Civil Applications
RTA has expertise in the application of FEA to geotechnical problems and various civil engineering applications. We can provide analysis of surface excavations as well as the ability to model stress and strain around various structures such as the simulation of the bearing capacity of footings in soils or the strain associated with footing stability and settling in layered soils.
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| a) bearing capacity of footings | b) force settlement data for flexible footings |
Slope and Embankment Stability
RTA can provide geotechnical analysis of slope and embankment stability problems, where slope failure can be a function of the soil shear strength or distribution and orientation of rock fractures or joint sets.
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| a) slope stability showing vertical stress | b) vertical stress in jointed rock mass |
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| c) displacement contours of 3D slope failure |
RTA has expertise in fluid flow modelling, both in porous media and around structures such as dams. We can model topographic and deformation driven fluid flow in many different types of porous media. We can also model fluid flow due to thermal gradients and the advective transport of heat.
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| a) Fluid flow pattern around a dam wall |
Geotechnical Mining
Surface Excavation Modelling
RTA has the expertise in modelling many different types of excavations, including fully coupled saturated fluid flow problems. We have the ability to model surface excavations at many scales.
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| a) Pore pressure and steady state flow following excavation |
Underground Excavation Modelling
RTA’s geotechnical staff has the expertise in finite element modelling of underground excavation and mining applications such as block caving and long wall applications. We can quickly adapt models to investigate a wide range of input parameters and rock properties to suit any given problem.
| Underground excavation |
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| a) Shear stress contours |
Tunnel Analysis Modelling
RTA has the geotechnical expertise in finite element modelling of underground tunnel analysis, or in the application of surficial loads to underground structures or pipes.
| Tunnel excavations |
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| a) Minimum principal stress on tunnel walls |