Finite-element analysis of a deep excavation case history

Abstract

The design of deep excavations requires careful consideration of the influence of various soil/structure interaction mechanisms and detailed issues relating to the construction processes and the mechanics of the soil. Finite-element analysis provides a useful design tool for deep excavations, but care needs to be taken to ensure that an appropriate level of detail is included in the model. This paper describes a three-dimensional finite-element analysis of a deep excavation supported by a diaphragm wall, recently constructed in Shanghai. The principal purpose of the study is to investigate the level of detail that is required in the finite-element model to obtain results that provide a realistic representation of the wall and ground movements measured during the construction process. Studies are conducted on (a) the influence of the soil constitutive model on the quality of the results; (b) procedures to model the effect of post-cure shrinkage in the concrete floor slabs; (c) procedures to model the construction joints in the diaphragm wall; (d) the relative merits of using shell and solid elements to model the diaphragm wall; and (e) the sensitivity of the analysis to the assumed initial horizontal stresses in the soil.