Knowledge Base

The Plaxis Liquefaction Model is a full 3D implementation of the UBCSAND model by P. Byrne et.al.
This model is available as a user-defined soil model Dynamic Link Library (DLL).
The DLL can be obtained from and is supported by Plaxis.
However, Plaxis does not accept any responsibility when using this DLL.
Hence, the user needs to validate results obtained from this model by him/herself.

In order to obtain the model, please contact our sales department.

Support on the use of the UBCSAND model is only provided for this DLL under the conditions of the PLAXIS VIP support service and Article 10 of the End-User Licence Agreement.

Update November 2011: PLAXIS has extended the original UBCSAND model into a full 3D formulation and has made this available as a user-defined soil model (UDSM) to our users under the conditions of the PLAXIS VIP support. It is known that the current version of the PLAXIS UBCSAND model (October 2011) exaggerates the development of excess pore pressure upon cyclic loading, which leads to earlier liquefaction than what is observed for sands in reality. This will at least result in a conservative conclusion with respect to stability. Currently PLAXIS is working on an improvement of the model according to the latest UBCSAND formulation (904aR; Beaty & Byrne, 2011) in order to be able to make more realistic predictions of the development of excess pore pressures and liquefaction. Any update of this model will be published on this page.