Display the usable Mesh sets, Boundary sets and Load sets. Select the desired data and drag it to the Set assignment rule, or drag the Mesh set, Boundary set and Load set to the activation state.

Be aware that the display format of each set is completely different from the workstree. Here, all mesh sets are displayed as individual mesh sets, ignoring the relationship between mesh sets and sub-mesh sets in the workstree. Also, the upper most display name is the mesh set name without the postfix. Expanding one step displays the mesh set name with the postfix.  

Refer to the following example.

<Element, Boundary, Load display format>

Set Assignment Rule

Specify the construction stage set used to define the construction stage and specify the assignment rule.

• Set Type

The type of set on which the construction stage will be defined. The user can select between Mesh set, Boundary set or Load set.

• Set Name Prefix

Specify the name without the serial number of the set on which the construction stage will be defined.

For example, if a Mesh set is specified from ‘Final Core #001’ to ‘Final Core #012’, select the Set name prefix as ‘‘Final Core #’.

• A/R

Select whether to Add or Remove a selected set. A is displayed in green and R is displayed in yellow.  

• Start Postfix

Specify the set number of the selected set that is used first in the construction stage.

For example, if a Mesh set specified from ‘Final Core #001’ to ‘Final Core #012’ is selected and the Final Core #001’ is removed at the second construction stage with the other Cores removed in sequence after each step, the first used set number is 001 and so the postfix can be set as ‘1’.

• F

Check this option on when the selected set is not used until the final number. The user can input the end suffix when checked. If it is not checked, the set is used sequentially until the final number.  

• End Postfix

Specify the set number of the selected set that is used last in the construction stage.

For example, if a Mesh set specified from ‘Final Core #001’ to ‘Final Core #012’ is selected and the Final Core #001’ is removed at the second construction stage with sequential removal until the ‘Final Core #006’, check F and input the postfix 6.

• Postfix Increment

Input the postfix number increment used as the construction stage progresses.

For a Mesh set specified from 'Final Core #001' to 'Final Core #012', if the mesh is removed in order of 'Final Core #001', 'Final Core #003' and 'Final Core #005' for each construction stage, the postfix increment is 2 and hence, input a postfix spacing of 2.

• Start Stage

Input the stage number first used in the construction stage.

For example, if a Mesh set specified from ‘Final Core #001’ to ‘Final Core #012’ is selected and the Final Core #001’ is removed at the second construction stage with the other Cores removed in sequence after each step, the second stage is first used and so the start stage is set as 2.

• Stage Increment

Select the stage increment for a selected set that is used every few stages.

For a Mesh set specified from ‘Final Core #001’ to ‘Final Core #012’, if the 'Final Core #001' is removed at the second construction stage and the Final Core #002' is removed at the fourth construction stage, the set is used every 2 stages and so the stage spacing is 2.

[Apply Assignment Rule]

Press this button to display the specified data according to the assignment rule on the Mesh, Boundary, Load set activated state. Press OK to create the construction stage.

The activated Mesh, Boundary, and Load set can be checked for each stage using the Preview construction stage( ) option. This function has the same function as Construction stage simulation ( ).

Mesh, Boundary, Load Activation Status

Display the currently specified construction stage on a table.

The construction stage progresses as it moves to the right. The I.S. and S1 on the top of the columns are abbreviations for initial stage and Stage1, respectively. The added data is displayed in green and the removed data is displayed in orange. Data defined by postfixes are expressed in each construction stage as numbers. Data that does not use a prefix (eg. Ground) are expressed as a line. If the mesh, boundary condition and load data are dragged onto the menu [Mesh, Boundary, Load Activation Status], the delete setting cannot be conducted and only additional settings can be conducted.   

<Mesh, Boundary, Load  display format>

Click the [Apply Assignment Rule] button to display the construction stage on the Mesh, Boundary, Load activation status. To delete the displayed construction stage, select that data cell and press the Delete key on the keyboard.

This method deletes the created construction stage data, but not the construction stage. Hence, a construction stage with no content is created. Select the whole target column and press the Ctrl and Delete key together to delete the construction stage for the whole column.

The stage where all the mesh sets are activated initially (in-situ state) is when all the mesh sets in the I.S. (initial stage) are activated. This stage can be specified by entering 0 for start stage (the 0 stage is the initial stage) and 0 for stage spacing (the stage increment number is 0 and thus all elements are activated in one stage).

The advanced options (LDF etc.) used in the construction stage can be set in the Define Construction Stage menu. Hence for complex models, it is convenient to use the Construction Stage Wizard to create the framework of the overall construction stages. It is also convenient to use the [Define Construction Stage] menu to specify the individual options used in each construction stage.  

Example

Let us examine a simple example of Construction stage definition.

The construction stage is defined for a tunnel modeled on a homogeneous ground. The entire tunnel shape is excavated at once and the rock bolts and shotcrete are created in the following stages. The excavation is done in 5 stages. The excavation is assumed to start from the smaller postfix number and progresses to the larger postfix.

The mesh set is created as follows.

Run the Stage definition wizard.

'Soil' and 'Tunnel#' need to be included in the in-situ state. Select using the Ctrl key and drag & drop into the I.S. column of the Mesh, Boundary, Load activation status.

Start the tunnel excavation.

In this example, the exaction is done stage by stage, starting from the first stage as follows: 1st face tunnel excavation -> 1st face rock bolt/shotcrete installment -> 2nd tunnel excavation -> 2nd face rock bolt/shotcrete installment -> ….

Select R to select and delete the 'Tunnel#' of the element type, the Start postfix as 1 and do not check F to process until the last number. The Start stage is 1 and the input is 2 for the Stage spacing to allow for the installation of rock bolts and shotcrete between excavation stages. Afterwards, click the [Apply Assignment Rules] button to specify the construction stage of the Mesh, Boundary, Load activation status.

The shotcrete and rock bolts are also specified on the construction stage.

Input 2 for the Start stage and set as A to create both elements in the second construction stage. Also, input Start postfix 1, do not check F and input Postfix spacing to use all the numbers from 1 to the final number. Finally, input 2 for the Start stage and Stage spacing to create the first elements at the second construction stage with two stage spacing between element creation.

Press the [Assign Assignment Rules] button to automatically create the Mesh, Boundary, Load activation status and click the [OK] button to create the construction stage.