SIGMA/W is a finite element CAD software product that can be used to perform stress and deformation analyses of earth structures. Its comprehensive formulation makes it possible to analyze both simple and highly complex problems. SIGMA/W can perform a simple linear elastic deformation analysis or a highly sophisticated, nonlinear elastic-plastic effective stress analysis.

The many constitutive soil models allow you to represent a wide range of soils or structural materials. In addition, SIGMA/W can model the pore-water pressure generation and dissipation in a soil structure in response to external loads.

These features enable SIGMA/W to analyze almost any stress or deformation problem you will encounter in geotechnical, civil, and mining engineering projects.

Easy to Use

Defining a Stress-Deformation Model

Beginning an analysis is as simple as defining the geometry by drawing regions and lines that identify soil layers, or by importing a DXF™ file. Then graphically apply boundary conditions and specify material properties, structural elements, trusses, and fill or excavation layers.

Viewing the Analysis Results

Once you have solved your analysis, SIGMA/W offers many tools for viewing results. View a deformed mesh or displacement vectors at any magnification. Generate contours or x-y plots of more than 30 computed parameters, including deformation, total and effective stress, strain and pore-water pressure. Display shaded yield zones. View the stress state at any node or element Gauss point as a Mohr Circle with the associated space-force diagrams. Plot shear or moment distribution along structural elements. Then prepare the results for your report by adding labels, axes, and pictures, or export the results into other applications such as Microsoft® Excel® for further analysis.

Typical Applications

SIGMA/W can model almost any stress or deformation problem, including:

• Settlement of footings, fluid-filled tanks, or earth structures
• Deformation within or underneath an embankment or earth dam
• Closure around a tunnel
• Lateral movement of braced or anchored excavations and surface settlement around the excavation
• Floor rebound of open-pit, sloping excavations
• Volume changes (uncoupled consolidation or heave) resulting from pore-water pressure changes
• Staged fill placement, earth removal
• Soil-structure interaction, including free un-bonded anchors, cross excavation struts, and trusses
• Fully-coupled consolidation analysis
• Simulation of tailings deposition
• Permanent deformations resulting from strength loss
• Strength reduction stability
• plus many more!

* Microsoft, Windows and Excel are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. DXF is a trademark or registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.