Dear colleague,

(apologies for cross posting)

** New geotechnical stability analysis technology **
As someone with an interest in ground engineering I thought you would
wish to be made aware of a recently developed and radically different
numerical technique that can now be applied to a wide range of
geotechnical engineering stability problems. The technique, termed
Discontinuity Layout Optimization (DLO), was first described in 2007
in the international science journal Proc. Royal Society A, and is
completely different to the finite element method and other available
procedures.

The technique, developed recently at the University of Sheffield,
provides a fast, easy and intuitive way to solve geotechnical
stability problems, and has significant potential for use in industry,
and also in teaching and research. Because of this potential, the DLO
technique has now been incorporated into a practical and user friendly
software tool, LimitState:GEO.


** Event at the ICE in London - 20th May **
If you wish to find out more about LimitState:GEO and/or the
technology involved, you can register to attend the following free
afternoon event:

20th May 2008 - Institution of Civil Engineers, London - Official
LimitState:GEO launch and technology briefing seminar

At the event the technology will be outlined by its originators and
unique features of the LimitState:GEO software will be demonstrated.
To register to attend this event, or to find out more, please visit:
www.limitstate.com/events


** New software tool - LimitState:GEO - now available **
A fully supported version of the software is being made available on
commercial terms to industry users, and Limitstate Ltd has a policy of
making the software freely available to Universities for research and
teaching use. All types of users can now download a free-to-use
preview edition of the software, by visiting:
www.limitstate.com/download


** Context **
Up until now geotechnical engineers have had to rely either on hand
calculation methods, a suite of 'single application' software programs
(focussed e.g. only on slope or retaining wall stability), or on
significantly more complex finite element packages. With the new
technology any type of stability problem can be solved - but much,
much more straightforwardly than when using a finite element package.
The software also fits in well with the partial factors approach used
in EC7, which is generally independent of problem type.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Matthew Gilbert

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