ITASCA Software 9.6 Introduces Automatic Remeshing to Enhance Civil and Mining Modeling Efficiency

ITASCA Software has released version 9.6, introducing major advances in large-strain modeling with fully automatic remeshing in FLAC2D. The new capability ensures simulation stability, reduces complexity, and accelerates workflows for civil and mining engineers analyzing large, progressive deformations. As the ground or structure in a FLAC2D model deforms during large displacements, excavation, or collapse, the mesh is automatically rebuilt in regions that exceed user-defined strain thresholds. Data like stresses and displacements are transferred from the old grid to the new, maintaining simulation continuity.

Remeshing addresses a longstanding challenge where traditional fixed grids deform excessively, causing elements to become distorted and leading to simulation failure or loss of accuracy. FLAC2D's new remeshing logic enables stable, accurate modeling of very large deformations, allowing reliable simulation of complex phenomena involving massive strain. This capability is particularly valuable for mining engineers modeling subsidence, progressive failure of open pits, backfill stability, or tunnel, stope, or cavern collapse, as it maintains mesh quality, adapts to evolving geometry, and improves solution accuracy during large deformation, including the impact of ground pore pressure.

In civil engineering, automatic remeshing is ideal for gaining the full picture of excessive deformations and their effect on construction, safety, and serviceability, particularly when differentiating between Ultimate Limit State and Serviceability Limit State. Analysis of active slope failure or instability of tunnel faces can both benefit from the added efficiency provided by remeshing in FLAC2D. Beyond automatic remeshing, version 9.6 includes several other new or enhanced features that extend modeling realism, performance, and workflow efficiency.

Advanced material and structural modeling improvements include a structural concrete constitutive model that allows engineers to assign concrete-specific behavior directly to structural elements like piles, beams, and liners. The Munson-Dawson Creep model, considered the gold standard for salt rock, is now available to accurately predict primary and secondary creep stages, essential for evaluating the decades-long stability of evaporite mines, energy storage caverns, and nuclear waste repositories. A new circular shell generation tool automates the creation of circular shell elements connected to piles, ensuring accurate contact area and volume displacement while streamlining the modeling of complex foundation systems.

Hybrid solvers and large-strain solutions have been enhanced with MPoint coupling, allowing FLAC3D and FLAC2D to be coupled with ITASCA's new Material Point Method solver for extreme deformation simulations. This hybrid approach streamlines material point generation and overcomes limitations to conventional large-strain modeling while balancing simulation performance. The updated Factor of Safety analysis logic now allows users to restrict Shear Strength Reduction to a specific region, permitting engineers to ignore localized bench instabilities and focus on critical, large-scale failure modes, ensuring identification of critical failure mechanisms.

Automated workflows and precision pre-processing tools include automated domain generation that automatically generates far-field zones around extruded, imported, or generated zones, reducing model setup time from hours to minutes. The enhanced sketch tool now allows specific coordinates to be designated as hard nodes to ensure mesh nodes are generated exactly at those positions with specified zone sizes. Additionally, 3DEC now supports fluid flow analysis through deformable grids imported from Griddle, allowing high-fidelity, unstructured meshes to utilize robust flow logic for seepage and pore-pressure analysis. To learn more about ITASCA Software v9.6 and automatic remeshing in FLAC2D, visit itascasoftware.com or request a technical demo.