I recently updated my SPW911, V2.09 with the update supplied by your website. When I input a bulkhead that I designed prior to the update, the new deflection and toe are about double what they use to be before the update. Is there a reason for this?

SPW911 V2.21 gives a larger toe, deflection etc than V2.09 becuase of changes in program operation between the two versions. Some of these changes are as follows:

1. The modelling of water in cohesive and mixed soils was altered. Refer to the new Help file for details. A new page in the Help file (see the Calculation methods section) gives full details on how water is modelled in cohesive soils.
2. Bending moment calculations were modified slightly to improve agreement with hand calculations.
3. The method of applying the standard surcharge, Q, in the Terzaghi pressure model was modified. Refer to the new Help file for details.
4. Some minor display problems for Windows XP users were fixed, and the display now occupies more of the visible screen area with high resolution monitors.

Basically, the treatment of hydrostatic pressure, as summarised in the Help file, is:

• "Granular soils (C = 0; phi > 0): bulk and submerged densities are used above and below the water table respectively. Water pressure is then calculated within each soil layer.
• Cohesive soils (C >0; phi = 0): bulk density is used above and below the water table. The limit of water pressure in cohesive strata is assumed to be the depth at which the water pressure equals the earth pressure.
• Mixed soils (C > 0; phi > 0): treated in the same way as cohesive soils on the active side. Hydrostatic pressure is applied as in granular soils on the passive side.

When I'm looking at the graphic results on the screen, they don't seem to fit very well on the screen. What's the problem here?

The problem is that the aspect ratio of monitors and the aspect ratio of printed pages is different. The image on the screen will be printed on the page as it appears on the screen. If this is a serious problem for you, contact us.

I am trying to install the SPW911 program for the first time. My computer reads the CD fine. I get to the main screen where the install link is. When I click the install link it saves setup.exe to my hard drive. When I run setup.exe i get the following error message: "Setup is unable to find SetUp.dll which is needed to complete the installation." What am I supposed to do to get this program installed?

The problem is with your web browser, usually Internet Explorer but sometimes others as well. These get set up differently on different computers. The way in which they handle downloaded files differs from one machine to the next; the browser is treating the setup file as a downloaded file. The simplest way to deal with this is as follows:

1. Close the web page with the sheet piling photo.
2. Go into "Windows Explorer."
3. View the contents of the SPW911 CD-ROM.
4. Open the folder "SPW911."
5. Double click on the file "setup.exe." The program should install normally.

What does a FOS < 1.0 mean even if the stability check says "no problems found"?

Let us assume this is a no toe case - you can check this by looking at the base of the excavation, where an arrow is shown if fos >= 1, no arrow is shown if fos < 1. No Toe will also be indicated in the left margin. In no toe cases, the stability check looks to see if you have at least 2 frames, and there must be at least 1 on each side of the mid-point.

Is there any way to seperate soil properties vertically on either side of the sheeting? We are currently manually modifying earth coefficients.

No.

"The Fine Print" for SPW 911

The information, including technical and engineering data, details, procedures and results, presented in this program have been prepared in accordance with recognized contracting and/or engineering  principles, and are for general information only.  While every effort has been made to insure its accuracy,  this information should not be used or relied upon for any specific application without independent  competent professional examination and verification of its accuracy, suitability and applicability, by a licensed professional engineer.  Anyone making use of this material does so at his/her own risk and assumes any and all liability resulting from such use.  The entire risk as to quality or usability of the data contained within is with the user.  In no event will Pile Buck^® International, Inc. be held liable for any damages including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of or inability to use the information contained within.  By continuing, the user of this program hereby agrees that the user has read the terms and conditions outlined in the attached "End User License Agreement" and "Disclaimer of Warranty and Limited Warranty" and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions mentioned therein.  If the user is not in agreement with the terms and conditions outlined in the attached "End User License Agreement" and "Disclaimer of Warranty and Limited Warranty" in its entirety please return this program immediately for a complete refund of the original purchase price.

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