Plot > Strain > εmax   Maximum Shear Strain

Contours the maximum shear strain ½( ε1 - ε3 )

This component can be accessed via the Strain Components toolbar as follows:

This toolbar can be changed to a vertical orientation by dragging is against either the right or left hand edge of the main window.

It can be changed back to a horizontal orientation by dragging is against either the top or bottom edge of the main window.

Selecting the button on the Contours toolbar activates the Stress Components toolbar.

You can add this button to the Contours toolbar using the configuration button.

In elastic analysis the major principal stress is normally used with the minor principal stress and the Mohr-Coulomb or Hoek-Brown strength criterion to estimate the amount of damage due to over-stressing. By contrast, in non-linear analysis the stresses can never exceed the strength unless some creep is used. In this latter case, viscous creep can allow stress states above the failure criterion, thus indicating a lack of static equilibrium. Hence for non-linear analysis one normally directly considers the amount of non-linear strain or the strain rate predicted by the model

Mohr-Coulomb in 3D FF blocks

Note that there are three components of strain that can be contoured:

Plot > Strain > Value > Elastic

Plot > Strain > Value > Plastic

Plot > Strain > Value > Total

There are also two different ways of presenting the strain:

Plot > Strain > Value > Induced Strain

Plot > Strain > Value > Absolute Strain

The contour range is set using

Plot > Range

Any of these components can be added to the contouring toolbar if desired

Tools > Configure Contouring Toolbar > Strain

The user may find it handy to add the

More Strain Components

button to the contouring toolbar for quick access to all strain components.