User-Defined Support

It is important to realize that all of the pre-defined support types in Slide2, i.e.

• End Anchored
• Geosynthetic
• Grouted Tieback
• Micro Pile
• Soil Nail

are simply used to generate a Force Diagram for the support (i.e. a plot of FORCE versus DISTANCE along the support). The way in which this graph is generated differs for each type of support, and depends on the support parameters which are entered. However, as far as the Slide2 COMPUTE engine is concerned, the properties of an anchor are entirely determined by the Force Diagram (as well as the method of Force Application, and the Force Orientation, which are independently specified).

If the properties of the pre-defined support types in Slide2 are not sufficient to generate a desired Force Diagram, then the user can simply define their own support type, by creating an explicit Force Diagram. To do this:

1. Select the New Support Type button in the Define Support Properties dialog.
2. You will see the User Defined Support dialog.
3. Enter values for Distance and Capacity (force) which define the Force Diagram for your support. As you enter the values, the graph at the right of the dialog will be updated to display the data you are entering.
• Remember that the Capacity is the Capacity which can be mobilized by the support, PER UNIT WIDTH OF SLOPE. Therefore it is up to the user to account for the Out of Plane Spacing, as well as all other support properties when they define the Capacity of User-Defined Support.
• The first value entered for Distance, should equal zero, and the final value should equal the length of your support.
4. Enter a Name for the User Defined Support, and select OK.
5. The Name of the user-defined support will now appear in the Support Type list in the Define Support Properties dialog. The User Defined Support may now be selected, like any other Support Type, by selecting the Name from the Support Type list.
6. Any number of User Defined Support types may be defined, using steps 1 to 5.

EDIT

You can edit User Defined Support at any time, by selecting the Name from the Support Type list in the Define Support Properties dialog, and then select the Edit button. You will see the User Defined Support dialog, in which you can edit the values defining the Force Diagram, or the Name.

DELETE

To delete a User-Defined Support type, select the Name from the Support Type list in the Define Support Properties dialog, and select the Delete button.

FORCE APPLICATION

Like all other Support Types in Slide2, the method of Force Application for User-Defined Support can be either Active or Passive. See the Force Application topic for details.

FORCE ORIENTATION

The Force Orientation for User-Defined Support can be selected by the user. See the Geosynthetic support topic for details.

IMPORT/EXPORT

The data defining a User Defined Support type, can be saved in its own file, if necessary, and imported into other Slide2 files.

• To save a User Defined Support file, select the Export button in the User Defined Support dialog. These files have a .FN4 filename extension.
• To import a User Defined Support file, into the current Slide2 file, select the Import button in the User Defined Support dialog.