This Coffee Corner tackles a common engineering challenge: the uncertainty that arises when simplified 2D models fail to capture the complexity of a real-world site. We'll begin by exploring a scenario where a 2D stability analysis gives an incomplete or even misleading picture, creating risk and doubt in the design. This sets the stage for a more robust solution, demonstrating how a move to 3D analysis can reveal a completely different and more realistic understanding of the site's behaviour.

The session will then walk through a modern, integrated workflow for a tailings storage dam. We will start with a 3D Limit Equilibrium (LE) analysis in GeoStudio to get a more accurate initial assessment. The presentation will then show how this 3D geometry provides the foundation for an advanced validation in PLAXIS using the Finite Element (FE) Strength Reduction Method. By comparing the results from the 2D, 3D LE, and 3D FE analyses side-by-side, we will demonstrate how this connected approach provides a powerful framework for validating results and building ultimate confidence in your final design.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognise the limitations of 2D analysis in complex 3D settings.
  • See how to perform a 3D Limit Equilibrium analysis in GeoStudio to gain better insight. 
  • Understand the value of using an FE Strength Reduction Method analysis in PLAXIS to validate LE results.
  • Appreciate how a combined LE and FE approach leads to safer, more robust, and more confident geotechnical designs.