
Version 8.2		2009-10-23 (Build number 8.2.5.5) The Darcy model consumes considerable less computation time and features a significantly increased robustness. The Darcy model takes the same input as the Terzaghi model, which allows users to switch models more easily. Reliability module is capable to handle more situations (new module Reliability analysis). Horizontal displacements, computed according to ‘Tabellen De Leeuw’, have been added (new module Horizontal Displacements). The user receives warnings, suggestions and errors concerning the input and during the calculation. Warnings may be ignored and messages can be suppressed. Submerging is calculated by a step by step approach, in order to simulate the gradual character of it and therefore leads to reliable results. Drain type, horizontal range, position, drain type and dewatering options can be specified for vertical drains. Critical pressure has been added to the Isotache soil model, so that it is available to all soil models. Secondary swelling parameters have been added to the soil parameters, which gives a more realistic result for unloading/reloading. The user can scroll through time on the input window, in order to view the loads at a certain moment. Results are calculated on more depths, which give a more detailed view in the chart of settlement against depth. The unit of the vertical permeability has been changed to m/sec, to be in accordance with data delivered by lab results. In ‘Fit for plate test’ dialog, the button ‘Show current’ displays the settlement belonging the shown fit factors. Axes of charts can be fixed, in order to compare results on different times/depths more easily. Improvements in the documentation: The manual has been completely rewritten A new refreshing layout has been introduced. The manual is now available as a book. A large number of illustrations have been added. 5 practical examples have been included as examples. These tutorials illustrate most options in MSettle providing geotechnical backgrounds as well. The manual now includes a verification section, describing 43 benchmarks.


Version 7.3		2006-09-02 (Build number 7.3.2.1) Improved settlement plate fit module The settlement plate fit is now part of the Calculation menu. The usage of the manual fit has been simplified, and a robust automatic fit has been added. The Use Fit parameters option is available to generate modified results from a complete settlement analysis. Reading of measurement data is now also supported from files with tab delimited format (TXT), or comma (;) delimited format (CSV). Reliability Module: An evaluation version of the Reliability module has been added. This module offers different methods to determine the bandwidth and the parameter sensitivity, for the total settlement and the residual settlement. The initial bandwidth follows from the assumed standard deviation of the parameters. MSettle derives this uncertainty measure from defaults, or from user input. A preceding settlement plate fit will affect the parameter uncertainty, and therefore the bandwidth of the predicted settlements. Other improvements are: A graph of loading versus time has been attached to the graph of settlement versus time; Input of temporary loading has been simplified by the introduction of an end time for nonuniform loading; A graph of residual settlements versus different start times has been made available; The Material window was redesigned, in order to separate the parameters for the soil model from the parameters for the consolidation model. An equivalent age indication of overconsolidation was added to the NENBjerrum and Isotache models.


7.1		2005-11-08 (Build nummer 7.1.4.4) In the previous version of MSettle, consolidation times were sometimes shown incorrectly in the report. This has been solved. However, calculated settlements were correct, because the calculation used the correct values for consolidation. In some Terzaghi calculations a wrong degree of consolidation was calculated It is now possible to work with only the base module. The mechanism that prevents use without license was modified, to avoid unnecessary searching or a netwerk license when a dongle is present. 2004-12-24 (Build nummer 7.1.3.2) In deze versie van MSettle zijn drie problemen verholpen: In de vorige release van MSettle werden vrijwel alle fouten in de invoer aangeduid met "Globals not valid". Er wordt nu weer een tekst getoond die beschrijft wat er mis is. Een fout in de layout van het Calculation Options scherm (alleen voor sommige modelkeuzes) is hersteld. Het probleem dat na een afgebroken zakbaakberekening, de gewone berekening niet meer opstartte, is verholpen. 2004-11-26 (Build nummer 7.1.2.2) In de nieuwe versie van MSettle is het mogelijk om: Verticale drainage met het Terzaghi-model te berekenen. Hiermee wordt de toegankelijkheid en de toepasbaarheid van drains sterk vergroot. Ook onderdruksystemen kunnen gemodelleerd worden. Een dissipatie berekening bij een opgegeven verticaal uit te voeren. In de uitvoer staat dan een aanpassingspercentage tengevolge van een belasting tegen de tijd. Om vanuit MSettle een MStab invoer te schrijven, inclusief gezette geometrie en aanpassingpercentages (na een dissipatie berekening) uit MSettle op een op te geven tijdstip. In de grafieken de data van de plotjes te kopiëren en naar een spreadsheet te verplaatsen voor eventuele verdere analyse De uitvoer (Report and plaatjes) kunnen in drie talen worden uitgevoerd. Engels, Frans en Nederlands. Verder zijn enkele known bugs opgelost.


6.8		2004-05-19 (Build number 6.8.3.2) Modification for student version. 2003-12-01 (Build number 6.8.2.1) Bugs solved from Known Bug list, like - Changes in some properties in e.g. the material screen were not always kept. - Old files that were made by the first Windows versions can be read again. The header of the "Residual Times" table was printed wrongly. 2003-08-15 (Build number 6.8.1.9) NEN-Bjerrum model The NEN rule (NEN 6744) has been replaced by NEN-Bjerrum. This new model, without creep, is identical to the old NEN 6744 model. However, the new NEN-Bjerrum model gives a more realistic description of the creep behaviour. In addition to the improved creep behaviour, it is possible to define several load steps in which unloading and reloading are possible. Report Generator The report with the output data has been greatly improved with a chapter layout and the use of tables and a proportional font. The report can now be saved in the PDF, RTF, and HTML formats. In the report, pn-line 1 was always indicated as the groundwater level, regardless of which pn-line was chosen as the phreatic line. This has now been solved. Smaller improvements The problem when calculating with a vertical on the geometry limit has been solved. The screen updates in the graphical display have been improved, creating a less chaotic layout.


6.7		2003-01-24 (Build nummer 6.7.3.3) An error in the "new security" has been solved: working with two dongles is now no longer a problem because the program now no longer checks the serial number. The ‘About’ box has been redesigned in the Delft GeoSystems house style. In the Support dialog, email is now automatically sent to support@delftgeosystems.nl and no longer to support@geodelft.nl. Time-Settlement Curve on log scale is set to a minimum of 1. Since version 6.7.1.6, the entire dump file was imported twice when opening result windows. This has been corrected so that the results are displayed faster. A negative soil pressure (at which the Koppejan calculation method aborts) was not registered in the output (dump). An incorrect calculation can then be wrongly taken as a correct calculation. Time-Settlement Curve on log-scale is set to a minimum of 1. Since version 6.7.1.6, the entire dump file was imported twice when opening result windows. This has been corrected so that the results are displayed faster. A negative soil pressure (at which the Koppejan calculation method aborts) was not registered in the output (dump). An incorrect calculation can then be wrongly seen as a correct calculation. 2002-11-29 (Build nummer 6.7.1.6) Modules MSettle now has a modular structure. The basic module contains the 1D model with Terzaghi. Additions to this include the 2D model with Terzaghi, the Darcy consolidation model, vertical drainage and fit for settlement plate. The Darcy module is also required for the vertical drainage module. The module ‘Fit for settlement plate’ is still a beta version. Terzaghi and Darcy (module) consolidation for Koppejan, NEN and Isotache Isotache, NEN and Koppejan can now be combined with consolidation in accordance with Terzaghi or Darcy. The numeric Darcy model predicts consolidation more accurately. However, the analytical Terzaghi model is faster and extremely stable. The final settlement is the same for both methods. 1D geometry With the 1D geometry, a simple settlement calculation can be executed very quickly, where the level of the phreatic line, the bottom of the geometry and, for each layer, the top of the layer and the material must be specified for the geometry. Only uniform loads can be used. Vertical drainage (module) With the Darcy model, it is now possible to work with vertical drainage. Here you can choose between (gravel) trenches with inflow in the plain, or piles (drainage strips) with radial inflow. These are located at regular distances from each other. Fit for settlement plate (module) The option ‘Fit for settlement plate’ is now available as a beta version. The measured subsidence can be imported in SLM or GEF format. The user indicates on which level the settlement plate is located and for which soil layers a number of parameters will be fitted as desired. This can be executed for each vertical. Settlement with consolidation in report In the past, the settlement was displayed after consolidation at the bottom of the report, even if consolidation had not finished after the number of days specified in ‘End of settlement calculation’ in the ‘Calculation Options’ window. Because of this, this settlement did not always correspond with the settlement in the time settlement diagram, which prompted many queries. Now settlement is displayed in the report while taking consolidation into account. Parameters a-b-c in Isotache The Isotache parameters Cc, Cs and Calfa that had to be entered in the past have been replaced by the original a, b and c parameters. Cs = a ln(10), Cc = b ln(10), Calfa = c ln(10). The program manual now describes how known parameters can be reliably converted to Isotache parameters. ‘Imaginary surface’, ‘Submerging’ and ‘Initial load’ for Isotache The ‘Imaginary surface’ and ‘Submerging’ options under ‘Calculation Options’ are now also possible with Isotache. The same applies to the ‘Initial load’ option under ‘Non-Uniform Loads’ and ‘Other Loads’. Generate Non-Uniform Loads In the ‘Non-Uniform Loads’ window, a ‘Generate’ button has been added at the bottom left. A click on this button opens a new window in which a number of loads can easily be created. Generate Uniform Loads In the ‘Other Loads’ window (‘Uniform Loads’ with 1D), a ‘Generate’ button has been added at the bottom left. A click on this button opens a new window in which a number of uniform loads can be created. This can be done manually but also by importing an slm file or gef file, in line with a predefined format, with measured surface levels. Plots settlements at different depths For all models, the settlements can now be viewed at different depths in the output plots. Calculation-dependent permeability with Darcy For calculations with Darcy, an option has been added to the material parameters to make permeability during the subsidence process dependent on the strains that have occurred. OCR for Koppejan With the Koppejan method with Terzaghi, for the material parameters you can now also choose an ‘overconsolidation ratio’ instead of a ‘preconsolidation pressure’. Residual settlements A ‘Residual Times’ input window has been added to the ‘Calculation’ menu. The report will now display the residual settlements at these times. Natural strain for Koppejan moved from ‘Calculation Options’ to ‘Model’ In the past, it was possible with the Koppejan method to choose the ‘Natural strain’ option in the ‘Calculation Options’ window. This option has now moved to the ‘Model’ window. ‘Sill stress’ and ‘Creep rate reference time’ The ‘Sill stress’ under ‘Calculation Options’ in the Darcy model has been replaced by a ‘Limit stress’ per material in the ‘Materials’ window. Conversely, the ‘Creep rate reference time’ has been moved from the ‘Materials’ window to the ‘Calculation Options’ window. Display of geometry with ‘File, Open’ and ‘File, Save As’ When opening and saving projects, an example of the geometry of the selected file is now displayed. Geometry in input file In the past, the geometry was stored in the .geo file. Now it is stored in the input file (.sti file). A geometry can still be imported from the .geo file and exported to a .geo file. The geometry can also be imported from the new input files of MStab 9.7 (.sti), MSeep 6.7 (.sei), MDrill 3.7 (.dri) and MSettle 6.7 (.sli). Use of the +/- keys in graphical input When a point, boundary or pl-line has been selected on the ‘Geometry’ tab of the graphical input window, the +/- keys can be used to select the next/previous. Do not use points for both layer boundary and pn-line. A point may not be used by both a layer boundary and a pn-line. In this version, it is no longer possible to use the same point for both. If this was possible in an old project, when that file is being imported a new point is now created for the pn-line.


6.1		18-03-2002 Error in settled geometry corrected In de displayed settled geometry, as well as in the settled geometry that is written to file, something could go wrong when a layer had somewhere a thickness of zero, or when a vertical layer boundary was used. This error is corrected. Hydraulic head Isotache model Until now, the hydraulic head at the top of a compressible set of layers was set to at least the position of the top. In this version however, the specified head is used. Unloading uniform load Before, a uniform load could be used to unload in two different ways: by using a negative unit weight or by using a negative height. From now on, this can only be done by a negative unit weight. Geometry improved The geometry part is improved.


6.0.3		The following bugs have been solved: Pore pressures In the calculation of the pore pressures in a vertical, MSettle did not always use the pl-line of the accompanying layer. This could happen when more than one pl-line was specified in combination with a vertical at which not all the layers had a thickness. This problem occurs since version 5.0. At 'Sigma water' in the 'Stress Curve' you can verify if the right pore pressure was used. Since version 5.3.2.1 this can also be checked by 'Stresses in Geometry'. Difference settled geometry There could be a difference between the settled geometry that was written to a new geometry file and the calculated settlement. This occurred when there were loads placed at a time not equal to zero and at the same time the settled geometry was written at a time short after the last loadstep. Settled geometry with natural strain The natural strain was calculated wrongly when writing the settled geometry of a problem with more than one load. NB: Eventhough the results are much better now, there still can be some small differences between the settled geometry and the calculated settlements. This will be corrected in a later version. Superelevation at settled geometry After writing the settled geometry of a problem with two non-uniform loads next to each other but with a distance between them, the superelevation was drawn wrongly or not at all. NEN and natural strain The method NEN6744 has no natural strain option. However, when the natural strain option was checked for method Koppejan and the method NEN6744 was chosen afterwards this resulted in an (unwanted) effect on the results. In this case, the calculation was wrong and no results were visible in the time-settlement curve. Printing There were several problems with printing: - When different pictures were printed quickly after each other, it could happen that the wrong picture was printed. - When the program was closed during printing it could happen that the printing was not finished. - When the program was closed after printing a report or input file some errors appeared. Colors and unit weights If the 'View Input' window was shown with a materials legend and the materials input screen was then closed by the Ok button, then the colors and unit weights were not shown correctly in the 'View Input' window. Inserting points in geometry layers Inserting points in a geometry layer in the layers input screen was not working correctly. Colors disappeared from geometry When a MSettle file was opened from within the Windows Explorer or Windows Commander and also the input view showed a materials legend, then the colors were not shown in the geometry.


6.0.2		The following bugs have been solved: Updating changed geometry In version 6.0.1.3 only: when a calculation was made directly after some changes in the geometry, it could happen that old geometry values were used. As soon as the file was opened again the problem was over. Access violation at last vertical In exceptional cases, an access violation could appear during the calculation, when the last vertical was placed 0.01 m away from the right limit. Layer numbers in table with natural strain In the report at the results per vertical, the layer numbers shown in the table with natural strain were not correct.


6.0.1		Geometry You can create and adjust the geometry directly from MSettle. You do not need the program MGeo anymore. Isotache The stability of the calculation process has improved. Settings 'Stresses in Geometry' The settings of the result screen 'Stresses in Geometry' can be now be changed at the 'project properties' on the tab 'Stresses in Geometry'. Materials Isotache For the Isotache model, some properties are added to the type 'creeping' of the materials. Display of loads The loads are now drawn with several arrows, analogous to the DOS version. No initial loads for Isotache The possibility to mark the 'initial load' option at the 'non-uniform loads' and 'other loads' has been removed for the Isotache model, since this feature is not implemented yet. Bulk modulus The limits and default of the bulk modulus are changed. The bulk modulus can be found on the 'water properties' screen of the Isotache model. Settled geometry - Error handling is improved for writing the settled geometry. - The settled geometry was only written at the location of points in the geometry. In this version it is done also at the location of all verticals. Automatic generation of verticals Sometimes the option 'generate verticals' did not work properly at the left or right limit. This problem has been solved. Checking starting and end points non-uniform loads For testing whether the starting and end points of a non-uniform load rest at the geometry or another non-uniform load, now also will be checked if that other load is applied earlier. Intersection of non-uniform loads Non-uniform loads are allowed to intersect now. This option should be used with care, since the effect of such a load can be different on either side of the intersection. Reading DOS files Opening of MZET DOS files was not possible in version 5.3.2.1. This is corrected.


5.3.2		Enlarge factor for settled geometry It is now possible to draw the settled geometry with an enlarge factor. Stresses in geometry 'Stresses in Geometry' is added to the Results menu. Here the stresses are drawn in the geometry per vertical. N.B.: This screen makes for its settings use of the 'Project Properties' of the 'Input View'. Error on writing settled geometry corrected When a starting point or end point of the superelevation has a settlement of zero, then the superelevation was not drawn as a new layer.


5.3.1		Initial stresses Now, it is possible to place initial loads. Improved simulation of excavation A 'sequence of loading' is added to non-uniform loads for better handling of excavation, by means of the order in de list. As a result, when recalculating an old project, it is possible that you get a message that the sequence of loading and the time of application do not match. Warning: In case an old project contains more than one non-uniform load with the same application time and these were not put in de right order in de list, then the results after a new calculation will be wrong. For more information about excavations and soil improvements please see the help pages 'Simulate an excavation' and 'Simulate improvement of soil'). Warning: In help page 'Simulate improvement of soil' it is mentioned that for a so-called 'zero load' a unit weight of zero has to be used. This is correct for gamma-unsat, but gamma-sat has to be chosen equal to gamma-water. Improved output of deformed geometry The original and settled geometry are now plotted simultaneously in one drawing. Bugs in writing the settled geometry to a file are solved. Improved superelevation Changes concerning option 'Add superelevation' when writing settled geometry to a file: · A new layer is added instead of heightening the upper layer. The name, time and unit weights of this layer must be set in the calculation options. The superelevation has to be the last loadstep. · Before, the amount of soil that added was equal to the settlement at that time the settled geometry was written. Now, the total amount of soil that had to added after the settlement calculation is added at once to the settled geometry. The superelevation will only be added when the settled geometry is written at a time after the superelevation has been applied. Warning: In case the project contains unloading it is possible that the superelevation will not be added. This will be corrected in a new version. More consistent output of settlement A bug has been solved in calculation of the settlement in the result plots and settled geometry for the Koppejan method with conversion to natural strain. Consolidation is not incorporated in the calculation of settlement in the report. The values of settlement from the report will therefore still differ if the consolidation at the end time is not yet completed. This end time is entered via 'Calculation Options'. Warning in case of tensile stress In case of calculated negative stress a warning is given in the report. Multi-language output All output plots can be shown in both English and Dutch. For now, the report is only available in English. Working directory It is now possible to specify a working directory. Zoom option for graphical output If a geometry picture is zoomed in and then printed, exported or copied to clipboard, only the visible part will be printed. Internet links In the help menu a link is added to the Software Plaza at the GeoDelft website. Via 'Support', you can now send your question directly by email to the supportgroup of GeoDelft.