surface, or on the radial lines joining the slip center to the slip surface
endpoints, and select Add Query from the popup menu.
Do this now, for the Bishop analysis Global Minimum.
Note that the colour of the Global Minimum surface has changed to black, indicating that a
query has been added. (Queries are displayed using black. The Global Minimum, before the
query was added, was displayed in green).

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Graph Pore Pressure

After a query has been added, data can be graphed using the Graph Query option.
Select: Query → Graph Query
Since only one Query exists (on the Global Minimum), it is automatically selected, and the
Graph Slice Data dialog will appear.

TIP: if you select Graph Query BEFORE you have added any queries, Slide will automatically
create a Query for the Global Minimum, and display the Graph Slice Data dialog. This saves
the user the step of using the Add Query option.

Let’s graph pore pressure along the slip surface.

Select Pore Pressure from the Primary Data drop-list. Select Create Plot.
You should see the plot shown below.

Pore pressure graphed along slip surface.

This graph shows the pore pressure calculated at the midpoint of the base of each slice, by
interpolation from the water pressure grid values.

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Chart Properties
After a Query graph is created, the Chart Properties options in the sidebar allow you to
customize the graph appearance (Edit Properties button) or change the plot data.

These options are also available through the right-click menu, by right-clicking on a chart
and selecting Chart Properties or Change Plot Data. This is left as an optional exercise.
That concludes this tutorial.

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