A parametric study of wall deflections in deep excavations with the installation of cross walls

Several case studies have revealed that the installation of cross walls in excavations can effectively reduce the amount of wall deflection and ground settlement. However, the behaviour of the diaphragm wall due to the installation of the cross walls is still unclear. This study performed a series of 3D numerical studies of wall deflections for deep excavations with cross walls and studied the effects on the wall deflection of several parameters, including the number of cross walls, the distance to the cross wall, the cross wall interval, the cross wall height and the cross wall embedment. The results presented in this study can be used as a first approximation for cases in which cross walls are designed to reduce the wall deflection induced by deep excavation.     

Three-dimensional numerical analysis of deep excavations with cross walls

Previous plane strain analysis of a case history has shown that cross walls in an excavation can effectively reduce movements induced by deep excavation. This study performed three-dimensional numerical analyses for 4 deep excavation cases with different installations of cross walls, including different excavation depths, cross wall intervals and cross wall depths. Both the observed and computed wall deflections for the 4 cases were compared with those of the same excavations that were assumed with no cross walls installed to demonstrate the effectiveness of cross walls in reducing lateral wall deflections. The results show that the cross wall also had a corner effect similar to that of the diaphragm wall. The deflection of the diaphragm wall was smallest at the location of the cross wall installed and then increased with the increasing distance from the cross wall, up to the midpoint between two cross walls. Many factors such as in situ soil properties, diaphragm wall properties, construction procedure, cross wall depth and so on may affect the amount of reduction in lateral wall deflections due to the installation of cross walls. Under the same condition, the amount of reduction was highly dependent on the depth of cross walls, distance to the cross walls and the cross wall interval.     

Efficiency of excavations with buttress walls in reducing the deflection of the diaphragm wall

Installation of buttress walls against diaphragm walls has been used as an alternative measure for the protection of adjacent buildings during excavation, but their mechanism in reducing movements has not yet been fully understood. This study performs three-dimensional finite element analyses of two excavation case histories, one in clay with T-shape buttress walls and another in dominant sand with rectangular buttress walls, to establish analysis model. Then, a series of parametric study were performed by varying soil types, types and length of buttress walls based on the above-mentioned excavations. Results show that the mechanism of buttress walls in reducing wall deflections mainly came from the frictional resistance between the side surface of buttress wall and adjacent soil rather than from the combined bending stiffness from diaphragm and buttress walls. The buttress wall with a length <2.0 m had a poor effect in reducing the wall deflection because the soil adjacent to the buttress wall had almost the same amount of movement as the buttress wall, causing the frictional resistance little mobilized. Since the frictional resistance of buttress walls in a deep excavation has fully been mobilized prior to the final excavation depth, the efficiency of buttress walls in reducing the wall deflection in a deep excavation was much less than that in a shallow excavation. Rectangular shape of buttress walls was of a better effect than T-shape in the shallow excavation because frictional resistance between buttress walls and adjacent soil played a major role in reducing the wall deflection rather than bearing resistance of the flange. When the excavation went deeper, the difference in reducing the wall deflection between the R-shape and T-shape became small.     

饱和黏土不排水剪切的热破坏

试验资料表明：饱和黏土在不排水常载升温条件下会产生很大的变形并最终可发生热破坏现象,因此,升温也成为一种加载方式。基于姚仰平等提出的热UH临界状态模型,推导了受温度影响的热不排水抗剪强度表达式,对不同超固结度饱和黏土在升温下的不排水抗剪强度模拟与试验结果对比表明：所提公式能够合理反映试验资料中受温度影响的不排水抗剪强度变化规律。利用热UH模型对不排水常载-升温过程进行了模拟,模拟结果表明,热UH模型可合理地反映不排水常载-升温条件下饱和黏土的应力-应变关系以及强度变化规律。针对能影响热破坏过程的几种因素如升温初始时的偏应力比、升温幅度、超固结度以及先期固结压力等进行了讨论分析,得到了各因素对于饱和黏土不排水剪切下的应力-应变关系及强度特性的影响规律。     

Effectiveness of deep cement mixing walls with top-down construction for deep excavations in soft clay: case study and 3D simulation

This paper presents the observed and simulated effectiveness of deep cement mixing walls created using top-down (DCM-TD) construction techniques for a deep excavation in soft Bangkok clay. The wall system consisted of four rows of 0.7-m-diameter DCM columns, and the bracing system consisted of two 0.25-m-thick basement slabs and seven temporary struts. The effectiveness of the wall system compared to that of other wall systems was evaluated using the measured results of previous case studies. A 3D numerical analysis was performed to calculate forces in the basement slabs and bending moments in the DCM wall. Finally, series of parametric analyses of both DCM-TD and deep cement mixing walls created using bottom-up (DCM-BU) construction techniques were carried out, and their results were compared to highlight the effectiveness of DCM-TD and its applicability to excavations at greater depths. The field and numerical results show that DCM-TD is more effective than DCM-BU in terms of the limitations of lateral wall movement, the bending moment in a DCM wall and the thickness of a DCM wall for various depths because of a larger system stiffness. Therefore, DCM-TD is very effective and suitable for use in potential future deep excavations in urban areas.

     

Optimized functional linked neural network for predicting diaphragm wall deflection induced by braced excavations in clays

Deep excavation during the construction of underground systems can cause movement on the ground, especially in soft clay layers. At high levels, excessive ground movements can lead to severe damage to adjacent structures. In this study, finite element analyses (FEM) and the hardening small strain (HSS) model were performed to investigate the deflection of the diaphragm wall in the soft clay layer induced by braced excavations. Different geometric and mechanical properties of the wall were investigated to study the deflection behavior of the wall in soft clays. Accordingly, 1090 hypothetical cases were surveyed and simulated based on the HSS model and FEM to evaluate the wall deflection behavior. The results were then used to develop an intelligent model for predicting wall deflection using the functional linked neural network (FLNN) with different functional expansions and activation functions. Although the FLNN is a novel approach to predict wall deflection; however, in order to improve the accuracy of the FLNN model in predicting wall deflection, three swarm-based optimization algorithms, such as artificial bee colony (ABC), Harris’s hawk’s optimization (HHO), and hunger games search (HGS), were hybridized to the FLNN model to generate three novel intelligent models, namely ABC-FLNN, HHO-FLNN, HGS-FLNN. The results of the hybrid models were then compared with the basic FLNN and MLP models. They revealed that FLNN is a good solution for predicting wall deflection, and the application of different functional expansions and activation functions has a significant effect on the outcome predictions of the wall deflection. It is remarkably interesting that the performance of the FLNN model was better than the MLP model with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 19.971, root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 24.574, and determination coefficient (R²) of 0.878. Meanwhile, the performance of the MLP model only obtained an MAE of 20.321, RMSE of 27.091, and R² of 0.851. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the proposed hybrid models, i.e., ABC-FLNN, HHO-FLNN, HGS-FLNN, yielded more superior performances than those of the FLNN and MLP models in terms of the prediction of deflection behavior of diaphragm walls with an MAE in the range of 11.877 to 12.239, RMSE in the range of 15.821 to 16.045, and R² in the range of 0.949 to 0.951. They can be used as an alternative tool to simulate diaphragm wall deflections under different conditions with a high degree of accuracy.     

Factors affecting the stability of deep excavations in clay with consideration of a full elastoplastic support system

Acta Geotechnica - This study investigates the stability of internally braced excavations in thick, saturated clay using a finite element method with reduced shear strength. The support system was...     

Simplified method for calculating inflow into a deep excavation with consideration of the effects of cutoff walls

Water inflow into deep excavations is a key parameter in the evaluation of environmental impact, and a simplified method is needed to calculate the inflow with adequate accuracy, especially for a deep excavation with a cutoff wall around it. This paper presents a model for calculating inflow based on the method of fragments, assuming two-dimensional sectional flow. The effects of cutoff wall thickness (w), wall penetration, and excavation width on the inflow are well considered in this model. Explicit formulas for the form factor are given. The accuracy and scope of this method are discussed. The method can be applied in both flooding and no flooding cases. Extensive verification shows that, for the flooding case and when one of four conditions is satisfied, the error of the proposed method will be within 10%. These conditions are b/d?≥?0.8 or w/d?≥?0.03 or s/d?≥?0.2 or s₁/d?≥?0.2, for which b is the half width of the excavation, d is the thickness of the soil layer underlying the wall, and s and s₁ are the wall penetration depths on the non-excavation side and excavation side, respectively. For the case of no flooding and when the ratio of the distance from the recharge boundary to the aquifer thickness (a/T) is?≥2, the error does not exceed 15%.     

软土地区深基坑连续墙最大变形简易计算方法

采用有限单元法研究了影响软土地区地下连续墙最大侧向变形的主要参数。针对基坑开挖深度H、基坑开挖宽度B、单位宽度地下连续墙系统刚度S、支撑结构的轴向刚度 及黏土归一化的不排水抗剪强度 为不排水抗剪强度, 为有效垂直应力）5个参数进行分析研究,通过回归分析研究结果,给出地下连续墙最大侧向变形的简易计算方法。利用简易计算方法,计算实际工程中基坑案例的地下连续墙最大侧向变形,并与现场监测结果进行对比,验证了计算方法的准确性,可为以后预估地下连续墙最大侧向变形及检查设计提供参考。     

A numerical exercise for the definition under undrained conditions of the deep tunnel front characteristic curve

In spite of the increasing diffusion of tunnel boring machines, conventional tunnelling is still largely employed in the excavation of both deep and shallow tunnels characterized by a particularly irregular tracing. Under difficult ground conditions, in conventional tunnelling, the front is frequently reinforced by using fibreglass tubes partially removed during the excavation. This technique is expensive, time-consuming and its design is based on either empirical or very simplified theoretical formulas. Thus, the ultimate objective of the research developed by the authors is to introduce a more sophisticated design approach for this front reinforcement technique. A first step in this direction is this numerical study, in which the mechanical response of deep tunnel faces under undrained conditions is analysed by employing the front characteristic curve: a useful tool largely employed in the literature in analogy with what done for the cavity. The main result of this paper is the “Front Mother Characteristic” curve, obtained by introducing appropriate non-dimensional variables, allowing the designer, once both the system geometry and the soil mechanical properties are assigned, to assess the displacements of tunnel fronts without performing any numerical analysis.     

A novel strut-free retaining wall system for deep excavation in soft clay: numerical study

This paper presents a novel strut-free earth retaining wall system for excavation in soft clay, referred to as the rigid and fixed diaphragm (RFD) wall retaining system. The RFD system is comprised of four main structures—diaphragm walls, rib-walls, cross walls, and buttress walls—and a complementary structure—the cap-slab. The characteristics of the RFD system are: (1) the formation of a continuous earth retaining wall by constructing diaphragm walls along the circumference of the excavated zone; (2) the formation of a rigid and fixed retaining wall system by a series of rib-walls and cross walls; and (3) the formation of a rigid retaining wall by buttress walls and the cap-slab. Furthermore, the performance and mechanisms of the RFD system were investigated carefully through three-dimensional finite element analyses. The results demonstrated that the system stiffness of the RFD system was a major factor controlling deformations induced by excavation. Moreover, the excavation geometry determined the dimension of each component of the RFD system.

     

A simplified analysis approach for the effect of the installation of adjacent XCC pile on the existing single XCC pile in undrained clay

Acta Geotechnica - In this paper, a simplified two-stage analysis method is introduced to predict the lateral response of the existing X-section Cast-in-place Concrete (XCC) pile caused by adjacent...     

Numerical analysis of lateral movements and strut forces in deep cement mixing walls with top-down construction in soft clay

This article presents the observed and simulated lateral movements and strut forces induced in deep cement mixing walls under deep excavation using top-down construction techniques in soft Bangkok clay. The walls are supported laterally by permanent concrete slabs and temporary struts. A three-dimensional numerical model is first calibrated with observed data from a case study. Then, a parametric study is performed to compare this construction method with the bottom-up method and investigate the influence of the DCM wall thickness on lateral movements and strut forces of the wall.     

放坡状态有限土体刚性挡土墙主动土压力研究

针对现有有限土体刚性挡土墙主动土压力研究大都集中于临近建筑物墙体或地下室外墙的狭窄土体,相邻基坑、路堤与切坡挡土墙形成放坡状态有限土体研究甚少,本文考虑填土黏聚力及墙土间黏结力、墙土间摩擦作用、墙背倾角及填土顶面竖向荷载等的影响,利用刚体极限平衡理论进行研究。根据相邻基坑与边坡挡土墙放坡状有限土体的工程特性,分析挡土墙平动位移模式下平面滑动破裂面的形成特征,建立放坡状态有限土体主动土压力计算模型,并利用数值计算方法可以求解。通过对放坡状有限土体主动土压力进行算例分析与参数分析,表明极限破裂角与宽高比、黏聚力、墙背倾角及墙土间外摩擦角为负相关,不同黏聚力下随着宽高比增大,极限破裂角趋近于考虑黏聚力作用库伦方法得到的极限破裂角值,不同黏聚力下有限土体宽度临界值亦是变化的;主动土压力随黏聚力、墙背倾角及墙土外摩擦角增大而减小,随着宽高比增大而增大并逐步趋近于库伦方法计算的土压力值。最后,通过模型试验验证表明按本文方法计算的极限破裂角与实测破裂角吻合,PIV系统测试得到的临界宽高比与库伦方法的结果一致。     

Deep tunnel fronts in cohesive soils under undrained conditions: a displacement-based approach for the design of fibreglass reinforcements

The fronts of tunnels excavated under particularly difficult ground conditions by employing conventional tunnelling methods are commonly supported: the stabilization is usually achieved either by improving the mechanical properties of the soil (injections, jet grouting, soil freezing, etc.) or by introducing linear inclusions. This last technique, consisting in the introduction of pipes (usually made of fibreglass reinforced polymers) in the front, is particularly popular since it is very simple to adapt the reinforcement geometry, length and number to the different conditions encountered during the excavation. The design of this reinforcement technique is nowadays based on very simplified approaches: on either empirical formula or the limit equilibrium method. In a previous paper, the authors numerically studied the mechanical response of unreinforced fronts in cohesive soils and defined a non-dimensional front characteristic curve. In this paper, the authors intend to take into consideration the role of reinforcements by following the same approach. A procedure allowing the definition of the reinforced non-dimensional front characteristic curve, once the reinforcement pattern is assigned, is introduced. The practical use of this curve is described.

     

敏感环境下基坑数值分析中土体本构模型的选择

数值分析已成为敏感环境下基坑工程分析的最重要手段,其关键是选择合适的土体本构模型和计算参数。在分析了岩土数值分析中常用土体本构模型特点的基础上,通过算例较系统地对比了各类模型在基坑开挖数值分析中的适用性。敏感环境下的基坑工程需重点关注墙后土体的变形,从满足工程需要和方便实用的角度出发,建议采用能考虑黏土的塑性和应变硬化特征、能区分加荷和卸荷且刚度依赖于应力水平的硬化类弹塑性模型,如MCC模型和HS模型进行分析。具体工程实例的分析,表明了硬化类弹塑性模型在敏感环境下基坑开挖数值分析中的适用性。     

Thermo-poro-mechanics under adsorption applied to the anomalous thermal pressurization of water in undrained clays

Acta Geotechnica - Pore fluid pressurization, one of the main causes of soil instability, is known to be anomalously high for interstitial water in clay submitted to undrained heating. This anomaly...     

软黏土中张紧式吸力锚循环承载力简化计算方法

张紧式吸力锚是一种重要的深水浮式平台基础。深水环境中,海底浅层沉积物多为饱和软黏土。软黏土中平均荷载与循环荷载共同作用下吸力锚的循环承载力对其设计至关重要。根据最佳系泊点受倾斜荷载作用下吸力锚的破坏模式,假设不同破坏区土体具有相同的平均剪应力,且平均剪应力与循环剪切强度比等于吸力锚所受静荷载与静荷载和循环荷载之和的比值。结合室内土性试验获得的饱和软黏土样不固结不排水归一化循环剪切强度随归一化平均剪应力的变化关系曲线,建立了破坏区土体不排水循环剪切强度的确定方法。对不同破坏区土体阻力进行分析,按照水平应力具有连续性这一特点,构建了上部滑动楔体破坏区与深部平面流动破坏区交界深度的计算方法,进而提出了计算吸力锚循环承载力的简化极限平衡方法。采用该方法对竖向和水平破坏模式吸力锚循环承载力模型试验结果进行了预测,预测与试验结果基本吻合,最小和最大偏差分别为0.79 %和16.08 %,平均偏差为5.74 %,可较好地反映吸力锚循环承载力随循环破坏次数增加而减小的变化关系,验证了该方法的可行性。     

地下采动下含深大裂隙岩溶山体变形响应特征

为了研究岩溶山区地下采矿活动对上覆岩层及山体的变形影响,依托贵州纳雍普洒“8.28”特大崩滑案例,在现场地质调查的基础上,分析了纳雍普洒“8.28”崩塌体特征和山体变形发展过程,采用UDEC离散元数值方法研究了地下采动作用诱发强烈岩溶山体崩滑失稳过程及变形特征。结果表明：山体上部灰岩溶蚀强烈,形成众多裂隙和岩溶管道,在地下采动作用下经历了较长的变形发展过程;地下采动影响下,山体上覆岩层向采空区方向变形,并随着顶板岩层冒落,岩层变形显著增大;上覆岩层深大裂隙对山体变形有重要影响,上部岩层沿着裂隙向下形成沉降带,同时裂隙也得以扩展;崩塌区前缘岩体由于开挖卸荷,向坡外发生挤出变形,前缘阻滑力降低;随着采空区不断扩大,山体稳定性不断降低,最终山体整体溃屈,发生破坏。普洒崩滑模式为“山体后缘拉裂沉陷—裂隙扩展贯通—整体溃屈”。本研究为开展西南地区地下采动对岩溶坡体稳定性影响评价提供借鉴。     

控制地面沉降条件下天津深层地下水资源持续利用

天津平原大强度开采深层地下水引发严重的地面沉降.根据地下水位和地面沉降监测结果分析,第四系中更新统和下更新统是深层地下水持续利用的最佳层位.当水位埋深控制在35～40m,引发的地面沉降量小于10mrrda,深层地下水开采资源为26 755×104m3/a,平均资源模数为2.90×104m3/(a·km2).与1991-2000年平均开采量相比,资源量减少了43.1%,而地面沉降量可以减少68.3%.长期大强度开采深层地下水提高了粘性土的固结程度.保持历史开采层位,稳定开采量,使水位稳定在地面沉降临界水位附近,是深层地下水资源持续利用,控制地面沉降的有效措施.