It’s a question that every geotechnical engineer asks themselves. And it can be tricky to narrow down which method can give you the perfect balance of efficiency and accuracy for your project.

But, with the right tools on your side, it’s easy to switch between the two most relevant methods — the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) — according to the needs of your project.

In this eBook, we’ll dive deeper into the benefits and drawbacks of each form of analysis. And crucially, we’ll show how each of these techniques — 3D and 2D analysis, FEM and LEM — are complementary. Together, they can give engineers the flexibility, accuracy, and insight they need to keep people safe and projects moving.