Tutorial

Discover GeoD with this workflow tutorial where a large scale geomechanical model is built from imported earth model information. This class of model is often called a Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) and we’ll use this descriptive terminology here.

The example will illustrate how to build a MEM using GeoD. Owing to the wide number of geological settings and the almost limitless technical goals of a MEM study, illustrating a complex problem (that is, one including poro-elasticity, creep, complex loads and initial conditions) would be of value to only a few users. Instead, this example demonstrates the simple case of initializing a MEM domain with body forces for elastic only lithologies. This is not a very realistic case, but serves to illustrate the model building process.

In actuality, the main changes necessary for more complex MEM simulations occur in the Parameter Assignment and Boundary and Initial Conditions assignment steps, where the factors included depend on the materials, loads and technical problem being solved. Solver choice also impacts the exact workflow necessary. The geometric build is extremely similar across almost all MEM builds and is the main area where GeoD time savings are found.

Using the capabilities of Geomechanics Director tools and options, you import source surfaces, create and export a solvable (in Abaqus) mechanical earth model (MEM). Using the provided result file, you will also learn how to use the various GeoD-Post tools for analysis.