Time Point

A Time Point allows you to determine the time required to achieve a specified settlement or degree of consolidation, at a particular location, at a particular stage.

To add a Time Point:

1. Select Add Time Point from the Query menu.
2. You will see the Time Point Properties dialog. Enter the following:
• Choose either Degree of Consolidation or Total Settlement, and enter a value for which you would like to calculate the required time.
• Select the Stage from which the time is to be calculated (see note below).
• Enter a value of Depth.
A Time Point Query only computes the time based on the current load state, at the time point stage. If the load changes after the time point stage (i.e. if loads are added or removed) the time point is not aware of the change in load state after the time point stage. Therefore if you have staged loading, you must add the time point at the final loading stage that you wish to consider.
3. Select OK in the dialog, and you will be prompted to enter the location of the Time Point in the Plan View. Use the mouse to graphically enter the point, or you can enter the x,y coordinates in the prompt line.
4. The time calculation will immediately be carried out, and the results will be displayed in the Plan View, at the time point stage.
5. If for some reason results could not be calculated (e.g. the specified settlement has already occurred prior to the starting stage), then the display will indicate No Solution. If this occurs, check the Time Point Properties to make sure you have entered the correct input.

After a Time Point has been created, you can delete, move or change the Time Point properties, by using the options available in the Time Points sub-menu of the Query menu, or by right-clicking on the time point and selecting an option from the popup menu.

Create Stage at Result Time

After results have been calculated for a Time Point, if you wish, you can easily create a new stage corresponding to the calculated time.

1. Right-click on the Time Point, and select Create Stage at Result Time from the popup menu.
2. A new stage will automatically be added to the model, for the calculated time.