ITASCA Software Insights Newsletter
Updates, insights, and ideas and from the world of advanced geotechnical engineering software.
New BPM Webinar, Ask ITASCA Q&A, Spring Trainings + 35% Off FLAC Upgrade Ends April 30 and more! (March 2026 Issue)
This month is packed! We’re announcing the winners of our FLAC 40th Anniversary Model Contest, launching a new multi-part webinar series on Bonded-Particle Modeling with Dr. David Potyondy, and sharing three upcoming training courses to help you build on the fundamentals. There’s also a replay from last month’s FLAC anniversary webinar if you missed it, and a reminder that the deadline for 35% off your FLAC2D upgrade is April 30. Read on for everything you need this month.
This Issue At a Glance
- FLAC 40th Anniversary Contest Winners: Meet the top three entries from the global geomechanics community.
- New Webinar — Bonded-Particle Modeling: Join Dr. David Potyondy on March 19 for the first session in a new PFC training series.
- Ask ITASCA Software | Live Q&A, March 12: Bring your toughest modeling questions to Jim Hazzard and Zhāo Chéng.
- FLAC 40th Anniversary Webinar Replay: Missed the February session? The full recording is now available.
- FLAC 8 End of Support: Upgrade by April 30 to lock in 35% off your first year with code FLACNOW.
- Upcoming Training: 3DEC, FLAC2D/3D, and Embankment Dam courses starting in March.
- YouTube Video Library: Check out the PFC and IMAT tutorials available on the ITASCA Software channel.
- Conferences & Events: Find the ITASCA team at Geo-Congress, URTeC, and ARMA 2026.
ITASCA Software Webinars
New Webinar: Bonded-Particle Modeling with ITASCA Software
When continuum models aren’t enough, it’s time to think at the particle level. Join Dr. David Potyondy on March 19 at 10 AM CT for the first session in a new multi-part series on Bonded-Particle Modeling (BPM) as implemented in Particle Flow Code (PFC).
In this introductory session, Dr. Potyondy, who co-developed the BPM methodology alongside Peter Cundall and has authored more than 60 technical papers on microstructural modeling, will walk you through the core principles that make BPM uniquely suited for simulating cracking, fracture, and granular flow. Unlike traditional continuum approaches, BPM represents a solid as a bonded assembly of discrete particles, letting complex macroscopic behavior emerge naturally from simple microstructural rules. The result: more realistic predictions across scales, from grain-level fracture in brittle rock to large-scale granular flow.
Whether you’re a current PFC user looking to sharpen your fundamentals or a geotechnical, mining, or civil engineer evaluating discrete element methods for the first time, this session delivers the grounding you need to get more out of particle-based simulation.
Your Questions, Answered Live, March 12
Stuck on a modeling problem? Hitting a wall with post-processing? Bring it to the experts. Join ITASCA Software Manager Jim Hazzard and Technology Lead Zhāo Chéng on Thursday, March 12 for a live Q&A session built entirely around your challenges. No preset agenda, no slide-driven presentations. Just direct, technical answers to the questions that are slowing your work down.
Submit your questions at registration so Jim and Zhāo can dig into your specific scenarios in advance and come prepared with tailored walkthroughs and live demos.
Register & Submit Your Questions
Missed It? Watch the Replay: 40 Years of FLAC — From Classic to Today
Last month we celebrated four decades of FLAC with a live webinar tracing the software’s evolution from its 1986 origins, when 64 kB of memory was a hard constraint, to the multi-threaded, fully coupled simulation engine powering today’s most complex geomechanical models. If you missed the live session, the full replay is now available.
In the recording, you’ll see how the modern FLAC2D framework delivers significantly faster performance on the same soil and rock mechanics problems you’ve always trusted it to solve without sacrificing the numerical reliability that has made FLAC a cornerstone of geotechnical practice for 40 years.
Announcing the FLAC 40th Anniversary Model Contest Winners
The results are in. After an incredible response from the global geomechanics community, we’re proud to recognize the top three entries in our FLAC 40th Anniversary Model Contest. These submissions represent the depth and diversity of what’s possible with and each one demonstrates why numerical modeling remains indispensable to modern engineering practice.
🥇 First Place: Thomas Jochyms Internal Swelling Reaction in a Concrete Bridge Pier
Thomas’s model investigates a concrete bridge pier undergoing Internal Swelling Reaction (ISR), fully coupling thermal, fluid flow, and mechanical analyses in FLAC3D to simulate the cracking and swelling pressures that develop under real-world chemical and moisture conditions — a showcase of FLAC3D’s power for solving strongly nonlinear, multi-physics problems.
🥈 Second Place: Emre Erbek Seismic Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction of a Spherical Industrial Tank
Emre’s entry models an industrial spherical tank using a full 3D soil-pile-structure interaction approach, replicating the tank’s true geometry and dynamic seismic response with a fidelity that conventional 2D or simplified analytical methods simply can’t match.
🥉 Third Place: Francisco Alonso Flores Lopez Railway Viaduct Foundation Analysis
Francisco’s model captures the full 500-meter length of a railway viaduct — including nearly 180 piles and complex soil stratification — enabling informed decisions on the structure’s final construction configuration through detailed soil-structure interaction analysis.
Congratulations to Thomas, Emre, and Francisco! Featured showcase posts for each winner will be published on the ITASCA Software LinkedIn page. Follow us there to see their work as well as others who participated.
Upgrade Opportunity
FLAC 8 Support Ends May 8, 2026
The clock is running out on FLAC 8. Official technical support ends May 8, 2026. With no bug fixes or security patches issued since 2023, the risks of staying on legacy software are already present.
Upgrading to FLAC2D v9 isn’t just about staying supported. It’s about leaving behind the manual i,j space meshing workflow and stepping 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 tackling advanced geotechnical analysis, these upcoming courses give you hands-on instruction from subject matter experts — at a pace designed to fit a working schedule.
Getting Started with 3DEC – 📅 March 10–11, 2026 | Online | Two half-days 🕐 7:30–11:00 AM CT / 2:30–6:00 PM CET
New to 3DEC or looking to build a stronger foundation? This two half-day online course gets you up and running with the fundamentals of discrete element modeling for jointed rock and blocky systems. Register for 3DEC Training
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 for FLAC2D/FLAC3D Training
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 by Richard Armstrong is built for practicing civil engineers who need deep, applied 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 — all using FLAC2D/3D. Full software access is provided for the duration of the course. Class size is capped at 15 participants. For more information visit Geotechnical Analysis Support to select the training dates and times that work best for you. Cost: $1,550 USD per participant (group discounts and international rate adjustments available)
ITASCA Software Videos
Check out our YouTube channel to access a comprehensive library of the latest software tutorials, courses, webinar recordings, and simulation demos designed to help you master advanced geomechanical and hydrogeological modeling.
PFC Training: Introduction & Course Overview. New to Particle Flow Code? Dr. David Potyondy opens this multi-part PFC training series with a foundational overview of bonded-particle modeling — what it is, why it works, and how it fits within Itasca’s broader suite of numerical tools. In this session, Dave traces PFC’s development from its 1994 origins through its current role in simulating fracture, granular flow, and complex material behavior at both micro and macro scales. If you’re building a case for PFC in your workflow or simply want a deeper understanding of discrete element modeling, this is the place to start. 🎥 Watch Now
PFC Training: Python and PFC: Introduction, Comparison with FISH, and Example Applications. Python is now embedded directly in PFC and knowing how to use it can meaningfully accelerate your modeling workflow. In this session, Itasca software engineer Derek Blanksma walks through the practical differences between Python and FISH scripting, when to use each, and how Python’s extensive library ecosystem (including NumPy and SciPy) opens up capabilities that FISH alone can’t match. The session closes with a hands-on example building and querying a PFC model entirely in Python. 🎥 Watch Now
Intro to IMAT and Mine Seismicity. This tutorial introduces IMAT. IMAT is ITASCA’s dedicated environment for mine model building and seismic data analysis. Starting from project setup and coordinate configuration through to importing seismic datasets, visualizing events, and applying spatial filters, this session covers the full foundational workflow for mining teams working with microseismic data. It also includes a practical primer on seismic concepts, including magnitude scales, seismic potency, and the common reporting pitfalls that arise when comparing data across different mine sites. 🎥 Watch Now
Subscribe to the ITASCA Software YouTube Channel
Conferences & Events
Want to talk strategy in person? You can find the ITASCA Software team at these upcoming events.
Geo-Congress 2026 | March 9–12, 2026 | Salt Lake City, Utah
We’re headed back to Salt Lake City! Stop by our booth (booth #111) to see how our numerical modeling tools are tackling critical challenges in earthquake engineering, tailings management, and landslide analysis. Learn more.
URTeC 2026 | 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 attending to discuss how our tools are being applied to reservoir geomechanics, hydraulic fracturing, and subsurface characterization. Learn More.
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 the 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 and connect with the people behind the tools. Learn More.
ITASCA Software Beta Program
Be the First to Shape What’s Next: Join the ITASCA Software Beta Program
The engineers and researchers who push geotechnical modeling forward shouldn’t have to wait for the general release. The ITASCA Software Beta Program gives you early access to new features before they hit the market, along with a direct line to the development team to make sure those features work the way you need them to.
As a beta participant, you’ll get hands-on access to cutting-edge tools before public release, provide feedback that directly shapes future updates, receive official recognition for your contributions to the development cycle, and enjoy priority technical support and exclusive discounts for your organization.
➡️ Request to Join the Beta Program!
ITASCA Software Academic Program
ITASCA software is used on some of the most demanding research and infrastructure projects in the world. Now the same tools are 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 include one instructor seat, multiple student seats, and ready-to-use curriculum packages. Student licenses offer full functionality at an affordable single-seat price, with continuous software updates included.
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.
Behavior of Rockfill Dam under Dynamic Loading Software: FLAC3D, PFC
ITASCA France used a combined FDM-DEM approach to simulate a 1950s-era rockfill dam in the French Pyrenees under earthquake loading. FLAC3D modeled the dam body and foundation while PFC3D handled the dry-stone pitching on both faces. Results quantified post-earthquake crest settlements, confirmed a post-seismic safety factor of 1.3, and established a failure threshold at ground accelerations above 0.48g.
Caving Propagation Study for the Esmeralda Block 1 Software: 3DEC
To validate ITASCA’s IMASS caving algorithm ahead of transition studies at Chuquicamata, ITASCA Chile modeled panel caving at El Teniente’s Esmeralda mine using 3DEC. The model replicated observed cave geometry, captured breakthrough to the Teniente 5 level, and confirmed that the J and H Faults were the primary structural controls on caving behavior.
Machine Learning Tool for Rapid Crane Bearing Capacity Prediction Software: FLAC3D
Conventional crane walk planning for wind turbine installation takes four to six weeks per analysis. Working with Mortenson, ITASCA combined automated FLAC3D modeling with a machine learning neural network to build a web-based tool that delivers field predictions in minutes, with over 99% accuracy compared to full numerical simulations.
Keep the Insights Coming
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