# OPTUM G3 > Full 3D Geotechnical Analysis with Upper and Lower Bound Methods Canonical: https://www.ramcadds.com/products/optum-g3 Source: RAM CADDSYS product catalog — https://www.ramcadds.com/products Last verified: 2026-07-18 Categories: infrastructure-geotechnical OPTUM G3 extends the proven OPTUM limit analysis and FEA capabilities of G2 into full three-dimensional space. Designed for geotechnical problems where 2D simplifications are inadequate, G3 provides rigorous 3D stability, deformation, and consolidation analysis for complex foundations, slopes, and underground structures. OPTUM G3 is 3D geotechnical finite element and limit analysis software from Optum CE of Denmark, the 3D companion to OPTUM G2. It extends Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) into three dimensions, computing collapse loads, bearing capacities and factors of safety with rigorous upper- and lower-bound solutions — for pile groups, 3D slope stability, tunnels and offshore foundations. RAM CADDSYS distributes, trains and supports it in India. OPTUM G3 by OptumCE is the 3D companion to OPTUM G2, extending upper and lower bound limit analysis and finite element capabilities to full three-dimensional geotechnical modeling. It is specifically designed for problems where 3D geometry, loading asymmetry, or spatial soil variability makes 2D analysis insufficient. RAM CADDSYS distributes OPTUM G3 in India with full training and support. ## Key points - OPTUM G3 is 3D geotechnical finite element and limit analysis software from Optum CE (Denmark), extending the FELA methodology of its 2D companion, OPTUM G2, into full three-dimensional space. - Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) computes collapse loads and bearing capacities directly, with rigorous upper- and lower-bound solutions that mathematically bracket the true answer. - Strength Reduction FELA (SR-FELA) determines factors of safety by progressively reducing soil strength until failure, returning rigorous bounds on the true factor of safety. - OPTUM G3 is built for problems where 2D plane-strain or axisymmetric simplification is inadequate — asymmetric loading, plan-irregular geometry, pile groups, and 3D slope or excavation mechanisms. - Automated 3D mesh generation with adaptive refinement, staged construction on the solid model, and IGES/STEP CAD import support complex 3D modeling workflows. - RAM CADDSYS is the authorized distributor for OPTUM G3 in India, providing licensing, training, and engineering support. - True 3D geotechnical analysis — finite element modeling of soil-structure interaction problems where 2D plane-strain or axisymmetric simplifications are inadequate (corner effects, asymmetric loading, irregular plan geometry). - Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) computes rigorous upper and lower bounds that bracket the true collapse load / bearing capacity from above and below — a built-in numerical accuracy check most conventional 3D FEA tools do not provide. - Factors of safety from Strength Reduction FELA (SR-FELA), with rigorous upper and lower bounds on the true factor of safety, typically resolved within a tight tolerance. - Staged construction directly on the 3D solid model by activating and deactivating regions, mirroring real excavation, backfill, and loading sequences. - Adaptive automatic mesh refinement concentrates elements in critical zones, improving accuracy without manual mesh-sensitivity studies. - IGES/STEP CAD import lets engineers build on complex imported geometry rather than re-modeling foundations and structures from scratch. - Shares the proven Optum FE engine and limit-analysis methodology of OPTUM G2, so 2D and 3D workflows use consistent soil models and analysis types. - Distributed, trained, and supported in India by RAM CADDSYS. ## Why engineers pick it - **True 3D Analysis** — Full three-dimensional finite element and limit analysis eliminating the conservatism of plane-strain 2D simplifications for complex geometries, asymmetric loading, and irregular stratigraphy. - **3D Limit Analysis** — Upper and lower bound plasticity solutions in 3D provide rigorous brackets on collapse loads for 3D failure mechanisms—unique capability not available in conventional 3D FEA software. - **Complex Stratigraphy** — Model spatially varying soil profiles, inclined and irregular strata, and three-dimensionally distributed soil properties for sites where 2D cross-sections are insufficient. - **Efficient 3D Meshing** — Automated 3D mesh generation with adaptive refinement in critical zones. Reduces setup time and ensures mesh-independent results without manual mesh sensitivity studies. ## Capabilities - **Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA)** — Computes collapse loads and bearing capacities directly, with rigorous upper- and lower-bound solutions that mathematically bracket the true answer. This gives an inherent verification of solution accuracy rather than a single unverified number. - **Strength Reduction Analysis (SR-FELA)** — Determines the global factor of safety by progressively reducing soil strength (c and tan φ) until failure, and reports rigorous upper and lower bounds on the true factor of safety — well suited to 3D slope stability and global stability assessments. - **Elastoplastic Load-Displacement & Consolidation** — Standard nonlinear FE analysis for settlements, deformations, and load-displacement curves, plus consolidation analysis for time-dependent settlement and excess pore-pressure dissipation. - **Staged Construction on the Solid Model** — Sequences of excavation, fill, and loading are modeled by activating and deactivating regions directly in the 3D solid model, reproducing the real construction history that governs stresses and displacements. - **3D Meshing with Adaptive Refinement** — Automatic 3D mesh generation with adaptive refinement focuses elements where stress/strain gradients are highest, improving accuracy and reducing the need for manual mesh-convergence studies. - **CAD Geometry Import & Structural Elements** — Imports IGES and STEP geometry for complex shapes, and supports structural modeling features such as interfaces and shells for soil-structure interaction. - **3D Foundation Analysis** — Bearing capacity and settlement analysis for isolated footings, raft foundations, and pile groups under combined vertical, horizontal, and moment loading in full 3D. - **3D Slope Stability** — Three-dimensional slope stability analysis capturing end effects and 3D failure mechanisms that are unconservatively missed by 2D analysis. - **3D Retaining Structures** — Analysis of corner effects, plan-irregular excavations, and three-dimensional soil-structure interaction for retaining walls and braced excavations. - **Pile and Pile Group Analysis** — Lateral and axial capacity of single piles and pile groups including group interaction effects, pile-soil-pile interaction, and combined loading analysis. - **Tunneling and Underground Works** — 3D tunnel face stability, portal analysis, and complex underground structure modeling where 2D cross-sections cannot capture the full behavior. - **Offshore Foundation Design** — Caisson, spudcan, and jacket foundation analysis for offshore oil and gas and offshore wind applications with complex three-dimensional loading. ## Applications - **Shallow & Raft Foundation Capacity** — Bearing capacity and load-displacement behavior of footings and rafts under combined vertical, horizontal, and moment loading where full 3D geometry and loading govern the result. - **Monopiles, Piles & Pile Groups** — Laterally and axially loaded monopiles, single piles, and pile groups, capturing 3D pile-soil-pile interaction and group effects that 2D models cannot represent. - **3D Slope Stability** — Strength-reduction stability analysis of slopes with irregular plan geometry and end effects, where a true 3D failure mechanism can govern over the critical 2D section. - **Excavations & Retaining Structures** — Braced and anchored excavations and retaining walls including plan-irregular layouts and corner effects, with staged-construction modeling of the support sequence. - **Tunnels & Underground Works** — 3D tunnel and underground-structure problems — including face and portal stability — where a 2D cross-section cannot capture the spatial behavior. - **Offshore & Embankment Geotechnics** — Offshore foundations (e.g. monopiles, suction/caisson-type elements) and embankments/fill problems where three-dimensional loading and geometry are significant. ## In depth ### Why does 2D geotechnical analysis fall short for some projects? Because collapse mechanisms, loading, and stratigraphy in many real projects are inherently three-dimensional, and forcing them into a 2D plane-strain or axisymmetric idealization can misstate the true bearing capacity, factor of safety, or deformation. Retaining walls with plan-irregular corners, pile groups where pile-soil-pile interaction governs, monopiles under lateral and axial loading, and slopes with limited lateral extent all have failure mechanisms that a 2D cross-section cannot represent. Analyzing them in plane strain either ignores the three-dimensional mechanism entirely or omits the pile-soil-pile interaction and group effects that only a full 3D model can capture. OPTUM G3 addresses this by running the same rigorous Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) methodology used in OPTUM G2, but on a full 3D solid model. Every bearing capacity, collapse load, or strength-reduction factor of safety it reports comes with a mathematically guaranteed upper and lower bound, so engineers get both a 3D-accurate result and a built-in check on solution quality — rather than a single unverified number from conventional 3D FEA. ### How does OPTUM G3 model and solve a 3D geotechnical problem? Engineers build or import 3D geometry, assign soil and structural elements, and OPTUM G3 automatically meshes the model with adaptive refinement before solving with FELA, elastoplastic, or consolidation analysis as the problem requires. Models can be built directly with OPTUM G3's 3D geometry tools or imported from IGES and STEP CAD files, then extended with interfaces, shells, and other structural elements for soil-structure interaction. Automatic 3D mesh generation with adaptive refinement concentrates elements in critical zones — where stress and strain gradients are highest — so results converge without a manual mesh-sensitivity study. Construction sequences are reproduced by activating and deactivating regions directly on the solid model, mirroring real excavation, backfill, and staged loading. From that model, engineers run Finite Element Limit Analysis for bearing capacity and collapse loads, Strength Reduction FELA for factors of safety, or standard elastoplastic and consolidation analysis for settlement and time-dependent behavior — all within the same 3D environment and sharing the Optum FE engine used in OPTUM G2. ## Questions ### What is OPTUM G3? OPTUM G3 is 3D geotechnical software from Optum CE (Denmark) for finite element analysis and finite element limit analysis of soil-structure interaction problems. It handles load-displacement, limit, consolidation, and strength-reduction analyses in full three dimensions. ### Is OPTUM G3 an analysis tool or a code-based design tool? It is an analysis and simulation tool. It computes deformations, bearing capacities, collapse loads, and factors of safety using finite element and limit analysis. The vendor's documentation does not describe automated design checks to a specific geotechnical code, so engineers apply their own code requirements (e.g. partial factors or factors of safety) to the analysis results. ### Does OPTUM G3 design to Eurocode 7 or other geotechnical codes? Optum CE's official material does not advertise built-in Eurocode 7 design-approach or automated partial-factor design verification for G3. It produces rigorous analysis outputs (capacities, factors of safety, displacements); applying a specific code framework is the engineer's responsibility. Confirm current code-handling features with RAM CADDSYS or Optum CE before relying on them. ### What makes Finite Element Limit Analysis (FELA) different from ordinary FEA? FELA computes the collapse load or bearing capacity directly and provides rigorous upper and lower bounds that bracket the true value from above and below. This gives a built-in measure of solution accuracy, whereas conventional incremental FEA gives a single result that must be checked separately. ### How does OPTUM G3 calculate a factor of safety? Through Strength Reduction Finite Element Limit Analysis (SR-FELA): soil strength parameters (c and tan φ) are progressively reduced until failure, and the software returns rigorous upper and lower bounds on the true factor of safety, typically within a tight tolerance. ### When should I use OPTUM G3 instead of the 2D product (G2)? Use G3 when 2D plane-strain or axisymmetric assumptions are inadequate — corner effects on excavations, plan-irregular geometry, asymmetric loading, pile groups, monopiles, or 3D slope mechanisms that govern over the critical 2D section. Many engineers scope in 2D and verify critical 3D effects in G3. ### What soil/constitutive models does the Optum FE engine support? Optum CE's geotechnical engine offers a range of constitutive models including Mohr-Coulomb, Tresca, Drucker-Prager, Hardening Soil (including small-strain stiffness, HSSmall), Modified Cam Clay, Hoek-Brown rock, and NGI-ADP. The exact set available in your G3/GX license should be confirmed with RAM CADDSYS, as the vendor periodically updates the model library. ### Can I import CAD geometry into OPTUM G3? Yes. OPTUM G3 supports IGES and STEP import, so you can bring in complex geometry from CAD and continue modeling — adding interfaces, shells, and staged-construction regions directly on the imported solid model. ### Does OPTUM G3 support staged construction? Yes. Staged construction is modeled directly on the 3D solid model by activating and deactivating regions, reproducing real excavation, fill, and loading sequences that control the stress and displacement history. ### What types of projects is OPTUM G3 used for? Shallow and raft foundations, monopiles and pile groups, 3D slope stability, deep excavations and retaining structures, tunnels and underground works, and offshore/embankment geotechnics — broadly, any problem where three-dimensional geometry or loading matters. ### What is OPTUM GX, and how does it relate to G3? OPTUM GX is Optum CE's newer unified product that combines 2D and 3D analysis in one workflow (with one-click 2D-to-3D), and the vendor now actively encourages G3 users to upgrade to GX. OPTUM G3 remains available and is bundled within the OPTUM GX / G2 package. Ask RAM CADDSYS which configuration best fits your needs. ### Is OPTUM G3 available in India through RAM CADDSYS? Yes. RAM CADDSYS is the authorized distributor for OPTUM G3 in India and provides licenses, technical training, and engineering support. RAM CADDSYS can also advise on the current OPTUM GX packaging and India pricing. --- Full page: https://www.ramcadds.com/products/optum-g3 Pricing is quoted per territory and is deliberately not published. Talk to us: https://www.ramcadds.com/contact