Investigating the effect of soil models on deformations caused by braced excavations through an inverse-analysis technique

In this study, a series of inverse-analysis numerical experiments was performed to investigate the effect of soil models on the deformations caused by excavation by using the finite element method. The nonlinear optimization technique that was incorporated into the finite element code was used for the inverse-analysis numerical experiments. Three soil models (the hyperbolic model, pseudo-plasticity model, and modified pseudo-plasticity model) were employed in the intended numerical experiments on a well-documented excavation case history. The results indicate that wall deflection due to excavation can be accurately back-figured by each of the three soil models, while the ground surface settlement can be reasonably optimized only by the pseudo-plasticity model and the modified pseudo-plasticity model. Importantly, the modified pseudo-plasticity model can yield more reasonable simulations when the wall deflection and the ground surface settlement are simultaneously back-figured. The results show that selection of an adequate soil model that is capable of adequately describing the stress–strain-strength characteristics of the soils is essentially crucial when predicting the excavation-induced ground response.     

Inverse Analysis of Deep Excavation Using Differential Evolution Algorithm

This paper presents the applications of the differential evolution (DE) algorithm in back analysis of soil parameters for deep excavation problems. A computer code, named Python‐based DE, is developed and incorporated into the commercial finite element software ABAQUS, with a parallel computing technique to run an FE analysis for all trail vectors of one generation in DE in multiple cores of a cluster, which dramatically reduces the computational time. A synthetic case and a well‐instrumented real case, that is, the Taipei National Enterprise Center (TNEC) project, are used to demonstrate the capability of the proposed back‐analysis procedure. Results show that multiple soil parameters are well identified by back analysis using a DE optimization algorithm for highly nonlinear problems. For the synthetic excavation case, the back‐analyzed parameters are basically identical to the input parameters that are used to generate synthetic response of wall deflection. For the TNEC case with a total of nine parameters to be back analyzed, the relative errors of wall deflection for the last three stages are 2.2, 1.1, and 1.0%, respectively. Robustness of the back‐estimated parameters is further illustrated by a forward prediction. The wall deflection in the subsequent stages can be satisfactorily predicted using the back‐analyzed soil parameters at early stages. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic Inverse Analysis of Excavation-Induced Wall and Ground Responses for Assessing Damage Potential of Adjacent Buildings

This paper presents an approach for the probabilistic inverse analysis of braced excavations based on the maximum likelihood formulation. Here, the soil parameters are updated using the observations of the maximum ground settlement and/or the maximum wall deflection measured in a staged excavation. The updated soil parameters are then used to refine the predicted wall and ground responses in the subsequent excavation stages, as well as to assess the building damage potential at the final excavation stage. Case study shows that the proposed approach is effective in improving the predictions of the excavation-induced wall and ground responses. More-accurate predictions of the wall and ground responses, in turn, lead to a more accurate assessment of the damage potential of buildings adjacent to the excavation. The proposed approach offers an effective means for a probabilistic inverse analysis of braced excavations.     

Damage Estimation in Masonry Buildings Based on Excavation-Induced Ground Movements

Excavation-induced ground movements and the resulting damages to adjacent structures and facilities is a source of concern for excavation projects in urban areas. The concern will be even higher if the adjacent structure is old or has low strength parameters like masonry building. Frame distortion and crack generation are predictors of building damage resulted from excavation-induced ground movements, which pose challenges to projects involving excavations. This study is aimed to investigate the relation between excavation-induced ground movements and damage probability of buildings in excavation affected distance. The main focus of this paper is on masonry buildings and excavations stabilized using soil nail wall method. To achieve this purpose, 21 masonry buildings adjacent to 12 excavation projects were studied. Parametric studies were performed by developing 3D FE models of brick walls and excavations stabilized using soil nail wall. Finally, probability evaluations were conducted to analyze the outputs obtained from case studies. Based on the obtained results, simple charts were established to estimate the damage of masonry structures in excavation affected distance with two key parameters including “Displacement Ratio” and “Normalized Distance”. The results also highlight the effects of building distance from excavation wall on its damage probability.

     

基坑围护结构最大侧移深度对周边环境的影响

围护结构最大侧移所在深度是衡量基坑变形的重要指标之一,而目前鲜有关于其对周边环境变形影响的研究。基于工程实测数据分析和有限元数值模拟,系统地研究了基坑围护结构最大侧移深度对邻近桩基础建筑物不均匀沉降和坑外深层土体位移场的影响。经研究发现：围护结构最大侧移的下移会导致坑外土体位移场扩大,进而降低相应区域的桩基础承载力,导致邻近桩基础建筑物发生显著的不均匀沉降。不同深度的土体经历复杂的竖向位移,且位移形态与围护结构最大侧移深度密切相关。随围护结构最大侧移深度的逐渐下移,坑外土体位移场向深层土体发展,且主要影响范围相应地扩大。在实际工程中,根据基坑周边环境合理地控制围护结构最大侧移所在深度,可有效降低基坑开挖对周边环境的不利影响。     

基坑开挖时邻近桩基性状的数值分析

基坑开挖时尤为关注的问题是土体侧向移动对邻近桩基的不利影响,土体的侧向移动使邻近桩基产生侧向位移和附加应力及弯矩,甚至可能使上部建筑物功能失效。采用土工有限元软件Plaxis 8.2对内支撑排桩支护基坑开挖过程进行数值模拟,分析了基坑开挖时对邻近桩基的各种影响因素,包括单排桩、双排桩在不同开挖深度、支护桩的刚度、桩基刚度、桩基距基坑开挖面距离、桩身的约束和桩长条件下桩身水平位移和弯矩的变化特性。     

基于多重响应面法的基坑位移反分析

基坑变形的反分析涉及数值模型与优化方法的耦合,常具有计算量大、使用不方便的特点。为此,提出1种可用于基坑变形反分析的多重响应面法,该方法在基坑地下连续墙不同深度处分别采用二次多项式表示地下连续墙水平位移与土层弹性模量之间的隐式关系,在此基础上利用位移观测对基坑土层弹性模量进行反分析。该方法可以解开数值模型和优化算法的耦合,从而具有较高的计算效率。工程应用实例表明,多重响应面法对基坑土层弹性模量进行反分析具有使用方便、计算效率高、计算结果准确的优点,非常适合求解基坑工程的位移反演问题。     

糯扎渡水电站1#导流隧洞三维非线性有限元开挖模拟分析

糯扎渡水电站1#导流隧洞开挖经过F3断层,开挖过程中,F3断层影响带附近的岩体力学参数直接控制着围岩的变形和应力分布。为了评判后续Ⅱ,Ⅲ层开挖围岩的稳定性,首先利用隧洞第Ⅰ层开挖的位移监测数据反演出F3断层附近围岩的岩体力学参数和初始地应力场;然后,利用反演得到的初始地应力场和岩体力学参数进行Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ层开挖模拟分析,得到了F3断层附近围岩的应力变形情况。计算结果表明：随着开挖的不断进行,隧洞F3断层周围岩体的约束逐渐解除,围岩的应力逐渐增大,隧洞周边的位移也不断增大,并且隧洞周围应力变形在F3断层中心区域有明显的错动现象,说明F3断层对隧洞的开挖影响比较大,有必要对此区域后期变形加强观测和分析。     

隧洞围岩损失位移估计的智能优化反分析

隧洞开挖过程中围岩监测断面的布置一般滞后于掌子面开挖,监测断面布置前围岩已发生的位移称为损失位移。采用优化反分析思路求取损失位移,该思路将损失位移的求解转化为以实测位移与计算位移的误差作为目标函数、岩体力学参数作为决策变量的全局优化反分析问题。针对该全局优化反分析问题是一类高度非线性多峰值且计算代价较高的优化问题,将性能优异的粒子群优化算法与高斯过程机器学习方法相融合,结合FLAC3D数值计算程序,提出隧洞围岩损失位移优化反分析的粒子群-高斯过程-FLAC3D智能协同优化方法。算例研究表明,该方法是可行的,不仅能获得可靠的损失位移预测结果,而且可获取合理的围岩计算模型力学参数,具有全局性好、计算效率高的特点,克服了传统优化反分析方法容易陷入局部最优或过于依赖初始学习样本的局限性。将该方法应用到锦屏二级水电站辅助洞BK14+599断面的损失位移反分析,获得了该断面围岩的损失位移和力学参数,其中,损失位移较大,原因在于岩体开挖后在短时间内弹性变形大。因此,对于地下工程,特别是深部地下岩体工程,在围岩稳定性评价与围岩参数反分析中,损失位移不可忽视,应给予足够重视。     

考虑开挖损伤的高放废物地质处置库温度-渗流-应力耦合数值模拟方法

高放废物地质处置库处于温度?渗流?应力（THM）多场耦合环境中,对高放废物处置库进行安全评估时,需进行多场耦合分析。然而,高放废物处置库开挖引起硐壁附近围岩应力重分布,产生损伤,导致围岩热学参数（T）、渗流参数（H）和力学参数（M）发生变化,且在空间上分布不均匀,这将会对运营期处置库THM耦合演化过程产生显著影响。通过分析高放废物处置库温度?渗流?应力三场的耦合原理和处置库围岩损伤的分布和演化规律,定义了损伤变量和损伤演化准则,并将损伤变量与热学参数、渗流参数、力学参数以及多场耦合参数（Biot系数、Biot模量和温度排水系数）建立联系,将围岩损伤与温度?渗流?应力建立联系,形成了一个弹塑性损伤温度?渗流?应力多场耦合数值模型,然后利用建立的模型对瑞士Mont Terri高放废物地质处置库围岩加热试验进行模拟,对比了模拟值和试验值,比较了考虑开挖损伤和不考虑开挖损伤对高放废物地质处置库温度?渗流?应力的影响,并分析了在多场耦合作用下开挖损伤的演化规律。     

济南典型地层HSS参数选取及适用性研究

针对济南地区典型地层上的基坑工程,土体采用PLAXIS 3D中的硬化土小应变（HSS）模型,建立了有限元模型,并根据实际监测数据结合位移反分析技术,得到了该典型地层下土体HSS模型参数的一般选取方法。之后简化模型,分别采用土体的HSS模型与Mohr-Coulomb（M-C）模型进行有限元分析,对比基坑开挖至不同深度时,应用两种模型模拟所得挡土墙变形与墙后地表沉降的差异。结果表明：基坑数值分析中,土体采用M-C模型与HSS模型所得结果的差异随基坑挖深增加而增加,且采用HSS模型所得结果更符合深基坑的实际变形。综合考虑采用HSS模型与M-C模型建模时的参数选取难易程度、经济性以及两种模型数值分析的工程适用性,建议基坑开挖超过15 m时,土体采用HSS模型进行数值分析,反之可采用M-C模型。研究结果对指导深基坑支护设计及岩土工程参数的勘察、选取,具有重要参考价值。     

Probability of serviceability failure in a braced excavation in a spatially random field: Fuzzy finite element approach

A simplified framework is proposed for evaluating the probability of “serviceability failure” in a braced excavation in a spatially random field. Here, the “serviceability failure” is said to occur when the excavation-induced wall or ground movement exceeds specified limiting values. Knowledge of this probability can aid in engineering decision-making to prevent damage to adjacent infrastructures. The proposed framework consists of five elements: (1) finite element method (FEM) for analyzing wall and ground responses in a braced excavation, (2) fuzzy set modeling of parameter uncertainty, (3) spatial averaging technique for handling spatial variability, (4) vertex method for processing fuzzy input through FEM model, and (5) interpretation of fuzzy output. The proposed framework is demonstrated through a well-documented case history. The results show the proposed framework is simple and effective for assessing the probability of serviceability failure in a braced excavation in a spatially random field. To focus on the proposed fuzzy FEM approach, the scope of this paper is limited to one-dimensional modeling of spatial variability with an assumed exponential autocorrelation function.     

Influence of deep excavation on adjacent bridge piles considering underlying karst cavern: a case history and numerical investigation

This study investigates the disturbance of bridge piles caused by the adjacent deep excavation of a metro station in Guangzhou while considering the existence of underlying karst caverns. Ground treatment was adopted to reduce the effects of the deep excavation on the surrounding environment, including metro jet system (MJS) technology and karst treatment. Considering the presence of karst cavern and an inhomogeneous limestone layer, three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) was implemented to investigate the excavation-induced effects on the surrounding ground and structures. Coupled pore fluid diffusion and stress analysis were adopted for the excavation simulation, and comparative analyses between the field data and FEA results were used to verify the numerical model. A series of parametric studies were conducted by varying the parameters of the MJS piles and karst cavern filling. This study reveals that: (1) increasing the Young’s modulus of the MJS pile leads to a decrease in ground and wall settlement; (2) the optimal buried depth of MJS piles is the depth that reaches the rock stratum; (3) the optimal MJS pile–wall distance is 0.225H (H denotes excavation depth); (4) increasing the piles diameter leads to a linearly decrease in wall and piles settlement; and (5) varying the Young’s modulus and permeability coefficient of the karst cavern filling has little effect on the surrounding environment. MJS treatment can be used as an effective measure for protecting the surrounding environment from disturbance by deep excavations.

     

An efficient probabilistic back-analysis method for braced excavations using wall deflection data at multiple points

This paper presents an efficient Bayesian back-analysis procedure for braced excavations using wall deflection data at multiple points. Response surfaces obtained from finite element analyses are adopted to efficiently evaluate the wall responses. Deflection data for 49 wall sections from 11 case histories are collected to characterize the model error of the finite element method for evaluating the deflections at various points. A braced excavation project in Hang Zhou, China is chosen to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure. The results indicate that the soil parameters could be updated more significantly for the updating that uses the deflection data at multiple points than that only uses the maximum deflection data. The predicted deflections from the updated parameters agree fairly well with the field observations. The main significance of the proposed procedure is that it improves the updating efficiency of the soil parameters without adding monitoring effort compared with the traditional method that uses the maximum deflection data.     

Finite-element modeling of a complex deep excavation in Shanghai

The excavation of the north square underground shopping center of Shanghai South Railway Station is a complex deep excavation using the top-down construction method. The excavation has a considerable size and is close to the operating Metro Lines. In order to predict the performance of the excavation more accurately, 3D finite-element analyses are conducted to simulate the construction of this complex excavation. The effects of the anisotropic soil stiffness, the adjacent excavation, and zone excavation on the wall deformation are investigated. It is shown that the numerical simulation with anisotropic soil stiffness yields a more reasonable prediction of the wall deflection than the case with isotropic soil stiffness. The deformation of the shared diaphragm wall between two excavations is influenced by the construction sequence of the two excavations. The zoned excavation can greatly reduce the diaphragm wall deformation. However, only the zoned excavation at the first excavation stage affects the deformation of the walls significantly. When the depth of the excavation increases, the zoned excavation has minor effect on the deformation of diaphragm walls.     

A case study on the behaviour of a deep excavation in sand

A complete case record of an excavation in sand is explored in this study. Numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the influences of soil elasticity, creep and soil–wall interface. Back-analyses indicate small strain parameters should be used if an elastic–perfect plastic model is selected. In addition, excavation-induced seepage has only a limited effect on vertical displacements. Delayed installation of 3rd level struts and base slab construction caused significant time-dependent (creep) movements during the excavation. Back-analyses show that the dynamic viscosity (D_v) used in the visco-elastic model for creep simulation is in the range of 1.5 × 10¹⁵–2.0 × 10¹⁵ Pa, but there are still inconsistencies in movements both near to and far from the excavation. Interpreting from observation data, the creep rate of wall movement caused in the non-supported stage of the excavation varies between 0.14 and 0.38 mm/day. Finally, parametric studies of interface elements indicate that the most sensitive parameters are the normal (K_n) and shear stiffness (K_s) of the interface. Back-analyses using an elastic–perfect plastic model indicate that using 3 × 10⁶ Pa for K_n and K_s produces more acceptable results.     

增量位移反分析方法在拉西瓦地下厂房中的应用

由于位移量测具有方便、准确和经济的特点,因而位移反分析法在地下工程领域获得了广泛的应用。以拉西瓦地下厂房的开挖过程为实际工程背景,应用从奥地利引进的大型岩土工程数值仿真分析系统FINAL为平台,建立了模拟分层开挖的有限元模型。采用主厂房第3层开挖前后洞壁围岩关键点的增量位移对厂区初始地应力场及围岩弹性模量进行了反演,最后利用反演结果对后续开挖过程中围岩的稳定性进行了预测。反分析所得增量位移与实测值符合较好,表明了这种方法的可行性。     

Evaluation of deformation parameter for deep excavation in sand through case histories

This study back analyzed deformation parameters of in situ sand through two excavation case histories in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Two main features are highlighted; deformation prediction based on monitoring data at the first excavation stage and in situ Young’s modulus evaluation for sand considering monitoring data at the overall excavation stages. The former tends to establish a reliable method to predict the wall deflection at the critical stage based on the data at the first stage and the latter to enrich the limited database of Young’s modulus correlation for sand, specifically applicable for deep excavations analysis. The two constitutive models, linear elastic perfectly plastic and non-linear stress–strain constitutive models, were selected. The stiffness parameters of the models were discretely distributed along the subdivided soil body mesh to reflect the effect of overburden pressure on the in situ soil. In addition, relationship between Standard Penetration Test value (SPT-N value) and Young’s modulus and relationships for estimating the in situ Young’s modulus of the Kaohsiung sand as a function of depth were evaluated. The results greatly enhanced a framework for estimating the in situ Young’s modulus of sand.     

Modeling of damage,permeability changes and pressure responses during excavation of the TSX tunnel in granitic rock at URL,Canada

This paper presents numerical modeling of excavation-induced damage, permeability changes, and fluid-pressure responses during excavation of a test tunnel associated with the tunnel sealing experiment (TSX) at the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in Canada. Four different numerical models were applied using a wide range of approaches to model damage and permeability changes in the excavation disturbed zone (EDZ) around the tunnel. Using in situ calibration of model parameters, the modeling could reproduce observed spatial distribution of damage and permeability changes around the tunnel as a combination of disturbance induced by stress redistribution around the tunnel and by the drill-and-blast operation. The modeling showed that stress-induced permeability increase above the tunnel is a result of micro and macrofracturing under high deviatoric (shear) stress, whereas permeability increase alongside the tunnel is a result of opening of existing microfractures under decreased mean stress. The remaining observed fracturing and permeability changes around the periphery of the tunnel were attributed to damage from the drill-and-blast operation. Moreover, a reasonably good agreement was achieved between simulated and observed excavation-induced pressure responses around the TSX tunnel for 1 year following its excavation. The simulations showed that these pressure responses are caused by poroelastic effects as a result of increasing or decreasing mean stress, with corresponding contraction or expansion of the pore volume. The simulation results for pressure evolution were consistent with previous studies, indicating that the observed pressure responses could be captured in a Biot model using a relatively low Biot-Willis’ coefficient, α ≈ 0.2, a porosity of n ≈ 0.007, and a relatively low permeability of k ≈ 2 × 10⁻²² m², which is consistent with the very tight, unfractured granite at the site.     

An anisotropically elastoplastic solution to excavation responses of a circular opening considering three-dimensional strength

Circular opening is commonly encountered in wellbore drilling of petroleum engineering, boring for cast-in situ pile installation, and tunneling excavation. This paper presents a rigorous solution for the elastoplastic responses of the anisotropic soft soil mass around a circular opening excavated under undrained and drained conditions. Both the anisotropic elastoplastic behavior and the 3D strength of the soft clay are incorporated in the present solutions. The well-established anisotropic critical state elastoplastic model S-CLAY1, which can represent the initial fabric anisotropy and stress-induced anisotropy of soft soil, is further modified by the Spatially Mobilized Plane criterion to consider the 3D strength of geomaterials. Then, the investigated problems, excavation of a circular opening under both short-term (undrained) and long-term (drained) conditions, are formulated as a system of first-order differential equations and are solved as initial value problems. The distributions of stress components and anisotropy parameters around the opening, the stress trajectory of a soil particle at the opening wall, as well as the stress–displacement curve at the opening wall are presented to investigate the elastoplastic responses of the opening. Extensive parameters show that the overconsolidated ratio and coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K₀) have remarkable effects on the elastoplastic responses around a circular opening.