Online by Zoom and Live at HEIA-FR, Route des Arsenaux 41, 1700 Fribourg, room Ars3.383, Friday 29.8.2025 09.00 – 16.30, followed by a cocktail dinner

Organised by GeoDev Sàrl and ITEC-HEIA Fribourg

Also celebrating 40 years of ZSoil

Registration is open now: Registration form

SYMPOSIUM TOPICS

Numerical simulation in geomechanics, constitutive aspects, soil-structure interaction and associated structural analysis with emphasis on present and future engineering practice: theory, applications, case studies, failure analyses, optimisation, probabilistic approaches.

SYMPOSIUM  HISTORY

The symposium combines invited presentations, and contributions by ZSoil users and others. It has been taking place every year in late summer over the past twenty years, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in Lausanne and newly at Haute Ecole d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture de Fribourg.

Confirmed talks

• Keynote lecture Th. Zimmermann (Zace): ZSoil, forever young
• K. Dziedzic/R. Obrzud (GeoDev): Towards integrating a spatial analysis of geotechnical data into FE model creation
• GW. Byun (EG Soft): 3D modeling practice of tunnels and verification 
• J. Zannin/S. Marceta/R. Obrzud (KF): Design of heat exchangers based on thermal response measurement and numerical simulations in ZSoil
• M. Borgers : Modelling jointed rock masses using ZSoil
• R. Maye (KF): Secure deep excavation design near railways based on ZSoil results: insights from the Travis project
• J. Minini/M. Wasem (HEIA): title TBC
• S. Commend/J. Minini (HEIA): Probabilistic vs. deterministic design in Eurocodes 2.0, with potential economic gain

Other invited speakers (titles TBC)

• M. Cudny (Gdansk University), A. Truty & K. Podles (CUT), M. Preisig & S. Kivell (GeoMod)

WHO ATTENDS

Engineers and developers confronted with the need to perform accurate numerical simulations or optimisations for complex underground, above ground or combined constructions have an opportunity to exchange experience, see state of the art presentations of recent case studies and get a comprehensive introduction to numerical simulations in 2D or 3D, with ZSoil, in dry or partially saturated rock or soil, with full structural capabilities, soil-structure interaction, interfaces, thermal effects, ultimate load evaluation, continuous safety assessment, including creep, swelling, dilation, dynamics, uncertainty quantification with UQlab etc.

ZSoil

ZSoil is a user-friendly 2D/3D finite element package for soil, rock and soil-structure analysis available and used worldwide since 1985, and continuously upgraded. The program was developed at Zace Services Ltd, by a team of engineers with research experience at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, UC Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Cracow University of Technology, Stanford University and UC Davis. The aim is to provide civil engineers with a simple tool to accurately support geomechanical and structural engineering analysis, dimensioning and optimisation. Since ZSoil first came out in 1985 it has steadily gained worldwide acceptance among practitioners as well as teachers and researchers. Today, upto ten free student versions are downloaded every day.

PAYMENT

FEE: 200 CHF (free for speakers & HEIA Fribourg affiliates, 50% discount for ZSOIL owners, 10 CHF for students). Registration required.

Please prepay to GeoDev Sarl, Epinettes 32, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
Payment in CHF to : CREDIT SUISSE (Suisse) SA, CH-1001 Lausanne,
account n° 1294343-91, IBAN CH51 0483 5129 4343 9100 0, BIC/SWIFT CRESCHZZ80A

with mention “ZSOIL symposium”, and your name and affiliation

Organisers