Users Guide

PRECIS
This volume is the users guide to FLAC 3D. This guide contains general information on the operation
of FLAC 3D for engineering mechanics computation.
Section 1 gives an introduction to the capabilities and applications of FLAC 3D. An overview of the
new features in the latest version of FLAC 3D is also provided.
The first-time user should consult Section 2 for an introduction to the operation of FLAC 3D. The
installation and operation procedures are given along with a simple tutorial to guide the new user
through a FLAC 3D analysis.
Section 3 provides general guidance in the use of FLAC 3D in problem solving for static mechanical
analysis for geotechnical engineering.
An introduction to the built-in programming language, FISH, is given in Section 4. This includes
a tutorial on the use of the FISH language. Note that no programming experience is assumed.
Various items of interest to FLAC 3D users are contained in Section 5, including a FLAC 3D runtime benchmark on several different types of computers and procedures for reporting errors and
requesting technical assistance.
Section 6 contains a bibliography of published papers describing some applications of FLAC 3D in
different fields of engineering.
The FLAC 3D Manual consists of eleven documents. The following list of volumes, which comprise
the FLAC 3D Manual, are available. (The titles in parentheses below are the names used to refer to
the volumes in the text.)
USERS GUIDE (Users Guide) an introduction to FLAC 3D and its capabilities
COMMAND REFERENCE (Command Reference) descriptions of all FLAC 3D commands
FISH in FLAC 3D (FISH volume) a complete guide to FISH as applied in FLAC 3D
THEORY AND BACKGROUND (Theory and Background) thorough discussions of the
built-in features in FLAC 3D
FLUID-MECHANICAL INTERACTION (Fluid-Mechanical Interaction) discussion of
the formulation and examples of the groundwater flow model
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS (Structural Elements) descriptions for the six types of structural elements in FLAC 3D : beams, cables, piles, shells, liners and geogrids
OPTIONAL FEATURES (Optional Features) detailed descriptions of the optional features:
thermal analysis, creep models, dynamic analysis and C++ user-defined models.
HEXAHEDRAL-MESHING PREPROCESSOR 3DShop (3DShop) a users guide for
3DShop, a hexahedral-meshing preprocessor for FLAC 3D.

FLAC 3D Version 3.0

Users Guide

VERIFICATION PROBLEMS (Verifications volume) a collection of verification problems

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS (Examples volume) a collection of example applications
COMMAND AND FISH REFERENCE SUMMARY (Command and FISH Reference Summary) a quick summary of all FLAC 3D commands and FISH statements

FLAC 3D Version 3.0