Geotechnical Engineer Requirements

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS
&
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Dr Mazin Alhamrany
CEO/Owner Ur-GeoTech
March 2023
Outline of presentation
❑ Introduction
❑ Geotechnical Engineering
❑ Computers
❑ The Finite Element Method (FEM)
▪ What is FEM
▪ Basic Concept of FEM
▪ Usefulness of FEM
▪ General Comments for applying FEM
❑ Applications of FEM in Geotechnical Engineering

▪ Early Applications of FEM
▪ Recent Developments of FEM
❑ Conclusions
Introduction
❖ The Geotechnical Engineer has been one of the first to recognize the usefulness of the Finite Element
Method.
❖ The past five decades have witnessed a tremendous growth in the applications of finite element
method in geotechnical engineering.
❖ The method is now accepted, employed in practice and considered as one of the main design
requirement when dealing with complex soil-structure interaction problems.
Geotechnical engineers should have “reasonable” knowledge of certain topics in order to ensure
obtaining reliable results. This presentation highlights the most important topics the geotechnical
engineer needs to be familiar with.
Geotechnical Engineering
ISSMGE defines Geotechnical Engineering as “a science that explains the mechanics of soil and rocks
and it’s engineering applications to the developments of humankind”.
It includes, without being limited to, the analysis, design and construction of foundations, slopes, retaining
and underground structures, embankments, roadways, tunnels, levees, wharves, landfills and other
systems that are made of or are supported by soil or rock.
As the societal and economic systems develop and become more complex, the quest for a more
sustainable and resilient built environment is increasingly pertinent. To that end, Geotechnical Engineers,
being able to affect every project from its very early stages, play a critical role.
There are really three branches of geotechnical engineering:
1. Soil Mechanics,
2. Rock Mechanics, and
3. Foundation Engineering,
Geotechnical Engineering
The tasks of a geotechnical engineer comprise, but not limited to:
1. Geotechnical investigation (field and lab tests),

2. Determination of the relevant physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the encountered
soil/rock materials,
3. Design Analysis; The primary considerations for design analysis bearing capacity, settlement, and
ground movement.
4. Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis; dealing with rather complex geotechnical problems.
Computers
The large, high-speed computers have been essential to the phenomenal growth of Numerical
Methods.
1970’s Mainframe Computers 1980’s Personal Computers Current Laptop
The current laptop has the capacity and the speed far beyond that of the 1970’s Mainframes
Computers!
The Finite Element Method (FEM)
Methods of Solution
The Finite Element Method is one of the main
methods currently used for tackling complex
geotechnical problems.
Analytical Numerical Empirical

Closed Based on
Form Experience
Finite Finite Boundary

Difference Element Integral
Method Method Method
What is FEM?
The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical

technique for finding approximate solutions for
partial differential equations (PDE) for which no
exact solution is available. The technique reduces
PDE system to a system of algebraic equations
that can be solved using linear algebraic technique,
which can be programmed.
Basic Concept
Step 1: Discretization
Subdivide a continuum into small components or

pieces called “elements” and the elements are
comprised of nodes, which make a grid called
mesh. In short, a domain of interest is represented
by the assembly of finite elements.
▪ Aspect Ration,
▪ Degree of freedom,
▪ Compatibility,
▪ Primary unknowns: Nodal displacements
▪ Secondary unknowns: stresses and strains
Basic Concept
Types of Elements:
❖ One-Dimensional,
❖ Two-Dimensional, and
❖ Three-Dimensional.
Variation of variable fields along nodal line

Basic Concept
Variation of variable fields along nodal line:
❖ Linear variation,
❖ Quadratic variation, and
❖ Cubic variation.
Basic Concept
Step 2: Selection of approximation function
Identifying the pattern of solution (Linear, quadratic ,cubic, etc.) for the variable field along the nodal lines
of the elements in the form of polynomials.
Step 3: Derivation of element equation

Defining stress-strain relation and formulation of element equation that can be expressed in matrix
notation as: [k]{u}={q}
Step 4: Assembling the element matrix to form global equation

Combine/Assemble the element equations to obtain the stiffness relation for the entire system.
[K]{U}={Q}
Where:
[K]: Global (assemblage) Stiffness matrix,
{U}: Global nodal displacement vector, and
{Q}: Global nodal force vector.
Basic Concept
Step 5: Computation of the assembled equation

Solving of the global matrix equation. Gaussian elimination is perhaps the most common procedure
employed for solution of linear equations generated in numerical techniques.
Usefulness of the FEM
FEM is useful for its ability for tackling problems involving such complexities as:
▪ Non-homogeneous media,
▪ Non-linear material properties and boundary conditions,
▪ In situe stress condition,
▪ Complex loadings,
▪ Spatial and temporal variations in material properties,
▪ Construction sequence, and
▪ Arbitrary geometry, discontinuities and boundary conditions.
Why FEM?
The increase demand on improving infrastructure of modern cities has led to a rise in the number of
challenging projects such as:
▪ New developments adjacent to an existing tunnel, buildings and sensitive structures/utilities in
crowded urban areas, and
▪ Metro tunnels/station underneath an existing Railway station buildings, and
Design analysis of such complex soil-structure interaction problems can ONLY be conducted by
Finite Element Technique. Simply, there is no Closed Form solution for such problems. Therefore,
the use of 3D FE Analysis becomes inevitable.
General comments on applications of FEM
It is essential to have a “reasonable” understanding for the following topics:
▪ Basic concepts of the Finite Element Method.

▪ Fully understanding of Physical Problem.
▪ Geometrical Models; Plane-strain, Plane-stress, Axisymmetric, and 3D Model.
▪ Constitutive models; Linear Elastic, Mohr-Coulomb, HS Model, HS-Small strain Model, etc.
▪ Accuracy & reliability of the input data: The use of sophisticated 3D FE Analysis can NOT be justified
without ensure using reliable input design parameters.
▪ Sanity Check: Finally, prior to commence setting the sophisticated 3D FE Model, it is highly
recommended to conduct a Sanity Check. Despite the complexity of the problem under consideration,
certain simplified assumptions can be adopted in order to obtain a high-level assessment.
Such assessment, which is based on solid theoretical background, experience and engineering
judgement should provide an indication regarding the anticipated results that will be refined/obtained
using the FE Analysis.
Applications of FEM in Geotechnical Engineering
❖ Early Applications
❖ Recent Developments
Early Applications
Limitations during early applications:
▪ Limited number of elements,
▪ simple mesh discretization,
▪ Mohr-Coulomb Soil Model, and
▪ Time consuming.
Early Applications
During the early applications, the users must have full understanding of the basic concepts of the
finite element method.
Early Applications
▪ Results presentation was quite time consuming.
Early Applications
▪ Results presentation was quite time consuming.
Recent Developments
Along with the development of high-speed digital

computers, the application of the finite element
method progressed at a very impressive rate in the
last few decades.
Currently, the applications of FEM for tackling
complex problems in the field of geotechnical
engineering are considered as a common standard
practice.
Recent Developments
▪ Window version,
▪ Graphical features for model display,
▪ Importing CAD, Excel, field data and other
software's data,
▪ Automatic mesh generation,
▪ High-Order Elements; 4th order 15-node
triangular elements,
▪ Advanced Soil/rock Models,
▪ Initial Stress Condition,
▪ Structural Elements are incorporated to
assess stresses for piles, embedded piles,
Retaining walls, Anchors, Struts, Geogrid,
Plates, Beams, Tunnels and other structures,
▪ Interface Elements, and
▪ User-Friendly.
Conclusions
Geotechnical engineer should have “reasonable” understanding of following topics:
1) Soil/Rock mechanics.
2) Basic concepts of the Finite Element Method.
3) Fully understanding of Physical Problem.
4) Full knowledge of the software used for the analysis.
5) Geometrical Models; Plane-strain, Plane-stress, Axisymmetric, and 3D Model.
6) Constitutive models; Linear Elastic, Mohr-Coulomb, HS Model, HS-Small strain Model, etc.
7) Accuracy & reliability of the input data (Geotechnical Design Parameters): The use of sophisticated 3D
FE Analysis can NOT be justified without ensure using reliable input design parameters.
8) Codes and the Standards for the design Analysis.
9) Risk Assessment, Contingency plan and Monitoring system.
10)Finally, prior to commence setting the sophisticated 3D FE Model, it is highly recommended to conduct
a Sanity Check. Despite the complexity of the problem under consideration, certain simplified
assumptions can be adopted in order to obtain a high-level assessment. Such assessment, which is
based on solid theoretical background, experience and engineering judgement should provide an
indication regarding the anticipated results that will be refined/obtained from the complex FE Analysis.
Geotechnical consultancies ought to perceive the great risk behind using “User-Friendly” advanced
software by graduate engineers who have minimum knowledge about the topics mentioned above.
We are here to enhance your technical capability
Dr Mazin Alhamrany
Director – Ur-GeoTech
[email protected]
March 2023

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GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS

❑ Applications of FEM in Geotechnical Engineering

The tasks of a geotechnical engineer comprise, but not limited to:

1. Geotechnical investigation (field and lab tests),

1970’s Mainframe Computers 1980’s Personal Computers Current Laptop

Analytical Numerical Empirical

Finite Finite Boundary

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical

Subdivide a continuum into small components or

Variation of variable fields along nodal line

Variation of variable fields along nodal line:

Step 3: Derivation of element equation

Step 4: Assembling the element matrix to form global equation

Step 5: Computation of the assembled equation

▪ Basic concepts of the Finite Element Method.

Along with the development of high-speed digital

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