ITASCA Software has released version 9.6, featuring a major advancement in large-strain modeling with fully automatic remeshing in FLAC2D. This new capability addresses a critical challenge in geomechanical simulation by automatically rebuilding the mesh when user-defined strain thresholds are exceeded during large displacements, excavation, or collapse. Data such as stresses and displacements are seamlessly transferred from the old grid to the new, maintaining simulation continuity and preventing the distortion that often causes traditional fixed-grid models to fail or lose accuracy.
Jim Hazzard, ITASCA Software Manager, explains that this remeshing logic enables stable, accurate modeling of very large deformations, allowing reliable simulation of complex phenomena involving massive strain. For mining engineers, this capability is transformative when modeling subsidence, progressive failure of open pits, backfill stability, or tunnel and cavern collapse. By maintaining mesh quality and adapting to evolving geometry, remeshing supports more robust assessments of risk and long-term performance in complex geomechanical environments, including the impact of ground pore pressure.
In civil engineering, automatic remeshing is ideal for analyzing excessive deformations and their effects on construction, safety, and serviceability, particularly when differentiating between Ultimate Limit State and Serviceability Limit State. Applications such as active slope failure or tunnel face instability benefit from the added efficiency, leading to more efficient planning and design. The technology saves valuable time and reduces effort for engineers analyzing the complete evolution of a structure from stability to large-scale movement.
Beyond automatic remeshing, version 9.6 includes several other enhancements. A new Structural Concrete Constitutive Model allows engineers to assign concrete-specific behavior directly to structural elements like piles and beams, enabling realistic soil-structure interaction without computational overhead. The Munson-Dawson Creep model, considered the gold standard for salt rock, is now available for accurately predicting primary and secondary creep stages essential for evaluating long-term stability in evaporite mines, energy storage caverns, and nuclear waste repositories.
The update also introduces a BETA feature for coupling FLAC3D and FLAC2D with ITASCA's new Material Point Method solver, MPoint, creating hybrid models that streamline material point generation and overcome limitations of conventional large-strain modeling. An updated Factor of Safety analysis logic allows users to restrict Shear Strength Reduction to specific regions, ignoring localized instabilities to focus on critical, large-scale failure modes. Automated workflow tools, such as automated domain generation, can reduce model setup time from hours to minutes, while enhanced sketch tools and imported fluid flow architecture in 3DEC further extend modeling realism and efficiency.
To learn more about ITASCA Software v9.6 and automatic remeshing in FLAC2D, visit itascasoftware.com or request a technical demo. These advancements collectively represent a significant step forward in numerical modeling, providing engineers with more reliable tools for assessing geomechanical risks and designing sustainable infrastructure in mining and civil engineering projects worldwide.
