Introducing

RS 2
and the Top Reasons to Upgrade to RS2 (Phase2 9.0)

With the release of version 9.0, and the incorporation of a number of important features, RS2 is now a complete 2D
geotechnical finite element program for both rock and soil.
The engine of the latest version of RS2 has been completely upgraded with fully-coupled Biot Theory (hydro-mechanical
coupling), among other improvements, and is now a perfect pairing with RS3, our 3D finite element analysis program. For
this reason, we are pleased to announce that were re-naming Phase2 to RS2. Upgrade to RS2 (Phase2 9.0) today!
 RocNews Fall 2014

Phases

A brief history
The Evolution of RS2
1992 Initial release of Phases, developed by the Rock Engineering Group at the University
of Toronto. Phases was a hybrid finite-element boundary element program for underground
excavations in rock. Phases is an acronym for Plastic Hybrid Analysis of Stress for
Estimation of Support. Development of versions 1 and 2 of Phases continued between
1992 and 1996. Phases was a DOS program, as you can see in the screen capture below.

In case youve forgotten what a DOS screen looked like

Phase2
1996 Rocscience bought the rights to Phases from the University of Toronto and
developed a new version of the software and changed the name to Phase2. Version 3
was released in 1997. The program had a completely new finite-element engine (with no
boundary element support). This finite-element engine formed the basis for later versions
of Phase2. New support models and interface improvements were added. The program
was still designed for rock excavations but now had better support for near surface
excavations (i.e. open pit mining). Version 3 was still in DOS.
1998-1999 Complete rewrite of the user interface was undertaken to move the program
to a Windows 95 (Win32) based platform. In 1999, Phase2 v4 for Windows was released.
2001 Phase2 v5 was released. A complete update to the user-interface, addition of pore
pressures and effective stress for failure computation, new support models, staging of
properties, etc. was meant to start the push towards a general geotechnical modeling tool
for both rock and soil structures.

Introducing RS2 2
 RocNews Fall 2014

A brief history
The Evolution of RS2
As we progress along the Phase2 evolutionary ladder, a typical Windows 95 screen capture from
Phase2 5.0.

RS2
2014 RS2 (Phase2 9.0) released. RS2 is an acronym for Rock and Soil 2-Dimensional
Analysis Program. Computation engine completely upgraded to include fully-coupled
Biot Theory (hydro-mechanical coupling for consolidation analysis), dynamic analysis
capabilities, transient groundwater analysis, and much more. RS2 is a general purpose
geotechnical modeling tool able to analyse both soil and rock structures.
Just as Phase2 3.0 replaced Phases 2.0 many years ago in 1998, now the long-awaited
update to Phase2 8.0 is here. After three years of development, RS2 (Phase2 9.0) will replace
Phase2 8.0.

RS2 9.0 Modeler Interface, embankment consolidation model, Windows 7

Introducing RS2 3
 RocNews Fall 2014

RS2 for Analyses in Rock and Soil

Analyses in Rock: Analyses in Soil:
RS2 (Phase2 9.0) is a unique program for finite element Building on the programs success in the field of rock
analyses in rock. RS2 has earned a reputation as the engineering, the latest upgrade of RS2 (Phase2 9.0)
leading FE program for rock by offering a multitude of broadens the range of geotechnical applications for which
unique modeling and analysis features: the program can be used.
Joint Networks The major additions to the program, which greatly
Total Stress Analysis increase its application to soils problems are:
Tunnel Support Design 1. Fully-coupled Biot theory (consolidation)
SSR for Jointed Networks 2. Seepage analysis (transient and steady-state)
Support Types (bolts, liners, composite liners, piles) 3. Dynamic Analysis
Support Capacity Plots 4. New soil material models for sand and clay
RS2 expands on this by introducing a number of new Fully-Coupled Biot Theory
features: RS2 can now be used to conduct a coupled consolidation
1. Anisotropic rock mass analysis based on Biot Theory. A number of different failure
2. New support-capacity curves criteria are available in RS2; these include Mohr-Coulomb,
Modified Cam-Clay, and Cap-Cone models. Using these
3. Tunnel Wizard
different models, the consolidation analysis can be
4. Material-dependent joint strength
performed for linear and non-linear material behaviour. In
5. Stress transform calculator RS2, consolidation can be done for drained, undrained, and
fully drained conditions.
Seepage Analysis
RS2 also comes with transient seepage analysis
capabilities, similar to Slide and RS3.
Dynamic Analysis
The addition of dynamic analysis capabilities is a
significant addition to RS2, allowing users to model
dynamic loading conditions such as earthquakes, blast,
and machine loading scenarios. RS2 provides a number of
dynamic boundary conditions that allow the user to absorb
For a complete list of new features, incoming pressure and shear waves, transmit motion into
see Whats New in RS2 9.0. the model, and insert user-defined dashpot dampers and
For more information on the major nodal masses to the system.
new soil analysis features see the New Material Models
following articles: A range of new material models were added to RS2 to
Consolidation enhance the programs applicability to soil analyses. The
Constitutive Modeling following are some of the new material models:
Coupled Analysis Mohr-Coulomb with cap
Dynamic Analysis Softening/Hardening models
User-defined constitutive model
Non-linear isotropic elastic

Introducing RS2 4