2D PlaxFlow is an add-on module to PLAXIS 2D. Groundwater flow is an important issue in many engineering fields such as geotechnical, environmental and hydrological engineering. In order to take groundwater flow into account in geotechnical software applications, advanced models for the simulation of the unsaturated, time-dependent and anisotropic behaviour of soil are required.
Steady state or time dependent groundwater
While the PLAXIS software by default includes options to perform steady state groundwater flow analysis, the PlaxFlow module enables users to perform time dependent groundwater analysis in a user-friendly and efficient manner.
Full coupling or ignore soil deformation entirely
Fully coupled flow-deformation analyses can be performed, allowing simultaneous calculation of changes in pore pressures and deformation which may affect each other. If users are only interested in groundwater flow, the Flow-only mode allows displacements and stresses to be excluded from the calculation.
Predefined properties for unsaturated soil behaviour
PLAXIS offers various predefined properties to define the unsaturated soil behaviour, according to common soil classification system for example Hypres, USDA and Staring. Predefined data sets for the Van Genuchten and Approximate Van Genuchten model are available for all types of soil. For experts on groundwater flow modelling, Van Genuchten model parameters can be entered manually, or user defined relationships between groundwater head, permeability and saturation can be entered.
Time dependent flow boundary conditions
Users can assign time dependent variation or fluxes to water levels, model boundaries, or soil boundaries to simulate various complex hydrological conditions. The input of the time dependant properties is based on harmonic, linear, or table functions. This allows the modelling of seasonal variations of river water level behind embankments and their effect on the overall slope stability. Precipitation, wells and drains can be included in the model, allowing pumping tests or other hydrological applications to be modelled.
