English Español
InSite Demo Download
FLAC3D (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3-D) is an advanced three dimensional continuum modeling tool for Geotechnical Analysis of Rock, Soil, and Structural Support.
FLAC3D Version 4.0 is faster and has a new user-interface. The underlying calculation engine remains robust and reliable, but the user-experience is completely altered and enhanced. Many commands, some calculations, and all graphics are faster in FLAC3D: calculations are up to 2x faster for mechanical calculations on a mixed discrete grid using a quad-core i7 and up to 3x faster using Nodal Mixed Discretization. Commands are more than 10x faster. It is now possible to manage projects easily thanks to Project files and the Project window. The new data file editor features a syntax highlight tool that will indicate problematic lines in the current data file. Fish library has been improved: local variables and command-line debugging are now available.
Thanks to its numerous functionalities, FLAC3D can be applied to:
Tunnel intersection model built using Kubrix (one side of the cutting plane model seen in transparent mode).
FLAC3D provides built-in primitive shapes allowing the creation of many mesh topologies.
KUBRIX, a new FLAC3D option, is a software product used in Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and capable of automatically generating all-hexahedral, all-tetrahedral and octree meshes for Itasca's FLAC3D software product. KUBRIX handles non-manifold and multi-material geometries and works with most CAE software packages. KUBRIX is used by design engineers and researchers in the mining, civil engineering, petroleum, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, biomedical, and electronics industries.
In addition to the 32-bit version, a 64-bit version is still available (at no additional cost). FLAC3D 32-bit is capable of creating models up to 2 GB in size whereas FLAC3D 64-bit allows a virtually unlimited model size (17 billion GB of addressable memory).
Mechanical calculations of the main grid are multithreaded and take advantage of multiple processors (e.g., a multi-core processor). The mechanical calculations are automatically multithreaded when running FLAC3D 3.1 (or higher) on a multiprocessor computer.
A Nodal Mixed Discretization (NMD) technique for use with linear tetrahedra has been implemented since FLAC3D 3.1. NMD overcomes the over-stiff behavior observed by these zones during plastic flow, due to the volumetric constraint introduced by plasticity. In this technique, the zone's volumetric behavior is averaged over the zones sharing its gridpoints. The effect of applying the NMD scheme is to increase the number of degrees of freedom per zone; thus accommodating the additional constraint imposed on each zone by, for example, the classical incompressibility condition for frictionless material.
Many Constitutive models are available in FLAC3D. User can also develop one's own constitutive models in C++ (available as an option). They may be used in most of the Itasca codes. The user can also access constitutive models developed by other FLAC3D users; they are available on our web site http://www.itasca-udm.com
Interfaces are used to represent a plane on which sliding or separation may occur (e.g. bedding plane in a geological medium, interface between foundation and soil/rock...).
Structural elements (liners, piles, cables, beams, shells, geogrids and rockbolts) interact with the surrounding rock or soil.
The FLAC3D user interface is completely overhauled in version 4.0. In summary, the interface achieves the following major objectives: all plotting uses accelerated 3D graphics, which dramatically increases rendering speed to the screen; all plotting control is available interactively, with all tools - both specification tools and manipulation tools - suitably near-at-hand to the user; a built-in editor provides native data file editing, and data files open in FLAC3D may be run directly; project management is now feasible with the implementation of the project file and the use of the project pane (see "Project Management"); program configuration and project settings are easily accessible and specified in a single location. Along with accelerated 3D graphics, FLAC3D provides a number of new plotting items and options when displaying model results such as iso-surfaces, stereonets. As a result, the already robust model visualization capabilities are dramatically extended by including transparency and shading, for example.
New Graphical Interface (GUI)
Certain gridpoints and zone variables can be initialised or fixed: stress state, pore pressures, saturation, velocity, temperature, mechanical pressure.
All Itasca codes possess the built-in programming language FISH that allows users to customise their analyses to suit their needs. Loading patterns, servo-control of test conditions and grid generation sequences may be defined using FISH.
More detailed information about the FLAC3D code can be found on the main Itasca website.
Itasca Consultants, specialised in numerical modeling, offers a new vision of numerical solutions thanks to its know-how and its software solutions. At the crossroads of consulting and Research & Development, Itasca Consultants provides computer modelling solutions for both the public sector and consulting firms.
Installation and general code operations are provided for free by phone, fax or email. Web site support (www.itascacg.com) includes free code updates and a « Frequently Asked Questions » (FAQ) page.
Training courses, general or tailored to users' needs, are regularly organised by Itasca. Do not hesitate to contact us.
As provider of consulting services, Itasca provides tailored help to solve technical problems and write specific procedures.
