Introduction

With the release of PLAXIS 2023.1, it is possible to retrieve results from a cross section created in the PLAXIS Output program.
In this example, you will see how you can set up a Python script, which will allow you to retrieve various results for a cross section. The provided Python files offer an example for PLAXIS 2D and PLAXIS 3D.

To begin with, we will need to make sure that the current open PLAXIS Output program is accessible as a Remote Scripting Server. This can be achieved by activating the Remote scripting server via the Expert menu in the Output program.

For more information on how to do this, follow the article about Using PLAXIS Remote scripting with the Python wrapper

The structure of the Python example is the following:

1. PLAXIS boilerplate code
2. Open PLAXIS project in Output and configure the phase to retrieve results for
3. Define a cross section and create the plot
4. Retrieve the results
5. Save the results to a text file

Python example

In the following section, you can read about the Python example with regards to defining the cross section, retrieving the results and saving these to a text file. For the purpose of this demonstrated example, the PLAXIS 3D program will be used and specifically the PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 02: Excavation in sand.

Before retrieving any results, you need to add the cross section and create a new plot, i.e., the cross section plot. 

ini_plot = g_o.Plots[-1]
cs_soil_plot = g_o.crosssectionplot(ini_plot, (0, 0, -8), (1, 0, -8), (0, 1, -8))

In order to retrieve the results from the cross section the getcrosssectionresults() command will be used.

phase = g_o.Phases[-1]
# coordinates
values_soil_X = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.X)
values_soil_Y = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.Y)
values_soil_Z = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.Z)
# deformations
values_soil_Utot = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.Utot)
# stresses
values_soil_SigxxE = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.SigxxE)
values_soil_SigyyE = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.Soil.SigyyE)

For the specific results, which are available for the cross section only, you need to consider the g_o.ResultTypes.CrossSection object.

# specific cross section results
values_soil_EffNormalStress = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.CrossSection.EffNormalStress)
values_soil_VerticalShearStress = g_o.getcrosssectionresults(cs_soil_plot, phase, g_o.ResultTypes.CrossSection.VerticalShearStress)

Finally, after retrieving the results, a file (called "filename_soil") will be created, which will be saved as a normal text file (*.txt).

with open(filename_soil, "w") as file:
    for results in zip(values_soil_X, values_soil_Y, values_soil_Z,
                       values_soil_Utot, values_soil_Ux, values_soil_Uy, values_soil_Uz,
                       values_soil_SigxxE, values_soil_SigyyE, values_soil_SigzzE,
                       values_soil_EffNormalStress, values_soil_VerticalShearStress):
        print('\t'.join(["{}".format(i) for i in results]), file=file)

Note that in this Python example, the specified path of the text file is provided at the beginning of the Python script.

filename_soil = r'D:\PLAXIS\soil_cross_section_results_3D.txt'

Additional considerations

• The Python example for PLAXIS 3D, includes an additional section for retrieving results from a cross section considering a structural object. 
• The Python example for PLAXIS 2D is based on the PLAXIS 2D Tutorial 07: Dry excavation using a tie back wall.
• The information on the PLAXIS Output command can be found under Help > Command reference > Output Program > Output commands reference > getcrosssectionresults
• The getcrosssectionresults command offers the possibility to retrieve results with and without result smoothing.
• The information on the available results can be found under Help > Command reference > Output Program > Output objects reference. In these examples, the Soil, Interface and CrossSection objects were considered.

Instructions

1. Download the zipped file containing the Python script.
2. Extract the zipped file in a local directory.
       Make sure to adjust the boilerplate with your port and password.
       Make sure to adjust the file paths accordingly.
       Make sure to adjust the coordinates of the cross section.
   3. Open PLAXIS Output and start the Remote scripting server.
   4. In the Expert menu, go to Expert > Python > Editor..., open the Python example and run it (F5).

Version

This script has been tested with PLAXIS 2D and 3D 2024.1 and Python 3.12.3.