Menus
The menu consists of
File Menu
New
Creates a new project and sets all values to default value.
Open
Opens a file-chooser dialog to select an existing ‘.gem’ (geotechnical engineering model) project file to load. The values of the current project are not saved and it doesn’t prompt the user to save the data.
Save
Saves the existing project to the ‘.gem’ file. If a file is not already specified, it opens the file-chooser dialog to select the name of the file to be saved. The project properties and input parameters are saved into the file.
Save As
Opens a file-chooser to select the file to save the project to.
Export to Excel
Exports the project properties, input parameters, analysis to an excel (.xlsx) file.
Select the parameters to be exported in the ‘Export to Excel’ dialog window and click ‘Export’. In the following file-chooser dialog, specify the export file.
Note: To avoid stale analysis values being exported, rerun the analysis using the compute menu and then export the contents to excel.
Note: Analysis results are exported for analysis models having FULL / valid SUBSCRIPTION licenses. Results for analysis models with trial licenses are not exported and the respective fields in the ‘Export to Excel’ dialog window will not be selectable and greyed out.
Export to Word
Exports the project properties, input parameters, analysis to an MS Word (.docx) file.
Select the parameters to be exported in the ‘Export to Word’ dialog window and click ‘Export’. In the following file-chooser dialog, specify the export file.
Note: To avoid stale analysis values being exported, rerun the analysis using the compute menu. Visit all the results pages first prior to exporting the results to Word.
Note: Analysis results are exported for analysis models having FULL / valid SUBSCRIPTION licenses. Results for analysis models with trial licenses are not exported and the respective fields in the ‘Export to Word’ dialog window will not be selectable and greyed out.
Export to PDF
Exports the project properties, input parameters, analysis to a Portable Document Format (.pdf) file.
Select the parameters to be exported in the ‘Export to PDF’ dialog window and click ‘Export’. In the following file-chooser dialog, specify the export file.
Note: To avoid stale analysis values being exported, rerun the analysis using the compute menu. Visit all the results pages first prior to exporting the results to PDF.
Note: Analysis results are exported for analysis models having FULL / valid SUBSCRIPTION licenses. Results for analysis models with trial licenses are not exported and the respective fields in the ‘Export to PDF’ dialog window will not be selectable and greyed out.
Select the parameters to be printed in the ‘Print’ dialog window and click ‘Next’
A printer selection dialog window will then open
Select the printer from the selection list.
Select the number of copies to be printed.
Once the status indicates ‘Ready to print’, click on ‘Print’ to print the document.
The application can print only to a pdf capable printer. This functionality is not available on the cloud. The document will be rendered like the ‘export to PDF’ document.
Note: To avoid stale analysis values from being printed, rerun the analysis using the compute menu. Visit all the results pages first prior printing the results.
Note: Analysis results are printed for analysis models having FULL / valid SUBSCRIPTION licenses. Results for analysis models with trial licenses are not printed and the respective fields in the ‘Print’ dialog window will not be selectable and greyed out.
Preferences
Preferences are global preferences that are loaded at the start of the application. These can be overridden with project specific values.
User Directory
This is the default directory where all project files will be stored. Click on the folder icon to select the directory. It will display a directory chooser dialog. The selection is displayed to the left of the folder icon
Units
The default units for the application can be set here. The choices include ‘SI Units’ and ‘Common American units’. These are then applied to all future projects.
Save
Save button saves the preferences for the application.
Cancel
Cancel button exits the preference dialog box without saving the changes.
Edit Menu
Cut
Cuts the current selection into the clipboard.
Copy
Copies the current selection into the clipboard.
Paste
Pastes the current selection from the clipboard.
Delete
Deletes the current selection.
Undo
Undo’s the last config change.
Redo
Reapplies the last undone change.
Compute Menu
Validate
Validate checks all the inputs for errors. If there are no errors, a notification indicating the same is displayed.
If there are errors, you will get notifications detailing each error.
Troubleshooting errors
Fill all the required parameters in the
‘Input Parameters’ pane and complete all the required tables. The mandatory
fields have a red star (
) adjacent to the field.
1. Set the 'Design factor of safety' appropriately
a. Select a pile cross-section
b. Pile Length
c. Mandatory parameters under corresponding Pile Dimensions pane.
Refer to ‘Pile Dimensions Pane’ table for details of the required fields.
2. Pile Properties Tab (No mandatory fields)
Check the values against each parameter
Before entering data in this pane, it is prudent to 'Compute Design Load' for the pile. This will give an idea of the maximum load that can be applied on the pile group.
a) Select the type of Pile Group Cap
b) Select either Grid or User defined option in the Pile Geometry
a. For Grid Option,
i. ‘Generate grid’ after entering the grid parameters.
ii. Ensure that the Grid Details table is complete and there are no errors under this pane.
b. For User Defined Option,
i. Ensure that the 'Pile X coordinate' and 'Pile Y Coordinate' in the 'Pile Placement in Group' Table is filled and there are no errors reported under this table.
Ensure there is at least 0.5D spacing between the piles.
c) Pile Group Loading for Rigid Cap Pile
a. Ensure that the 'Load on pile cap' is less than the 'Design load of a single pile'
b. Ensure that the eccentricity in x and y direction lies within the pile cap and doesn’t lie outside the piles.
d) Pile Group Loading for Flexible Cap Pile
a. For same load on all Piles, ensure that the pile head load is less than the design load of the pile
b. For different load on piles, ensure that all the piles have loads applied on them. The average load on the piles should be less than the design load
a. Soil Layers Tab
i. Soil Layer Table: Required if field test data is not used
ii. Soil Layer Properties for each layer: Mandatory if field test data is not used
Refer to Soil Layer Properties for details on each field.
b. SPT Tab: Mandatory if any analysis model requires SPT data
a. This pane is required only if field test data along with base soil properties is to be used in lieu of layered soil properties.
Tables with errors will highlighted with a red border with a label indicating ‘error’. Hovering the mouse over the ‘error’ label indicates the nature of error.
Clear Outputs
Clears all the output tables and graphs. This will clear all the tables and graphs in the ‘Pile Group Settlement Analysis' pane.
Compute Design Load
Prior to deciding the pile group parameters, one may need to know the pile capacity and design load for the standalone single pile. Clicking on the 'Compute Design Load' will calculate
a) Standalone single pile capacity
b) Design load of the pile considering the 'Design factor of safety' specified in the 'Project Pane'
c) Design load pile head settlement
d) Design load pile base settlement
These are displayed in the Pile Group Settlement Analysis' pane.
Note: To run this analysis, the user doesn't need to populate any data in the 'Pile Group Data' pane. This can be executed even if there are errors present in the 'Pile Group Data' pane.
Compute Pile Group Settlement
Selecting this will compute the 'Pile group settlement' and load on individual piles in case of 'Rigid Cap' case and 'Individual pile settlement' in the case of 'Flexible cap' case.
Additionally, the standalone single pile capacity and design load parameters are also calculated and displayed in the 'Pile Group Settlement Analysis' Pane.
The application first validates the inputs. If inputs are not valid, it displays the errors and doesn’t proceed further. Refer to ‘validate’ for more details on trouble shooting errors.
If Inputs are valid, it proceeds to perform the analysis.
A successful analysis will pop up notifications for each analysis model selected for analysis.
The Pile Group Settlement Analysis' pane will also be highlighted in green color to indicate that fresh results are available. Click on the panes to view the analysis.
If there are errors while performing the execution, or the execution takes more than 5 seconds to perform, the execution will error out with appropriate errors.
Help Menu
License
License menu pops up a license dialog indicating the status of the license.
There is one analysis module 'Pile Group Settlement Analysis' licensed as part of this.
License information during trial period
Product Key
This is only applicable for desktop applications running on Windows / macOS and is not applicable for applications hosted on GEMS cloud. This is the product key for the license once you purchase any module. This field is editable if there is no product key associated with this application. Once a product key is applied and the application activated, they ‘Product Key’ field cannot be edited. The product key is tied to the machine once it is activated on the machine. Uninstalling the application will not remove the association of the product key with this machine. The product key can be disassociated after deactivating the license key by clicking the deactivate button.
Name
Name of the licensee to whom the product key is issued to. This field is populated by the application by downloading this information from the internet servers. This information is provided by the user at the time of purchase of the license.
Organization
Name of the organization to which the licensee belongs to. This field is populated by the application by downloading this information from the internet servers. This information is provided by the user at the time of purchase of the license.
License Type
Type of license for the analysis module. The values can be
TRIAL – This module can be used under trial license. The functionality of this module may be limited during the trial period. Trial period is typically 30 days from the date the application is installed on the machine. Internet connectivity is required to use the application if both modules are under trial. The application validates the trial license with our servers on the internet each time it is launched.
EXTENDED_TRIAL – This module can be used under trial license. The functionality of this module may be limited during the extended trial period. The license is valid for the extended trial period shown. Internet connectivity is required to use the application if all the modules are under extended trial. The application validates the trial license with our servers on the internet each time it is launched.
SUBSCRIPTION – This module has a subscription license and there are no restrictions in functionality. The license period is for the period shown and requires renewal prior to the expiry date. One is advised to renew the license before the expiry date to avoid any discontinuity. Please contact support@gemsoftware.org or visit www.gemsoftware.org/purchase to renew the subscription. The application validates the license periodically with our servers for validity.
FULL – This module has a full license and there are no restrictions in functionality. The license period is permanent & perpetual. The application validates the license with our servers periodically for validity.
EXPIRED – The license period has expired. Please contact support@gemsoftware.org or visit www.gemsoftware.org/purchase to purchase license for this module. Click on ‘revalidate’ if you feel that the license may still be valid. The application cannot be used if all licenses are in INVALID / EXPIRED / UNKNOWN state.
INVALID/UNKNOWN – The state of the license cannot be determined. This may happen if the application cannot validate license information against our servers on the internet. Click on ‘Revalidate Button’ to contact our servers on the internet to get updated information. When the application is first installed, the initial state may be “INVALID / UNKNOWN / TRIAL”.
The application cannot be used if both licenses are in INVALID / EXPIRED / UNKNOWN state.
Validity
This field gives the validity of each of the license.
License related messages are displayed in the messages area.
Activate Button
Activate button is used to activate the product key. Enter the product key and click on the ‘Activate’ button to activate the key. Once the product key is activated, it gives a notification indicating the same.
Deactivate Button
Deactivate button de-activates the product key associated with this machine. The ‘Deactivate Button’ is only visible when a valid product key has been activated on the machine. The license key can now be used on another machine.
IMPORTANT: When uninstalling the software from the machine, remember to deactivate the software first.
Re-Validate Button
Revalidate button is used to revalidate the product key and license types with our servers. When the user purchases additional licenses, updates license features, click on the revalidate button to fetch updated license information from our servers.
Close Button
Closes the license dialog. If all the licenses are EXPIRED/INVALID/UNKNOWN then the application will also close. The application can only be used if the correct product key is entered and at least one license is of TRIAL / EXTENDED_TRIAL / SUBSCRIPTION / FULL type.
License information after SUBSCRIPTION license is activation.
About
About menu displays information regarding the application, copyright information and has links to “License” for this software.
Help
Displays help related information for the application