UnWedge User Guide Overview Documentation Tutorials Verification & Theory

13 - Automate Deterministic Analysis

1.0 Introduction
The Automate Compute option helps users quickly generate results for several UnWedge analysis
cases at a time by reading in various model inputs from Excel. In this tutorial, we will familiarize you
with the Automate Compute feature by automating the computation of three unique Deterministic
analysis cases (i.e., three tunnel setups).

Topics Covered in this Tutorial:

Deterministic Analysis UnWedge Model

Input Excel File Format
Adding Input Excel File(s) to Automate Compute File Queue
Output UnWedge Automate Compute Results File
UnWedge Automate Compute Error Log

Finished Product:

The finished products of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 13 Automate Compute -
Deterministic Analysis folder, located in the Examples > Tutorials folder in your UnWedge
installation folder. Inside, you will find:

Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic_base file.weg5 UnWedge model file setup for
automation
Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic_inputs.xlsx Excel input file
Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic_inputs folder containing the computed results
files

2.0 Creating a New File

1. If you have not already done so, run the UnWedge program by double-clicking the UnWedge
icon in your installation folder or by selecting Programs > Rocscience > UnWedge >
UnWedge in the Windows Start menu.

When the program starts, a default model is automatically created. If you do NOT see a model on
your screen:

2. Select: File > New

Opening Section Model View

If the UnWedge application window is not already maximized, maximize it now so that the full
screen is available for viewing the model.

Before we are ready to run Automate Compute, we must first set up the model environment in the
following dialogs:

1. Project Settings
2. Input Data
3. Field Stress
4. Scale Wedge

In addition, the tunnel geometry must be defined (i.e., Opening Section).

Apply any other Boundaries (i.e., Ground Surface, Truncation Surface, End Truncation Plane), Water
Pressure Grid, or Supports, as required; these are not automatable.

Note

This UnWedge model file is meant to be used as a base file for automation. It contains the
appropriate settings to be used for all automated cases and the engine for computation. It is
not meant to be used for model creation and result viewing, as it does not save the model
state for every case.

3.0 Project Settings

First, set the model Units, and Analysis Type.

1. Select Project Settings from the Analysis menu to open the Project Settings dialog.
2. Set the Units = Metric, stress as MPa .
 3. Set the Analysis Type = Deterministic .
4. Set Wedge Computation to Compute End Wedges.

5. Select OK to close the dialog.

Note

The above Project Settings will apply to all cases analyzed in Automate Compute. Each case
being analyzed is Deterministic (i.e., a single tunnel setup, as defined) in this case.

4.0 Model Geometry

We will start by defining the tunnel opening section.

1. Select Add Opening Section on the toolbar or the Boundaries menu.

2. Type " i" into the prompt line followed by ENTER.

3. In the Circle Options dialog:

4. Select Circle definition method = Center and radius.
5. Set the Radius = 10.
6. Select Circle to polyline conversion method = Number of segments.
7. Set the Number of segments = 40.
 8. Select OK to close the dialog.
9. Type the circle centre " 0,0" into the prompt line followed by ENTER to draw the circle.

The Opening Section view should look like this:

Opening Section Model View

Note

Automation will abort if the Opening Section does not exist.

5.0 Input Data

Next, set the optional input data.

1. Select Input Data from the Analysis menu to open the Deterministic Input Data dialog.
2. Navigate to the General tab.
We will keep all the checkbox controls in the default state. Keep in mind that the following are
required input parameters that have to be specified later on in the Input Excel File:
Tunnel Trend
Tunnel Plunge
Design Factor of Safety
Unit Weight of Rock
Unit Weight of Water
3. Navigate to the Joint Orientations tab.
By default, there are three joints defined in the Joint Orientations table. We will keep the
default joints and their Properties (Joint Properties 1).

Note

When exactly three joints are defined in the model, all three Joint Orientations are
automated by the Excel template. If more than three joints are defined, Joint Orientations
are not automated and use the Joint Orientations defined in the Input Data dialog to
perform a combinations analysis.

Keep in mind that the following are required input parameters that have to be specified later on
in the Input Excel File for all three joints:

Joint Dip
Joint Dip Direction
4. Navigate to the Joint Properties tab.
By default, one property is already defined (Joint Properties 1). We will leave all the dropdown
controls in the default state.

Note

Up to three Joint Properties can be automated by the Excel template. Automation will only
apply to the first three Joint Properties defined.

Keep in mind that the following are required input parameters that have to be specified later on
in the Input Excel File for Property 1:

Phi
Cohesion
Tensile Strength
Water Pressure
Waviness
 5. Select OK to close the dialog.

Note

You can learn about UnWedge input data in detail in Overview of UnWedge Input Data.

6.0 Input Excel File

Now, let's take a look at the structure of the input Excel file.

1. Obtain the UnWedge Deterministic Excel Template by selecting Analysis > Automate
Compute > Deterministic Excel Template.
A Read-Only Excel workbook titled UnWedge Automation Template_Deterministic.xlsx will be
automatically opened (if you have Excel installed on your local machine).
 Guidance Notes Excel Worksheet

The UnWedge Deterministic Input Data Automation Template Excel workbook and
worksheets are protected to prevent any accidental modification to the tab structure and
headers. The input Excel template contains 7 worksheets for inputting numerical parameters
for automation.

2. Create a folder called Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic.

6.1 General
1. Navigate to the GENERAL worksheet.
2. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnel analyses. We will name them
arbitrarily Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel C. Each row in the input Excel file represents one
Deterministic Analysis case in UnWedge.
3. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID Tunnel Design Factor of Safety Unit Weight

Trend Plunge Rock Water

Tunnel A 0 20 1 0.026 0.00981

 Tunnel B 45 20 1 0.026 0.00981

Tunnel C 90 20 1 0.026 0.00981

Note

As set up previously in the UnWedge Deterministic Input Data dialog, only the above input
data are required since Tunnel Length, Seismic Force, and Minimum Wedge Size are not
applicable (i.e., checkbox controls are unchecked). Be aware of units set in UnWedge Project
Settings when entering data into the input Excel file. The units should be the same for both!

The GENERAL worksheet should look like this:

6.2 Joint Orientations

1. Navigate to the JOINT ORIENTATIONS worksheet.
2. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnels ( Tunnel A , Tunnel B , and
Tunnel C ).
3. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID Joint 1 Joint 2 Joint 3

Dip Dip Direction Dip Dip Direction Dip Dip Direction

Tunnel A 45 180 45 60 45 300

Tunnel B 30 30 70 170 60 280

Tunnel C 50 25 55 100 45 50

Note

As set up previously in the UnWedge Deterministic Input Data dialog, only the above input
data are required and all three Joint Orientations will be automated.
The JOINT ORIENTATIONS worksheet should look like this:

6.3 Joint Strength

1. Navigate to the JOINT STRENGTH worksheet.
2. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnels (Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel
C ).
3. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID Property 1

Friction Angle Cohesion Tensile Strength

Tunnel A 25 0.1 0

Tunnel B 30 0 0

Tunnel C 35 0 0.2

Note

As set up previously in the UnWedge Deterministic Input Data dialog, only the above input
data are required since only one Joint Property is defined.

The JOINT STRENGTH worksheet should look like this:

6.4 Joint Water Pressure
1. Navigate to the JOINT WATER PRESSURE worksheet.
2. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnels (Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel
C).
3. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID Property 1

Pressure

Tunnel A 0.1

Tunnel B 0.2

Tunnel C 0.3

Note

As set up previously in the UnWedge Deterministic Input Data dialog, only the above input
data are required since only one Joint Property is defined.

The JOINT WATER PRESSURE worksheet should look like this:

6.5 Joint Structure
1. Navigate to the JOINT STRUCTURE worksheet.
2. Under the Tunnel ID column, provide the names of the tunnels (Tunnel A, Tunnel B, and Tunnel
C ).
3. Enter the following:

Tunnel ID Property 1

Waviness

Tunnel A 10

Tunnel B 10

Tunnel C 10

Note

As set up previously in the UnWedge Deterministic Input Data dialog, only the above input
data are required since only one Joint Property is defined.

The JOINT STRUCTURE worksheet should look like this:

We do not need to enter any data in the FIELD STRESS or SCALE WEDGE worksheets since
those are not applicable.

Save the Excel file as Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic_inputs.xlsx to the Tutorial
13 Automate Compute - Deterministic folder previously created.

Note

Since the UnWedge Automation Template_Deterministic.xlsx file is Read-Only, you must

rename and save in a new location.

We are now ready to automate computations in UnWedge by reading from the input Excel file.
7.0 Automate from Excel
Return back to the UnWedge model.

The Automate Compute dialog allows you to add Excel input automation files to the queue, select
a an output format, and compute the results.

7.1 ADD FILES TO FILE QUEUE

To add multiple files to the File Queue:

1. Select Automate from Excel from the Analysis menu to open the Automated Compute
dialog.

2. Select the Open button to open a standard dialog to choose an Excel input file. Navigate
to the Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic folder and select the Tutorial 13
Automate Compute - Deterministic_inputs.xlsx file.
You will see the Excel input file appear under the File Queue list box.
3. Select the Save As UnWedge File(s) checkbox. This will save each automated compute case
as an UnWedge file.
8.0 Output Result Files
Results files are automatically generated and saved into the same directory as the input Excel file
after Automated Compute is complete. The output files are in Excel format. We will also output
UnWedge model files based on the automated inputs.

8.1 EXCEL FILE FORMAT

While still in the Automated Compute dialog:

1. Select the Compute button to start the automated computing process.

The Total Progress can be seen at the bottom of the dialog. When files have finished
computing, they will appear in the Completed Files list box.
 2. When all files have finished computing, select Exit to close the dialog.

For each input Excel file, an Excel file (*.xlsx) containing all results data is generated.

For a Deterministic Analysis (Tutorial 13 Automate Compute - Deterministic_inputs.xlsx), the

results data for all cases are outputted following the header row. Each row of data represents one
analysis case (i.e., one tunnel). Each data type is separated by column.

3. Take a look at the Results.xlsx result file.

The Deterministic Values sheet contains global tunnel, design, unit weight, and seismic
information shared across all wedges.

The Field Stress sheet contains global field stress information shared across all wedges. In this
case, Field Stress is not applicable.
There are 10 sheets which contain wedge-specific information, including values computed at each
of their three joints.

Note that in Tunnel C, the geometry does not form a valid wedge for the first wedge.

9.0 Error Log

As you may have noticed, an Error Log is also generated for each input Excel file. For each input
Excel file, an Error Log text file (Automate Compute Error Log.txt) is generated and saved into the
same directory as the output file directories. Always check that the Error Log reports "No errors
found" before post-processing the raw results data. If any errors do occur as a result of missing
(i.e., blank cells) or invalid inputs, the Error Log will indicate which worksheet(s) and cell(s) are
problematic.

This concludes the tutorial. You are now ready for the next tutorial, Tutorial 14 - Automate
Probabilistic Analysis from Excel in UnWedge.