Slope Stability and Soil Nailing

Soil nail design requires carefull consideration of many parameters. Constructing a soil nailed wall involves reinforcing the soil as work progresses in the excavated area by the introduction of passive bars, which essentially work in tension. These are usually parallel to one another and slightly inclined downward. These bars can also work partially in bending and by shear. The skin friction between the soil and the nails puts the latter in tension, and transfers acting soil forces deeper within the soil mass.

Using this method, and working from the top downward, a mass of reinforced soil is gradually built up. In order to keep the soil from caving in between the bars, some sort of facing needs to be installed. This facing is generally constructed with some shotcrete reinforced by a welded wire mesh. This facing can be vertical, battered to a wide variety of angles, or made up of a series of benches. The passive bars are often referred as “nails” and the soil reinforcing technique is known as “soil nailing”.

Once constructed, a soil nailed wall shows a certain similarity with a Reinforced Earth wall. However, the fact  that a soil nailed wall is been built downward with the soil being reinforced in situ, while a Reinforced Earth wall is constructed by building an embankment that is then strengthened as the work progresses, constitutes an essential difference between the two.

DeepEX can also design soil nail walls as it incorporates the recommendations by the French Clouterre, AASHTO LRFD, and Eurocode.

The slope stability and soil nailing module is included in the standard DeepEX version, DeepEX Ultimate.

Main Features

Cost Estimation

With the cost estimation module activated, DeepEX can perform preliminaly full cost estimation for the deep excavation project. User can define local parameters (location, currency, basic cost options for several parameters) and the software can calculate all costs (labor and materials). The results are presented in tables.

3D Frame Analysis

The frame module enables you to design excavations supported by walers, struts and tiebacks. The 3D definitions consist of an external project perimeter and an excavation perimeter. A wall perimeter is typically assigned to the excavation perimeter, with the possibility of assigning a different wall section (relating to a design section) on each wall segment (between nodes). Walers are attached to wall segments, and different loads along the waler from different design sections can be defined. Once the walers are in place, struts can be drawn between walers and the excavation shoring can be analyzed. Based on your analysis results, DeepEX will pick up the load from each design section and figure out reactions and stress checks on walers and struts.

The frame module works better for box shaped excavations, additional modelling maybe required for re-entrant corners or special conditions. Some simplifying assumptions are made regarding how axial loads are distributed.

Main Features

Gravity Walls

DeepEX offers the possibility to use a gravity retaining wall. User has the flexibility to create basic types of retaining walls such as full gravity or with stem. DeepEX calculates the sliding and overturning safety factors of the diaphragm wall. Flexural, reinforcement can be included where ever desired. A gravity wall can also be used as a pier or an abutment wall with piles.

Main Features

• Choose from a list of 13 commonly used gravity wall shapes
• Customize the wall section dimentions through a user friendly dialog
• Option to add a gravity wall key
• Interaction with front walls
• Flexural reinforcement can be included 

Export Drawings to DXF

The Export drawings to DXF module enables you to export all 2D sections to DXF, saving you a respected amount of time and effort. DeepEX exports all design sections, wall sections and top site view to DXF. All DXF files can be later accessed and modified using any CAD software. Sketches with result diagrams for each construction stage can also be exported to DXF using DeepEX. User can easily manage the export font size through a robust dialog.

Building Damage Assessment

DeepEX is the only software that can easily assess the damage potential of ajdacent buildings next to an excavation. DeepEX uses thorough methods to estimate potential crack widths and building settlement in three dimensions. The program then accesses for critial building elemens the damage potential as negligible, slight, moderate, severe, or very severe.

HoloDeepEX - Deep Excavations in 3D, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality

HoloDeepEX is a revolution in civil engineering. It is the first full design-visualization program to allow us to immerse in deep excavations. Models are first prepared in DeepEX and then exported in HoloDeepEX. We can use our voice to control the stages, or used the mixed reality headsets to move within the excavation before anything is being built. The benefits:

Impress Clients  - View Challenging Conditions - Go Underground

Our CEO Mr. Dimitrios Konstantakos, P.E. received the ASCE/G-I 2018 Martin Kapp Foundation Award in part recognizing the outstanding and innovative work with HoloDeepEX

What is Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality?

Virtual Reality in Underground Construction:

Virtual reality enables us to simulate a three dimensional physical environment, and potentially interact with digital objects within the virtual space. In a virtual reality set we would need to utilize a VR ready headset. These headsets totally block off our real world view and as a result we are only immersed in the virtual environment. VR headsets work by displaying slightly different images on the right and left eyes and thus creating the illusion of a 3D environment.

Currently, VR headsets are connected to individual computers and as a result we are rather limited in freely moving around. With current VR systems we can move around our 3D model by using dedicated controllers with our hands. It is generally recommended to avoid sudden movements in virtual reality environments as these can result in nausea. VR headsets are very affordable, with starting prices in the $290 range.

Augmented Reality in Underground Construction:

Augmented reality works by superimposing 3D digital objects in relation to the physical world. This works by having an augmented reality device scan a physical space and then creating an internal digital representation of this space that the AR device understands. An augmented reality headset is typically equipped with a series of cameras that continuously detect the real space around us. Once digital objects are placed, the device keeps their position locked in space (unless these objects are instructed to move). As a result, we are able to physically move around the digital objects that we have placed in the real 3D world.

In underground construction this could involve placing existing utilities, tunnels, or future piling in the actual field conditions before anything is being built. Alternatively, as we have done in HoloDeepEX, a model of an excavation can be prepared and we can physically move around our augmented reality deep excavation model. AR headsets are substantially more expensive, currently HoloDeepEX works with the Microsoft HoloLens glasses (developer edition costs from $3300).

Requirements for HoloDeepEX

HoloDeepEX can operate in Windows 10 desktop PCs, mixed reality headsets, or Microsoft HoloLens. Independent graphics card (1060 or greater) is recommended but not required.

The HoloDeepEX viewer can be downloaded for free from the Windows Store. Models can only be generated from DeepEX with the Frame and HoloDeep modules enabled.

Soil Properties Estimation and Statistical Analysis

The “Statistical Soil Estimation” module allows us to perform a statistical analysis of estimated soil parameters with a series of different methods.

In DeepEX, we can select to add SPT records to any stratigraphy, by defining the depth and SPT values. DeepEX can implement a series of methods that can estimate different soil properties based on the provided SPT values. The statistical analysis allows us to estimate soil property variability with depth or in the project plan. Then, one can select the desired design values based on the desired confidence level.