Contents:
The OPILE user interface is made up from a series of controls and it is useful to define what they are and what they can be used to do.
The main controls are:
A datagrid (or grid) which sometimes allows entry of data and is sometimes set to be read-only. The data is entered into individual cells, rather like using Microsoft Excel. Data can be copied from or pasted to these grids.
A combo-box allows selection of restricted options from a drop-down list:
A check box, allows enabling/disabling of a specific option. The options are either checked or unchecked (i.e. enabled or disabled).
Text boxes allow entry of data. Sometimes the type of data that can be entered is limited to numbers or integers. OPILE will display an alert if the wrong type of data has been entered.
The Toolstrip (also pictured above) gives a shortcut to some of the menu commands, including the file commands, edit commands. There is also a print screen button available.
Some controls (mainly grids) include a context menu which can be accessed by right clicking on a control. These context menus repeat some of the commands found on the menus at the top.
The keyboard shortcuts which are used in OPILE are similar to those implemented in other Windows software, they are listed below:
Keystroke
Action
Ctrl+S
Saves the OPILE file using the current file name.
Ctrl+Shift+S
SaveAs for the current OPILE file.
Ctrl+N
Exits the current file and starts a new OPILE file.
Ctrl+O
Shortcut to go to the file open dialogue.
Alt+F4
Exit OPILE.
Ctrl+C
Copy current control contents.
Ctrl+A
Select all rows which contain data in the current datagrid
F9
Analyse the current file
Alt+F9 or ESCAPE Key
Abort the current analyses.
Ctrl+R
Replots all charts within OPILE (useful when changing the number of TZ, QZ and PY curves that are plotted).
F1
Brings up context sensitive help for the active control in OPILE.
The OPILE input and output is contained within the same delimited file format. Containing all of the input and output within the same file simplifies file sharing and management.
When a file is loaded into OPILE the information is read in, when it is saved the file is completely replaced by all of the information currently within OPILE, so updates etc will be kept.
Opening an OPILE file works much like that for any other Windows based program. It can be opened from within OPILE, or a file can be opened by double clicking on it within a folder.
The files can also be opened using any text editor or imported into Microsoft Excel.
The file extension for OPILE files is “.OPILE”.
The delimitor used within OPILE is the semi colon “;” which is used in preference to a comma in order to avoid problems of regional compatibility.
The units convention in OPILE follows SI units, or derivatives of them. These are used as follows:
Measurement
Units
Abbreviation
Distance/ displacement / dimensions
Metres
[m]
Forces
Kilo Newtons
[kN]
Moments / torsions
Kilo Newton metres
[kNm]
Frictions / pressures
Kilo Pascals
[kPa]
Unit weights
Kilo Newtons per cubic metre
[kN/ 3 ]
Rotation
Radians
[rads]
Note that at all stages OPILE does not make any assumptions about whether a material is above or below the water table, most of the PY curve methods included assume that the soil is submerged.
Obviously offshore pile design implies that the materials (soil, pile material etc) are below water, therefore their respective unit weights require adjustment for this.
In some input tables within OPILE conversions of some common units have been built in and can be used by the addition of a letter “Key” after a number.
The unit conversions available are:
Conversion From
Conversion To
Factor
Key
Inches
0.0254
i
Kips per square foot
Kilopascals
47.88
k
Kips per cubic foot
Kilonewtons per cubic metre
157.09
d
Feet
0.3048
f
For example entering “1.5i” into the wall thickness section:
Multiplies the number “1.5” by 0.0254 thus converting 1.5 inches to 0.038 metres:
Note
Lengths such as 20 feet 6 inches are not included as this would require a more complicated input and such conversions are required less often.