Plaxis 3D Shallow Foundation Course: From Theory To Practice

Shallow Foundation Analysis Using PLAXIS 3D: A Practical Guide

What you'll learn

Design & Analyze Foundations – Model and evaluate square, circular, strip, and combined footings under various loads using PLAXIS 3D for geotechnical analysis.

Calculate Bearing Capacity – Assess ultimate and allowable bearing capacity on sand, clay, layered soil, and rock, considering water table and foundation depth.

Simulate Complex Problems – Analyze underground cavities, trenches, dewatering, and buried structures to understand their effects on foundation performance.

Enhance Modeling Accuracy – Optimize mesh size, use symmetrical quarter models, and compare Mohr-Coulomb vs. Hardening Soil models for better foundation analysi

Requirements

A basic understanding of soil mechanics and foundation engineering is helpful but not mandatory. Access to PLAXIS 3D is recommended for hands-on practice, though theoretical concepts can still be learned without it. Civil or geotechnical engineering students and professionals will benefit most, but motivated beginners can also follow along. A computer with Windows OS capable of running PLAXIS 3D smoothly is ideal for practical modeling and analysis exercises.

Description

By the end of this section, students will be able to:1. Design and analyze shallow foundations using PLAXIS 3D under various loading conditions (vertical, eccentric, inclined, and combined loads).2. Calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of square, circular, strip, and combined footings on different soil types (sand, clay, layered soil, and rock).3. Understand the effect of water table, foundation depth, and soil-structure interaction on foundation performance.4. Optimize mesh size and analysis time using symmetrical quarter models for efficient simulations.5. Simulate the behavior of shallow foundations under elastic, elasto-plastic, drained, and undrained conditions.6. Compare the accuracy of different soil constitutive models (Mohr-Coulomb vs. Hardening Soil) for shallow foundation analysis.7. Model advanced geotechnical problems such as granular trenches, cavities, dewatering, and underground structures.8. Evaluate settlement and factor of safety based on soil properties and loading conditions.9. Gain expertise in modeling real-world geotechnical scenarios, ensuring precise and reliable foundation design.10. Develop a strong foundation in numerical modeling techniques, enhancing decision-making in geotechnical engineering.This section offers a comprehensive understanding of shallow foundation behavior, covering practical applications, numerical simulations, and critical factors. It prepares students to confidently tackle real-world geotechnical challenges by integrating theoretical knowledge with hands-on modeling experience, improving problem-solving skills, and enhancing their ability to analyze complex foundation interactions.

Overview

Section 1: Shallow Foundation Analysis Using PLAXIS 3D: A Practical Guide

Lecture 1 Introduction to Plaxis 3D

Lecture 2 Introduction to Shallow Foundation

Lecture 3 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Square Footing Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 4 Optimizing Mesh Size for Shallow Foundation in Plaxis 3D

Lecture 5 Exploring Shear Failure in Footings Laboratory Experiments vs Plaxis 3D

Lecture 6 Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Full- Scale Square Footing Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 7 Effect of Water Table on Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Foundation

Lecture 8 Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation on Loose Sand Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 9 Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation on Medium Dense Sand Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 10 Estimation Factor of Safety (FS) of Foundation Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 11 Understanding Soil-Structure Interaction & Interface Modeling in Plaxis 3D

Lecture 12 Effect of Foundation Depth (Df) on Ultimate Bearing Capacity Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 13 Optimizing Analysis Time Symmetrical Quarter Model in Plaxis 3D

Lecture 14 Estimation of Allowable Bearing Capacity of Foundation Based on Settlement

Lecture 15 Estimation of Allowable Bearing Capacity of Circular Footing Using Plaxis 3D

Lecture 16 Allowable Bearing Capacity of Circular Footing Using Plaxis 2D Axisymmetric

Lecture 17 Simulation of Circular Footing Using Volume Element Modeling with PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 18 Modeling a Square Footing with Column Neck Using Volume Elements in PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 19 Modelling Combined Footing by Plate Element Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 20 Modelling Combined Footing by Volume Element Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 21 Simulation of Isolated footing under eccentric Load Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 22 Simulation of Isolated footing under Vertical Load and moment Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 23 Simulation of Isolated footing under Inclined Load Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 24 Simulation of Isolated Footing Under Combined Loadings Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 25 Numerical Simulation of Dewatering with Excavation Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 26 Elasto Plastic Analysis of Drained Footing Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 27 Elasto Plastic Analysis of Undrained Footing Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 28 Foundation Analysis using different Soil constitutive models MH vs. HS

Lecture 29 Precision in Soil Analysis Comparing Mohr-Coulomb and Hardening Soil Models

Lecture 30 Simulation of Strip Footing Under Vertical Load Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 31 Simulation and Modelling of Sloped Footing Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 32 Bearing Capacity of Foundation on Two Layered Soil Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 33 Bearing Capacity of layered Soil Strong Soil underlain by Weak Soil In PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 34 Bearing Capacity of layered Soil Weak Soil underlain by Strong Soil In PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 35 Continuous Foundation on Weak Clay with a granular trench Using PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 36 Bearing Capacity of Footing on Rock Using Hoek-Brown Constitutive model

Lecture 37 Investigating the Effect of Cavity on bearing capacity of Footing In PLAXIS 3D

Lecture 38 Impact of Underground Concrete Pipe on Footing Behavior Using PLAXIS 3D

This course is ideal for geotechnical and civil engineers looking to enhance their foundation design skills using PLAXIS 3D, as well as engineering students and researchers interested in applying numerical modeling techniques for shallow foundation analysis. It is also valuable for construction and infrastructure professionals involved in foundation projects who want to understand soil-structure interaction. Additionally, beginners in PLAXIS 3D will benefit from step-by-step guidance to learn foundation analysis from scratch.