Combine Analyses and Geometries in a Single, Integrated Project
The integrated GeoStudio software suite
allows you to combine multiple analyses using different products into a single
modeling project. You can then use the results from one analysis as the
starting conditions for another one. New analyses can be easily created by
cloning an existing analysis and adjusting its properties. When you are ready
to analyze the model, GeoStudio solves the analyses in the appropriate order,
taking advantage of parallel processing.
This unique and powerful feature greatly
expands the types of problems you can analyze. Use this approach to model
construction sequences, establish initial conditions, perform sensitivity
analyses, model complex time sequences, or simply decompose a complex problem
into a number of smaller, more manageable analyses.
Included with the purchase of any GeoStudio single product or bundle is a free GeoStudio Basic license. Analyses created with a Geostudio Basic license can be included in the same file as the full-featured GeoStudio analysis, further unlocking the power of integration.
Multi-view Modeling Environment
Docking windows in GeoStudio allow you to
view information in multiple views so you can quickly access the data you need.
You can customize the display of docking windows to suit your particular needs.
A status bar provides both view information and quick access to commands such
as zooming, and a progress bar during lengthy operations such as solving.
Docking windows include an Analysis Explorer, Solve Manager, Result Times, Slip Surfaces, and Sensitivity Runs. The
Analysis Explorer displays a tree view of the analyses in the project, allowing
you to quickly change the analysis you are viewing. The Solve Manager allows
you to solve one or more analyses and watch their progress even while continuing
to work on another analysis. The Result Times window displays a list of time
steps that have computed results. When you select a time step, all currently
displayed views and dialog boxes show the results computed for the selected
time.
The Slip Surfaces window displays a list of
SLOPE/W computed trial slip surfaces. When you select a slip surface, the
Results view will show the complete slip surface results. If detailed results
are unavailable, GeoStudio will compute them on-demand, allowing you to view detailed
forces or graphs on any particular slip surface without having to designate it
as a "critical" slip surface.
The Sensitivity Runs window displays a list
of runs performed for a sensitivity analysis. Each sensitivity run is now a
complete slope stability analysis, allowing you to view all computed slip
surface results for each individual run.
Define Geometry using Drawing Tools or by Importing CAD
files
Defining the geometry of the physical
system is usually the first step in a numerical analysis. GeoStudio provides all the tools
necessary to define the model domain including coordinate import, copy-paste
geometric items, length and angle feedback, region merge, region split, and
direct keyboard entry of coordinates, lengths, and angles. Otho-snapping to horizontal and vertical directions can be used to facilitate geometry definition.
GeoStudio's 3D geometry creation tool, BUILD3D, offers a comprehensive set of drawing tools including sketch, plane, extrude, and sweep. In addition, BUILD3D has powerful Boolean operations, which provide explicit cutting, merge, and imprint functionality to define how 3D geometry items intersect one another.
AutoCAD DWG or DXF files can be imported directly
into GeoStudio for the definition of domain geometry. Importing capabilities are also available for creating the model domain in BUILD3D. Finally, image files can be imported, scaled, and the
region geometry drawn directly over top.
Multiple Geometries Support
GeoStudio supports multiple geometries within a single file, including 1D, 2D, and 3D geometries. The geometry for separate analyses branches can be modified to account for changes in geometry without the need to create multiple files. This allows the materials and boundary conditions used in each analysis branch to be shared across the file, so that modifications to material or boundary condition property will only need to be changed once for all geometries within the same GeoStudio file.
Apply Materials to the Domain for each Analysis
Once the domain regions are defined, you
can apply material properties to each of the regions individually or as a
group. Applying materials to individual regions allows you to model different
materials in different analyses. You can also remove portions of the domain in
different analysis by not applying materials to these regions; this allows each
analysis to consider new regions added to the domain in stages.
Material properties can also be applied
globally to all analyses in the project or to individual analyses. Applying
materials across all analyses makes it easy to change your material definition
when you are using many analyses in a single project.
Define Soil and Rock Material Models using Flexible, Generalized Functions
GeoStudio makes broad use of generalized
functions for material property and boundary condition definition. Enter
parameters for pre-defined functions, or create your own functions using your
own data. You can even write your own Add-In functions or constitutive
models to compute material property values while the analysis is being solved,
allowing you to extend GeoStudio in nearly infinite ways.
Automated Finite Element Meshing of the Geometry
When materials are applied to the domain
regions in a 1D or 2D finite element analysis, a default finite element mesh is
automatically generated. While in
many cases the default mesh is adequate, you can adjust the mesh either
globally or by applying constraints to specific locations. This allows you to
keep a coarse mesh in most regions while applying a fine mesh within particular
portions of the domain that may have highly nonlinear properties or boundary
conditions. As you adjust the local constraints, GeoStudio re-generates the
mesh over the entire domain, while still preserving your existing model
definition.
Generating a clean 3D finite element mesh requires only a single click of the mouse, removing the need to spend hours on manual mesh adjustments. Similar to 1D and 2D analyses, mesh constraints may also be applied to 3D geometry items.
Use the Keyboard to Enter Coordinates While Drawing Objects
Coordinates can be entered using your
keyboard while any drawing command is active. This keyboard input option allows
you to enter Point coordinates using the x-y coordinates, length and angle
input, offset lengths in the x-y directions, or simply the Point numbers. A
tooltip displays this information while drawing points using drawing commands
such as Draw Regions. Undo and Redo is supported while using the drawing
commands.
Integrate your own Code using GeoStudio Add-Ins
You can write supplemental programs called
Add-Ins that will be called by the GeoStudio Solver when it solves your
analyses. A Function Add-In takes the place of a function defined in GeoStudio,
and offers the flexibility of computing function results that vary dynamically
based on the current mesh state.
GeoStudio provides an Add-In API
(“application programming interface”) that your Add-In can use to query
parameter values while GeoStudio is solving the analysis. You can use these
values to return the required function parameter value. You can also use the
Add-In API to write out your own custom parameters for later viewing using the
regular GeoStudio result visualization features.
Each Add-In function is an object that
GeoStudio associates with either a node or gauss point, depending on the kind
of function that references the Add-In. Boundary condition functions are
assigned at nodes, and Material property functions at gauss points. There are
many instances of the function object created when the solver runs, one for each
node or gauss point where the function is used.
In SLOPE/W, an Add-In can be written to access
data that exists at the base of a slice where that slice contacts the failure
plane (or slip circle).
GeoStudio Add-Ins are based on Microsoft .NET,
allowing you to write your Add-In using languages such as C#, F#, or VB.NET.
Efficient, Parallel Solving of the Project Analyses
GeoStudio runs each analysis solver in
parallel, allowing multiple analyses to be solved efficiently on computers with
modern, multi-core processors. When analysing a single problem, the appropriate
GeoStudio solver will still perform much of the computations in parallel.
Interpret Results with Powerful Graphing, Visualization, and Data Management
Interpretation is one of the most difficult
aspects of numerical modelling. GeoStudio provides powerful tools for visualizing and interpreting the
results:
- Graphing tools let you plot almost any computed parameter
- Contour plots display computed parameters that vary spatially over the domain
- Isolines or isosurfaces display a single parameter value as a line or surface in the domain
- Isolines computed at different times can be shown simultaneously on the domain
- Computed results over time can be plotted or animated in a movie
- Data can be interactively queried at any location
- Data can be exported and taken directly into a spreadsheet for further analysis
- Each GeoStudio product provides additional ways of interpreting the analysis results
Display Material and Boundary Condition Tables, Contour, and Color Maps
Display a material and/or boundary condition table on the drawing. Customize the parameters to display in each table. Legends can also be displayed for contour plots and
other visualization tools like factor of safety color maps in SLOPE/W.
Add Notes, Labels, Pictures, and Dimensions on the Drawing
Additional notes can be added as text to
the drawing. Add any text you like, or use “dynamic” text that is connected to
your model data. This allows you to place labels on the drawing that
automatically update as the model changes.
Add pictures to your drawing such as a
drawing created in AutoCAD, a corporate logo, or a photo of the site.
Dimension your drawing using aligned, linear, and angular dimension tools. The dimensions can lock to geometric objects, such as points or lines, and automatically resize if changes are made to the domain.
Create a Printing Template in Page Layout Mode
The Page Layout mode allows for improved presentation of models and results. After setting up an analysis, you can switch to Page Layout to specify the printing properties, including page size and orientation, and drawing scale. This configuration can be saved as a template or an existing Page Layout configuration can be imported into the current file for consistent presentation of model results in multiple project files.
Automate GeoStudio with the GeoCmd Command Line Interface
GeoCmd is a command-line utility that makes
it more convenient to work with large numbers of data files. You can automate
GeoStudio to solve, upgrade, or generate reports for many project files
sequentially.
Upgrade Files from Older GeoStudio Versions and Save to Older Formats
GeoStudio can read in files created by any
earlier version of GeoStudio. GeoStudio can also save your current project file
as an older version, allowing you to continue working with other members of
your team who are not using the latest GeoStudio version.
Multi-language GeoStudio Versions
The GeoStudio user interface can be shown
in multiple languages besides English, including Chinese, French, Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish.
When installing GeoStudio, you can select your preferred language or change it
later.
GeoStudio Licensing and Delivery
GeoStudio is delivered completely in
digital form, without any physical packaging. This eliminates your shipping
costs, speeds up and simplifies the purchasing process, and is more
eco-friendly! All GeoStudio resources, including engineering books, are
digitized and available online.
Stand-alone licenses do not require a
hardware dongle attached to your computer, although one can be used if
preferred. Instead, you can simply activate your computer to use your GeoStudio
license. To use your GeoStudio license on a different computer, you can
transfer your activation to that computer.
Instead of activating GeoStudio on each
computer, you can purchase a Network license, allowing access from anywhere on
your network. Network licenses are controlled using a license server with a
web-based monitoring interface. Network licenses can be "re-hosted"
onto new server hardware using an included activation utility.
Licenses are renewed annually, and can be
automatically downloaded and installed when running GeoStudio.
Maintenance for GeoStudio can be purchased annually to ensure access
to the latest GeoStudio versions. Maintenance also provides you with access to
basic engineering support as you create your models, as well as full licensing
and installation support.