Generators

The generators build geometry. Rather than drawing a pile or an anchor by hand and then assigning element types, materials and interactions to it, a generator creates the geometry together with the groups, the structural materials and the interaction data that go with it.

Two buttons in the numgeo toolbar open them, and each starts with a chooser because there is more than one way to model the member.

Pile generator

Generates a pile together with the surrounding soil, as a complete model rather than a member added to one.

	Approach	Produces
	3D Monopile	A full three-dimensional half or full soil block with an extruded monopile
	2D Axisymmetric pile	A planar r–z section rotated about the axis of symmetry

The choice is a modelling decision rather than a preference. An axisymmetric model is far cheaper to solve but can only represent axial loading of a symmetric pile; lateral loading, a monopile under moment, or anything that breaks the symmetry needs the 3D model.

Embedded anchor / pile generator

Generates structural members that sit inside an existing soil mesh. Unlike the pile generator, this one adds members to a model you have already built: it creates the line geometry, the groups, the structural materials and the embedded-interaction data, and leaves the soil mesh untouched.

Member	Produces
Grouted anchor	A tendon and a grout body, with multiple head locations, automatic section properties, structural assignments and optional embedded interaction
Embedded pile	A circular embedded beam pile with shaft and toe interaction, normal regularisation and stress recovery, a physical base disk with elastic-plastic or hyperbolic mobilisation, an optional elastic ghost zone, and a project-local pile library

Both write embedded region definitions into the data tree, so the member is tied to the soil around it without the two meshes having to share nodes.

Which to use

Situation	Generator
A pile is the subject of the analysis, and the soil exists to surround it	Pile generator
Members are being added to a model that already exists — anchors behind a wall, a group of piles under a foundation	Embedded anchor / pile generator

The pile generator builds the soil; the embedded generator assumes it.