Prokon Geotech
Bishop Slope is used to evaluate the stability of soil slopes. It uses Bishop’s Modified Method of analysis
to evaluate the stability of generalised slopes.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and probabilistic analysis
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
Bishop Slope uses Bishop's Modified Method (1955) of analysis to evaluate the stability of generalised soil
slopes. The analysis method uses the ratio of mobilising and resisting moments on individual slices to determine
the factor of safety.
The program gives a broad base of input options which include:
The slope may be subjected to external loadings which include line loads and uniformly
distributed imposed loads.
The force profile of the anchor reinforcement.
Reinforcement of the slope with metal strips or geofabric, it may be clad with for example a masonry
block wall or stabilised with anchors.
Multiple layers of materials with differing shear strength properties.
Water pressures are accounted for by phreatic surfaces.
Consideration of horizontal and vertical seismic forces.
There is the option of either searching for the critical minimum factor of safety or inserting a user defined
circle.
Theory used in this module
This module can perform a deterministic as well as a probabilistic analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you
can consider variations in material properties and other parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta distributions. You can set the number of analysis iterations
to be performed and the required probability limit.
-15.0
-13.0
-11.0
11.0
13.0
15.0
17.0
19.0
21.0
23.0
25.0
27.0
29.0
31.0
33.0
35.0
37.0
39.0
-9.0
-7.0
-5.0
-3.0
-1.0
1.0
3.0
5.0
7.0
9.0
4768.0
4766.0
4764.0
4762.0 100.100.00 10.00
4760.0 0 0
4758.0 100.00 A3 0
4756.0 A2 0 R3 10
10
4754.0
A1 0 R2
4752.0 0 0 R1 20
10 20
4750.0
10 10 20
4748.0
20 20
4746.0
4744.0
4742.0
4740.0
Summary
Non Circular Slip can be used for the evaluation of the stability of soil slopes. It predicts the factor of safety of
general shape surfaces using the non-vertical slice method.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
Non-Circular Slip predicts the factor of safety of general shape surfaces using the non- vertical slice method,
as proposed by Sarma (1979). Due to non-vertical boundaries, the module also allows you to include structural
features such as faults or discontinuity planes. To make the analysis as general as possible, water pressures,
external loadings and reinforcement are included.
1000.0
-150.0
-100.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
400.0
450.0
500.0
550.0
600.0
650.0
700.0
750.0
800.0
850.0
900.0
950.0
-50.0
50.0
0.0
600.0
550.0
500.0
450.0
400.0
350.0
300.0
250.0
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
-50.0 2
1
-100.0
Theory used in this module
This module can perform a deterministic as well as a probabilistic analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you
can consider variations in material properties and other parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta distributions. You can set the number of analysis iterations
to be performed and the required probability limit.
Factor of Safety: 1.58
1000.0
-150.0
-100.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
400.0
450.0
500.0
550.0
600.0
650.0
700.0
750.0
800.0
850.0
900.0
950.0
-50.0
50.0
0.0
600.0
550.0
500.0
450.0
400.0
350.0
300.0
250.0
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
-50.0 2
1
-100.0
Summary
Wedge Analysis can be used for the evaluation of the stability of soil slopes. It calculates the F.O.S for a
tetrahedral wedge that may form in a rock
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
A tetrahedral wedge may form in a rock slope by the intersection of two planar discontinuities, the slope face,
and the upper slope with or without a tension crack in the upper slope. The deterministic analysis mode is
supplemented by a probabilistic mode to evaluate the effect that the range of input values have on the FOS.
The probability density function of the FOS is obtained using simulation techniques.
Theory used in this module
This module can perform a deterministic as well as a probabilistic analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you
can consider variations in material properties and other parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta distributions. You can set the number of analysis iterations
to be performed and the required probability limit.
Factor of safety probability distribution 95% Probability limit: 1.26
1.00
.900
.800
.700
Normalized frequency ()
.600
.500
.400
.300
.200
.100
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.60
1.70
1.80
1.90
2.00
2.10
2.20
Factor of safety value ()
Summary
Rock Slope determines the factor of safety of a planar failure in rock.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis
• Graphical output
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
Rock Slope determines the factor of safety (FOS) of a planar failure in rock. The deterministic analysis mode
is supplemented by a probabilistic mode to evaluate the effect that the range of input values have on the FOS.
The module obtains the probability density function of the FOS by using simulation techniques.
E
ß
T
Hc
c
Theory used in this module
Except for the Pile Bearing module, all modules can perform deterministic analyses as well as a probabilistic
analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you can consider variations in material properties and other parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta distributions. You can set the number of analysis iterations
to perform and the required probability limit.
Summary
Bearing Capacity evaluates the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations for drained and undrained
conditions.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and probabilistic analysis
• Graphical output
• Detailed output
Detailed Description
Bearing Capacity can be used to evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations. Rectangular
and circular foundation shapes are supported, and an angled ground slope can be defined. Bi-directional forces
and moments can be applied, and the drained and undrained conditions are evaluated.
The formulae for the calculation of the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations are taken from the
publication of the American Petroleum Institute (1987). They are based on the procedures as described by AS
Vesic (1975) in the Foundation Engineering Handbook as edited by HF Winterkorn and HY Fang.
Theory used in this module
This module can perform a deterministic as well as a
probabilistic analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you
can consider variations in material properties and other
parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material
properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta
distributions. You can set the number of analysis
iterations to be performed and the required probability
limit.
Summary
Jointed Rock Masses (Shear strength of jointed rock masses): Most rock masses, exhibit non-linear shear
strength/ normal stress failure envelopes, Jointed Rock Masses evaluates this non-linear shear strength
envelope for a range of input parameters.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis: A probabilistic analysis lets you take variations in
material properties and other parameters into account.
• Graphical output: Analysis results displays various graphs.
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet: For printing or sending to PROKON Calcpad. Various
settings are available to include input and design diagram and tabular result.
Detailed Description
Most rock masses, some granular soils and some dense sands, exhibit non-linear shear strength/ normal stress
failure envelopes. PROKON’s Jointed Rock Masses evaluates this non-linear shear strength envelope for a
range of input parameters. The analysis output may consist of instantaneous cohesion and friction values or
the actual shear strength for a given normal stress. Both deterministic and probabilistic modes are supported.
Theory used in this module
Except for the Pile Bearing module, all modules can perform deterministic analyses as well as a probabilistic
analysis. With a probabilistic analysis you can consider variations in material properties and other parameters.
Distribution types that can be applied to material properties in a probabilistic analysis include uniform,
triangular, exponential, normal, log normal and beta distributions. You can set the number of analysis iterations
to perform and the required probability limit.
Summary
Rock Rough Joints evaluates the shear strength failure envelope for rough joints in rock.
What makes this module special?
• Deterministic and Probabilistic Analysis
• Graphical output
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
The Rock Rough Joints module evaluates the shear strength failure envelope for rough joints in rock. It gives
the option of performing the analysis in either deterministic or probabilistic mode. By using the probabilistic
mode, the module generates the range of input parameters by using simulation techniques to generate a
probability density distribution of the output shear strength.
Theory used in this module
The user is presented with the choice of two theories as advanced by Ladanyi and Archambault (1970) and
Barton (1971a/b,73).
Summary
Pile Bearing can calculate the bearing capacity of piles considering the effects of pile length and diameter,
installation type and soil conditions.
What makes this module special?
• Circular and Square pile design
• Graphical output
• Analysis results grouped on a Calcsheet
Detailed Description
Pile Bearing can calculate the bearing capacity of piles considering the effects of pile length and diameter,
installation type and soil conditions. The load transfer functions comprise two components: a side shear transfer
function and an end bearing transfer function.
Very Dense Sand
f= 11.90 kPa
2.00 m 2.00 m
Soft Clay
f= 18.03 kPa
6.00 m
Very Soft Rock
f= 200.00 kPa
7.50 m
Soft Rock
f= 400.00 kPa
9.00 m
An analysis output table provides a summary of the friction and end bearing forces for each layer, for the
allowable pile capacities, as well as the totals. A summary of the SLS and ULS settlements is also given.
Additionally, the pile capacity vs pile length and the pile load vs deflection graphs are plotted.
PILE SETTLEMENT kN max = 12223kN @ 25.0mm
12E3
11E3
10E3
9000
To tal
8000
End
Load (kN)
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
Side
13.0
14.0
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
9.00
10.0
11.0
12.0
15.0
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
21.0
22.0
23.0
24.0
25.0
26.0
1000
Deflection (mm)
PILE CAPACITY (ULTIMATE) Frict Cap max = -7.500m @ 1119kN
10E3
11E3
12E3
13E3
14E3
15E3
16E3
17E3
18E3
19E3
20E3
21E3
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
-.500
-1.00
-1.50
-2.00
-2.50
Pile Length (m)
-3.00
-3.50
-4.00
-4.50
-5.00
-5.50
-6.00
-6.50
-7.00
-7.50
Capacity (kN)
Theory used in this module
One of the simplest and most elegant methods to predict load/deformation curves is that proposed by Everett
J.P. "Load Transfer Functions and Pile Performance Modelling, Geotechnics in the African
Environment" (1991)”. The load transfer functions comprise two components: a side shear transfer
function and an end bearing transfer function.