Slope Stability Webinars, FLAC2D Upgrade, Training Opportunities, and More (April 2026 Issue)

This month is all about slope stability and getting more from the tools you already use. From 3D vs 2D slope modeling and FLAC2D dynamic analysis to new training opportunities, PFC lecture releases, and case studies, you’ll find practical guidance you can apply directly to real projects, plus important updates on FLAC 8 end of support, beta access, and academic licensing.

This Issue At a Glance

• New Webinars: 3D vs 2D slope stability analysis and FLAC2D dynamic slope modeling with structural interaction.
• Webinar Replay: Ask ITASCA Software Q&A on FLAC2D/3D slope capabilities, MPM, and constitutive modeling.
• FLAC 8 End of Support: Upgrade to FLAC2D v9 by April 30 and save 35% with code FLACNOW.
• Training: FLAC2D/3D fundamentals, embankment dam and slope analysis, plus free on-demand training videos.
• Videos: New PFC lecture series with David Potyondy on fundamentals, bonded-particle modeling, and PFC physics.
• Conferences & Events: Meet the team at URTeC 2026 and ARMA 2026 in June.
• Beta Program: Get early access to new features and collaborate directly with the development team.
• Case Studies: Retaining walls, wind turbine foundations, and large-scale mine instability analysis with ITASCA software.
• Academic Program: Licensing options for researchers, instructors, and students.
• Community: Ask questions and share ideas in the ITASCA Software Forum.

ITASCA Software Webinars

This month our webinars focus on slope stability analysis from two angles: why 3D modeling is more powerful than many engineers assume, and how to get started with dynamic slope analysis and structural interaction in FLAC2D. Both webinars are designed for practicing engineers who want practical, technically grounded guidance they can apply immediately in their projects.

Webinar: Why 3D Modeling for Slope Stability Analysis — Are 3D Models Misleading?

When should you move beyond 2D, and what do you gain when you do? On April 16, 2026, 10–11 AM CDT, join Loren Lorig, Principal Geotechnical Consulting Engineer at Itasca, for a focused webinar on the role of 3D models in slope stability analysis. You’ll see a direct comparison of 3D and 2D modeling approaches, with an emphasis on when each is appropriate and how 3D can capture failure mechanisms that 2D simply cannot represent.

Some engineers worry that 3D models may mislead users because 2D sections seem to offer more visible detail, but the data tell a different story. Loren will walk through practical case-style examples to show how 3D modeling helps you better characterize geometry, loading, and material variability, and how that leads to more defensible designs and risk assessments. If you’re evaluating whether to add 3D slope modeling to your toolkit—or need to justify that transition to project stakeholders—this session will give you the clarity you need.

Register for “Why 3D Modeling for Slope Stability Analysis — Are 3D Models Misleading?”

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Webinar: FLAC2D Slope Modeling – Intro to Dynamic Analysis and Structural Interaction

Ready to connect your slope stability work with dynamic loads and structural elements in FLAC2D? On April 23, 2026, 10–11 AM CDT, join David DeGagne (Senior Engineer–Technical Marketing) and Zhao Cheng, PhD, PE (Software Technology Lead) for an introductory webinar on FLAC2D slope modeling, dynamic analysis, and structural interaction. This session is geared toward engineers who know the fundamentals of numerical modeling and want to see how FLAC2D handles seismic loading and support systems in practical slope problems.

Mr. DeGagné brings experience in rock mechanics applications including slurry and paste backfill and sublevel caving, and will focus on how those principles carry over to slope design and analysis workflows. Dr. Chéng, a geomechanics engineer and licensed Professional Engineer in California, will show how FLAC2D’s numerical framework handles dynamic response and the interaction between soil or rock masses and structural elements, helping you build confidence in model setup, boundary conditions, and interpretation of results. You’ll leave with a clearer roadmap for incorporating FLAC2D into your own slope projects.

Register for “FLAC2D Slope Modeling: An Introductory Webinar on Dynamic Analysis and Structural Interaction”

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Webinar Replay: Ask ITASCA Software Live Q&A (March 2026)

If you missed our March session of Ask ITASCA Software, you can now watch the full replay on demand. In the recording, you’ll hear discussion of the capabilities of FLAC2D and FLAC3D for complex slope analysis, including how to approach challenging geometries, failure mechanisms, and loading conditions that go beyond simple textbook examples. The session also touches on the Material Point Method (MPM) and constitutive model capability, with a focus on when MPM offers advantages over traditional approaches and how to think about model selection for different classes of problems.

Watch the “Ask ITASCA Software” March 2026 Q&A Replay

FLAC 8 End of Support: Upgrade Opportunity

The clock is running out on FLAC 8. Official technical support ends May 8, 2026, and with no bug fixes or security patches issued since 2023, the risks of staying on legacy software are already here.

Upgrading to FLAC2D v9 isn’t just about staying supported. It means leaving behind manual i,j space meshing and moving into a faster, more capable modeling environment built for the problems you’re solving today.

Upgrade by April 30 and save 35% on your first year. Use code FLACNOW at checkout for a discount on FLAC2D, maintenance, and academic subscriptions. Academic orders must be placed directly through our sales team.

Upgrade & Save | Questions? Contact Sales

ITASCA Software Training

Expand Your Skills: Upcoming ITASCA Software Training

Whether you’re just getting started or taking on more advanced geotechnical analysis, these upcoming opportunities provide focused, practical training from subject matter experts at a pace that fits a working schedule.

Getting Started with FLAC2D/FLAC3D

📅 April 28–29, 2026 | Online | Two half-days 🕐 7:30–11:00 AM CT / 2:30–6:00 PM CET

Build confidence with FLAC2D and FLAC3D from the ground up. This introductory course covers core workflows, model setup, and the essential tools you need to start solving real geomechanical problems efficiently. Register today!

Analyses of Embankment Dams and Slopes Using FLAC2D/3D

📅 May 27 – June 19, 2026 | 20 hours total 🕐 Offering A: 7:00–9:30 AM PST | Offering B: 2:30–5:00 PM PST

This specialized 20-hour virtual course with Richard Armstrong is designed for practicing civil engineers who need applied, in-depth training in embankment dam and slope analysis. Across eight sessions, you’ll work through hands-on tutorials covering mesh development, seismic analysis, advanced constitutive modeling with PM4Sand and P2PSand, and post-earthquake stability assessment using FLAC2D/3D. Full software access is provided for the duration of the course, and class size is capped at 15 participants. Cost: 1,550 USD per participant (group discounts and international rate adjustments available). Get more information and register!

Free Training Courses from ITASCA Software

Prefer to learn on your own schedule? Browse ITASCA’s growing collection of free training videos focused on simulation, modeling workflows, and engineering analysis. Each series highlights specific tools and techniques such as particle flow, hydraulic fracturing, slope stability, meshing, and geomechanics, with a focus on practical application to real-world projects. Explore free training today!

ITASCA Software Videos

Check out our YouTube channel for a growing library of software tutorials, lecture series, webinar recordings, and simulation demos designed to help you master advanced geomechanical and hydrogeological modeling using ITASCA tools.

PFC Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Particle Flow Code with David Potyondy

In this introductory lecture, Dr. David Potyondy explains the philosophy and physics behind Particle Flow Code (PFC) and how to use it as a research tool rather than a “black box.” The session covers core governing equations, how PFC represents granular and bonded particle systems, and how it ties into real rock mechanics and geotechnical research problems, including examples from PhD and industry projects, while outlining the full course roadmap from basic model building and the GUI to scripting with FISH and advanced bonded-particle and SNBV modeling. Watch Lecture 1

PFC Lecture 2: Bonded-Particle Modeling and Rock Fracture with David Potyondy

Lecture 2 builds on the PFC introduction by showing how bonded-particle models are applied in serious rock mechanics research and why PFC has become a key tool in that community. Dr. Potyondy reviews the evolution to PFC 5, explains bonded-particle modeling, scale effects, and calibration from lab tests, and addresses practical issues such as time-step selection, dynamic effects, and equilibrium criteria using intuitive physical analogies. Watch Lecture 2

PFC Lecture 3: Contact Mechanics and PFC Physics with David Potyondy

In Lecture 3, Dr. Potyondy dives into the core PFC physics needed to build meaningful models, focusing on how particles, contacts, and forces work in the code. He explains particle types, contact forces and moments, soft-contact overlaps, and the Hooke’s-law–based normal and shear contact model (including friction, sliding, damping, and time-stepping), connecting discrete element theory to geotechnical and rock mechanics applications. Watch lecture 3

Conferences & Events

Want to talk strategy in person? You can find the ITASCA Software team at these upcoming events in June.

URTeC 2026 – Unconventional Resources Technology Conference

📅 June 22–24, 2026 📍 George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas

URTeC brings together engineers, geoscientists, and industry leaders for three days of technical presentations, case studies, and networking focused on unconventional resources. The ITASCA Software team will be onsite to discuss how our tools are being applied to reservoir geomechanics, hydraulic fracturing, and subsurface characterization. Learn more!

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60th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium (ARMA 2026)

📅 June 21–24, 2026 📍 Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Arizona

Hosted by the University of Arizona, the ARMA annual symposium is a premier gathering for rock mechanics professionals across mining, civil, petroleum, and energy sectors. The ITASCA Software team will be at the show—find us to see what’s new in our software suite and connect directly with the people behind the tools you use. Learn more!

ITASCA Software Beta Program

Be the First to Shape What’s Next: Join the ITASCA Software Beta Program

The engineers and researchers pushing geotechnical modeling forward shouldn’t have to wait for general release. The ITASCA Software Beta Program gives you early access to new features before they hit the market, plus a direct line to the development team so those features work the way you need them to.

As a beta participant, you’ll be first to test cutting-edge tools, provide feedback that directly shapes future updates, receive official recognition for your contributions, and gain access to exclusive perks like priority technical support and special discounts for your organization.

➡️ Request to Join the Beta Program!

ITASCA Software Case Studies

ITASCA Software in Practice: Featured Case Studies

The best measure of a modeling tool is what it delivers on real projects. These case studies show how engineers and researchers across civil, mining, and energy sectors are putting ITASCA software to work on problems that matter.

• Analysis of Retaining Wall Performance Using Paratie Plus and Continuum Modeling in FLAC2D – This case study compares Paratie Plus’ spring-based modeling with FLAC2D continuum analysis for a complex tied-back retaining wall at the Dalmine Interchange, showing how integrated numerical simulation better captures soil–structure interaction (including arching effects) and aligns with in-situ monitoring to optimize design safety and performance.
• Wind Turbine Foundation Analysis – Discover how a detailed 3D FLAC model of a heavily loaded wind turbine foundation revealed its true failure mechanisms and enabled a more efficient conical design that meets performance requirements without overstressing the rebar.
• Numerical Assessment of an Overall Instability at Bajo de La Alumbrera Mine – Learn how 3D numerical back-analysis of a dramatic wall failure at the Bajo de la Alumbrera open pit mine not only matched field observations, but also revealed why earlier predictive modeling was right—and how it can guide safer future mining.

ITASCA Software Academic Program

ITASCA software powers some of the most demanding research and infrastructure projects in the world, and the same tools are now available to researchers, instructors, and students through licensing options built specifically for academic work.

Whether you’re running grant-funded research, teaching numerical modeling in the classroom, or building hands-on skills as a student, there’s a license structure designed for your situation. Research licenses provide full access to all software modules with flexible institutional terms, teaching licenses bundle one instructor seat with multiple student seats and ready-to-use curriculum packages, and student licenses offer full functionality at an affordable single-seat price with continuous software updates included.

➡️Explore ITASCA Academics

ITASCA Software Forum

Connect and Learn at the ITASCA Software Forum

The ITASCA Software Forum is a community space for users of 3DEC, FLAC, FLAC2D, FLAC3D, Griddle, MassFlow, KATS, MINEDW, PFC, UDEC, XSite and more, to ask questions, share answers, and discuss ideas.

Anyone can join and browse discussions, but you’ll need a valid software license to post questions. After you’ve been granted posting permission, you’re encouraged to ask general usage questions and share feedback; for application-specific or private support, you can still use the Technical Support dialog in your software or the Help Request form on the ITASCA website.

➡️ Visit the forum!