ABSTRACT
In FLAC3D, the seepage and mechanical equations are numerically solved based on a weak coupled method. In other words, the seepage and mechanical iterations are calculated interactively. Each iteration includes one or several flow steps followed by enough mechanical steps to maintain quasi-static equilibrium. In the seepage model of FLAC3D, no function exists to relate negative pore-water pressure with water content or degree of saturation. The negative pore-water pressure only expresses that arises from expansion of a volume filled with water, rather than suction due to capillary force.
