Description
FLAC, Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua, is numerical modeling software for advanced geotechnical analysis of soil, rock, groundwater, and ground support in two dimensions. FLAC is used for analysis, testing, and design by geotechnical, civil, and mining engineers. It is designed to accommodate any kind of geotechnical engineering project that requires continuum analysis.
FLAC utilizes an explicit finite difference formulation that can model complex behaviors, such as problems that consist of several stages, large displacements and strains, non-linear material behavior, or unstable systems (even cases of yield/failure over large areas, or total collapse).
Applications
FLAC has been developed primarily for geotechnical engineering applications in the fields of civil, mining, oil and gas, and power generation. FLAC is also a valuable tool used for research in rock- and soil-mechanics, particularly of localization and evolution of shear bands in frictional materials. FLAC has also been used in the manufacturing field where the analysis of highly deformable materials is needed.
The explicit, time-marching solution of the full equations of motion (including inertial terms) permits the analysis of progressive failure and collapse, which are particularly important phenomena for mine design and geotechnical construction.
Options
Options in FLAC are sold separately from the code license, allowing users to extend the program’s capabilities as meets their own analysis needs.
Dynamic Analysis: Can be performed with FLAC using the optional dynamic calculation module. User-specified acceleration, velocity, or stress waves can be input directly to the model either as an exterior boundary condition or an interior excitation to the model.
Creep Analysis: This option can be used to simulate the behavior of materials that exhibit time-dependent material behavior.
Two-phase Flow: The two-phase flow option in FLAC allows numerical modeling of both fluid-flow and fully coupled simulations (with optional capillary pressure) of two immiscible fluids through porous media.
Thermal Analysis: The thermal analysis option in FLAC permits both conduction and advection to be incorporated into models.
