PLAXIS

CONNECT Edition V21.01

PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]

Last Updated: March 18, 2021
 Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
1
This example concerns the stability of a reservoir dam under conditions of drawdown. Fast reduction of the
reservoir level may lead to instability of the dam due to high pore water pressures that remain inside the dam.
The dam consists of a clay core with a well graded fill at both sides. The subsoil consists of overconsolidated silty
sand.
Objectives
• Performing fully coupled flow deformation analysis
• Defining time-dependent hydraulic conditions
• Using unsaturated flow parameters
Geometry
The dam to be considered is 30 m high. The top width and the base width of the dam are 5 m and 172.5 m
respectively. The geometry of the dam is depicted below. The normal water level behind the dam is 25 m high. A
situation is considered where the water level drops 20 m. The normal phreatic level at the right hand side of the
dam is 10 m below ground surface.
50 m 77.5 m 5m 90 m 37.5 m

25 m
Core
30 m
y
Fill Fill
5m
x

Subsoil 30 m

120 m 20 m 120 m

Figure 1: Geometry of the project

Create a new project

Assuming the dam is located in a wide valley, a representative length of 50 m is considered in the model in order
to decrease the model size.
To create the geometry model, follow these steps:

1. Start the Input program and select Start a new project from the Quick select dialog box.
2. In the Project properties window, enter an appropriate title.

PLAXIS 2 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define the soil stratigraphy

3. Keep the default units and set the model dimensions to:
a. xmin = -130.0 m, xmax = 130.0 m
b. ymin = 0 m and ymax = 50.0 m

Figure 2: The geometry of the model

Define the soil stratigraphy

In order to define the underlying foundation soil, a borehole needs to be added and material properties must be
assigned. A layer of 30 m overconsolidated silty sand is considered as sub-soil in the model.

1.
Create a borehole at (0.0 0.0).
The Modify soil layers window pops up.
2. Add a soil layer extending from ground surface (z = 0) to a depth of 30 m (z= -30).
3. Set the Head in the borehole to -10 m. A horizontal water level will be automatically generated. This water
level in combination with surface groundwater flow boundary conditions will be used in the Fully coupled
flow deformation analyses.

Create and assign material data sets

Three material data sets need to be created for the soil layers.
The layers have the following properties:

Table 1: Material properties of the dam and subsoil

Parameter Name Core Fill Subsoil Unit

General

Mohr- Mohr- Mohr-

Material model Model -
Coulomb Coulomb Coulomb

Draining type Type Undrained (B) Drained Drained -

Soil unit weight above phreatic

γunsat 16.0 16.0 17.0 kN/m3
level

PLAXIS 3 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define the dam

Parameter Name Core Fill Subsoil Unit

Soil unit weight below phreatic

γsat 18.0 20.0 21.0 kN/m3
level

Parameters

Young's modulus E' 1.5·103 2.0·104 5.0·104 kN/m2

Poisson's ratio νur' 0.35 0.33 0.3 -

Cohesion cref' - 5.0 1.0 kN/m2

Undrained shear strength su,ref 5.0 - - kN/m2

Friction angle φ' - 31 35.0 °

Dilatancy angle ψ - 1.0 5.0 °

Young's modulus inc. Einc' 300 - - kN/m2/m

Reference level zref 30 - - m

Undrained shear strength inc. su,inc 3.0 - - kN/m2

Groundwater

Flow data set Model Hypres Hypres Hypres -

Model - Van Genuchten Van Genuchten Van Genuchten -

Soil - Subsoil Subsoil Subsoil -

Soil coarseness - Very fine Coarse Coarse -

Permeability in horizontal direction kx 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day

Permeability in horizontal direction ky 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day

Permeability in vertical direction kz 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day

To create the material sets, follow these steps:

1.
Open the Material sets window.
2. Create data sets under Soil and interfaces set type according to the information given in Table 17 (on page
3). Note that the Interfaces and Initial tabsheets are not relevant (no interfaces or K0 procedure used).
3. Assign the Subsoil material dataset to the soil layer in the borehole.

Define the dam

PLAXIS 4 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Generate the mesh

The dam will be defined in the Structures mode.

The surface groundwater boundary conditions are defined in the table below:

Table 2: Surface groundwater flow boundary conditions

Surface Points

1 (-130 0 0), (-80 0 0), (-80 50 0), (-130 50 0)

2 (-80 0 0), (-2.5 0 30), (-2.5 50 30), (-80 50 0)

3 (-130 0 0), (-130 0 -30), (-130 50 -30), (-130 50 0)

1.
Define a surface by specifying points located at (-80 0 0), (92.5 0 0), (2.5 0 30) and (-2.5 0 30).
2.
Define a surface by specifying points located at (-10 0 0), (10 0 0), (2.5 0 30) and (-2.5 0 30).
3. Multi-select the created surfaces and right-click on the drawing area. Select the Intersect and recluster
menu item.
4. Multi-select the surfaces and extrude along (0 50.0 0) The volumes representing the dam are generated.
5. Delete the surfaces used to create the soil volumes.
6. Assign the corresponding material data sets to the soil volumes.
7.
Time dependent conditions can be assigned to surface groundwater flow boundary conditions. Define
surface groundwater flow boundary conditions (under the Create hydraulic conditions tool) according to
the information in Table 18 (on page 5).

Generate the mesh

For the generation of the mesh it is advisable to set the Element distribution parameter to Fine.
To modify the global coarseness:

1.
Click the Generate mesh button in the side toolbar. The Mesh options window is displayed.
2. Select the Fine option form the Element distribution drop-down:

PLAXIS 5 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

Figure 3: Modification of the Global coarseness

3. Click OK to close the Mesh options window and to generate the mesh.
4.
Click the View mesh button in the side toolbar to preview the mesh. The resulting mesh is displayed:

Figure 4: The generated mesh

Define and perform the calculation

In the calculation process the initial state (high reservoir), the rapid drawdown case, the slow drawdown case
and finally the low water level case will be considered. A safety analysis will be performed for each of the cases.

Table 3: Water levels

Level Points

High reservoir (-130 0 25), (-10 0 25), (93 0 -10), (130 0 -10), (130
50 -10), (93 50 -10), (-10 50 25), (-130 50 25)

PLAXIS 6 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

Level Points

Low reservoir (-130 0 5), (-10 0 5), (93 0 -10), (130 0 -10), (130 50
-10), (93 50 -10), (-10 50 5), (-130 50 5)

1. Proceed to the Flow conditions mode.

2.
Create water levels corresponding to the full reservoir and the low water level cases according to the
information given in Table 19 (on page 6).
3. In the Attributes library of the Model explorer rename the created user water levels as High_Reservoir
and Low_Reservoir.

Note:
No modifications, such as Time dependency is possible for Borehole water levels and non-horizontal User
water levels.

Initial phase: High reservoir

1. Proceed to the Staged construction mode.

2. Double-click the initial phase in the Phases explorer.
3. In the General subtree of the Phases window rename the phase as High reservoir.
4.
Select the Gravity loading option as Calculation type.
Note that Staged construction is the only option available for Loading type.
5.
Select the Steady state groundwater flow option as pore pressure calculation type.
6. Note that the options Ignore undr. behaviour (A,B) and Ignore suction are by default selected in the
Deformation control parameters subtree. The default values will be used for the parameters in the
Numerical control parameters and Flow control parameters subtrees.
7. Click OK to close the Phases window.
8. In the Staged construction mode activate the soil clusters representing the embankment.
9. In the Model explorer expand the Model conditions subtree.
10. In the GroundwaterFlow subtree set BoundaryYMin, BoundaryYMax and BoundaryZMin to Closed. The
remaining boundaries should be Open.

PLAXIS 7 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

Figure 5: Boundary conditions for groundwater flow

11. In the Water subtree select the high reservoir water level (High_Reservoir) as GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 1: Rapid drawdown

In the rapid drawdown phase the water level in the reservoir will be lowered from z = 25 m to z = 5 m in a
period of 5 days. To define the function describing the fluctuation of the water level:

1. Add a new calculation phase.

2. In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase.
The Phases window is displayed.
3. In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (e.g. Rapid drawdown).
4.
Set the Calculation type to Fully coupled flow-deformation.
5. Set the Time interval to 5 days.
6. The Reset displacements to zero option is automatically selected in the Deformation control parameters
subtree.
7. Click OK to close the Phases window.
8. Expand the Attributes library in the Model explorer.
9. Right-click on Flow functions and select the Edit option in the appearing menu.
The Flow functions window is displayed.

PLAXIS 8 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

10.
In the Head functions tabsheet add a new function by clicking the corresponding button. The new
function is highlighted in the list and options to define the function are displayed.
a. Specify a proper name to the function for the rapid drawdown (e.g. Rapid).
b. Select the Linear option from the Signal drop-down menu.
c. Assign a value of -20 m to Δ Head, representing the amount of the head decrease.
d. Specify a time interval of 5 days. A graph is displayed showing the defined function

Figure 6: The flow function for the rapid drawdown case

e. Click OK to close the Flow functions window.
11. Activate all the surface groundwater flow boundary conditions.
12. Multi-select the surface groundwater flow BCs in the drawing area.
13. In the Selection explorer select the Head option as behaviour. The distribution of the head is Uniform.
Assign a value of 25 m to href.
14. Set the time dependency to Time dependent and select the Rapid option as Head function.
Information related to the head function is displayed in the Object explorers as well.
15. In the Water subtree in the Model explorer select the BoreholeWaterLevel_1 option as GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 2: Slow drawdown

In the slow drawdown phase the water level in the reservoir will be lowered from z = 25 m to z = 5 m in a period
of 50 days. To define the function describing the fluctuation of the water level:

1. Select the initial phase (High reservoir) in the Phases explorer.

2. Add a new calculation phase.
3. In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase. The Phases window is displayed.

PLAXIS 9 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

4. In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (e.g. Slow drawdown).
5.
Set the Calculation type to Fully coupled flow-deformation.
6. Set the Time interval option to 50 days.
7. The Reset displacements to zero option is automatically selected in the Deformation control parameters
subtree.
8. Click OK to close the Phases window.
9. Create a new flow function following the steps previously described.
a. Specify a proper name to the function for the slow drawdown (e.g. Slow).
b. Select the Linear option from the Signal drop-down menu.
c. Assign a value of -20 m to Δ Head, representing the amount of the head decrease.
d. Specify a time interval of 50 days.

Figure 7: The flow function for the slow drawdown case

10. Activate all the surface groundwater flow boundary conditions and multi-select them in the drawing area.
11. In the Selection explorer select the Head option as behaviour. The distribution of the head is Uniform.
Assign a value of 25 m to href.
12. Set the time dependency to Time dependent and select the Slow option as Head function.
13. In the Water subtree in the Model explorer select the BoreholeWaterLevel_1 option as
GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 3: Low level

This phase considers the steady-state situation of a low reservoir level.

PLAXIS 10 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Define and perform the calculation

1. Select the initial phase (High reservoir) in the Phases explorer.

2. Add a new calculation phase.
3. In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase.
The Phases window is displayed.
4. In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (ex: Low level).
5.
The default calculation type (Plastic) is valid for this phase.
6.
The default Pore pressure calculation type (Steady state groundwater flow) is valid for this phase.
7. In the Deformation control subtree, select Ignore und. behaviour (A,B) and make sure that the Reset
displacements to zero is selected as well.
8. Click OK to close the Phases window.
9. The surface groundwater flow BCs should be deactivated in the Model explorer.
10. In the Water subtree select the low reservoir water level (Low_Reservoir) as GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 4 to 7

In Phases 4 to 7, stability calculations are defined for the previous phases respectively.

1. Select Phase_1 in the Phases explorer.

2. Add a new calculation phase and proceed to the Phases window.
3. In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (ex: Rapid drawdown - Safety).
4. Set Calculation type to Safety. The Incremental multipliers option is valid as Loading type.
5. Select the Reset displacements to zero option in the Deformation control subtree.
6. In the Numerical control parameters subtree set the Max steps parameter to 50 for Phase 4.
7. Follow the same procedure for Phases 5 to 7.

Figure 8: The final view of the Phases explorer

Execute the calculation

1. In the Staged construction mode select a node at the crest (-2.5 25.0 30.0).
2. Start the calculation process. Ignore the calculation warnings.

PLAXIS 11 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Results

3.
Save the project when the calculation has finished.

Results
1.
After the calculation is finished click the View the calculation results button.
The Output window now shows the deformed mesh for the selected phase.
2. Select the menu item Stresses > Pore pressures > Pwater .
3.
Define a vertical cross section passing through (-130 15) and (130 15)

Note:
•
Note that by default the legend is locked in cross section plots, meaning that the same layer distribution
will be used if the cross section is relocated in the model or if the results are displayed for other phases.
• The legend can be unlocked by clicking on the Lock icon under the legend. A 'free' legend is indicated by
the Open lock icon.

The results of the four groundwater flow calculations in terms of pore pressure distribution are shown in the
series of figures below. Four different situations were considered:
• The situation with a high (standard) reservoir level
• The situation after rapid drawdown of the reservoir level
• he situation after slow drawdown of the reservoir level
• The situation with a low reservoir level

Figure 9: Pore water pressure distribution for high reservoir level (Initial phase)

PLAXIS 12 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Results

Figure 10: Pore water pressure distribution after rapid drawdown (Phase_1)

Figure 11: Pore water pressure distribution after slower drawdown (Phase_2)

PLAXIS 13 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Results

Figure 12: Pore water pressure distribution for low reservoir level (Phase_3)

When the change of pore pressure is taken into account in a deformation analysis, some additional deformation
of the dam will occur. These deformations and the effective stress distribution can be viewed on the basis of the
results of phases 1 to 4.
For the phases 1 and 2 change the legend settings to Manual and set the values as follows:
• Minimum value: -480
• Maximum value: 200
• Number of intervals: 18
In this tutorial attention is focused on the variation of the safety factor of the dam for the different situations.
Therefore, the development of ΣMsf is plotted for the phases 4 to 7 as a function of the displacement of the dam
crest point:

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Rapid drawdown analysis [ULT]
Results

Figure 13: Safety factors for different situations

Rapid drawdown of a reservoir level can reduce the stability of a dam significantly. Fully coupled flow-
deformation and stability analysis can be performed with PLAXIS 3D to effectively analyse such situations.

PLAXIS 15 PLAXIS 3D - Tutorial Manual - Rapid drawdown

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