Introduction

Excavation projects can be challenging, often requiring multiple analyses to capture various scenarios and possibilities in geotechnical numerical analysis.

It is common to expect small variations in geometry, wall embedment length, anchoring and even loading conditions. Ensuring that the model is quickly generated with the right configuration is important to every geotechnical engineer.

Python solution

This Python script creates a full excavation model by allowing the direct input of specific geometry parameters along with the retaining wall system information. The PLAXIS project covers the creation of the excavation structure, meshing and staged construction phases.

The Python solution calculates the project and provides some specific key results based on what is pre-selected in the script.

Assumptions

Base PLAXIS model containing:

• Soil layer definition
• Material datasets for soil and structures

Instructions

1. Download this script file
2. Define a base mode and save it
3. Start PLAXIS 2D
4. Load the editor: PLAXIS 2D menu > Expert > Python > Editor
5. Load the script file in the editor
6. Configure remote scripting server (port and password)
7. Define the excavation definitions
8. Run the Python script from the Editor

Version

This script has been tested with PLAXIS 2D and Python 3.12.3.

Downloads

plaxis_2d_parametric_excavation_files.py [Python compressed file]