Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Base stability analysis of braced deep excavation in undrained anisotropic clay with upper bound theory

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is imperative to evaluate factor of safety against basal heave failure in the design of braced deep excavation in soft clay. Based on previously published field monitoring data and finite element analyses of ground settlements of deep excavation in soft clay, an assumed plastic deformation mechanism proposed here gives upper bound solutions for base stability of braced deep excavations. The proposed kinematic mechanism is optimized by the mobile depth (profile wavelength). The method takes into account the influence of strength anisotropy under plane strain conditions, the embedment of the retaining wall, and the locations of the struts. The current method is validated by comparison with published numerical study of braced excavations in Boston blue clay and two other cases of excavation failure in Taipei. The results show that the upper bound solutions obtained from this presented method is more accurate as compared with the conventional methods for basal heave failure analyses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Terzaghi K. Theoretical Soil Mechanics. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1954. 122–130

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bjerrum L, Eide O. Stability of strutted excavations in clay. Geotech, 1956, 6(1): 115–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Eide O, Aas G, Josang T. Special application of cast-in-place walls for tunnels in soft clay. Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Madrid, 1972. 485–498

    Google Scholar 

  4. Atkinston J H. Foundation and Slope: An Introduction to Applications of Critical State Soil Mechanics. Berkshire: McGraw-Hill, 1980. 280–305

    Google Scholar 

  5. Architectural Institute of Japan. Recommendations for design of building foundations. Tokyo, 2001. 353–374

    Google Scholar 

  6. China Academy of Building Research. Code for design of building foundation (in Chinese). Beijing, 2012. 176–179

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hsieh P G, Ou C Y, and Liu H T. Basal heave analysis of excavations with consideration of anisotropic undrained strength of clay. Can Geotech J, 2008, 45(6): 788–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chang M F. Basal stability analysis of braced cuts in clay. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2000, 126(3): 276–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Huang M S, Song X Y, Qin H L. Basal stability of braced excavation in K0-consolidated soft clay by upper bound method (in Chinese). Chin J Geotech Eng, 2008, 30(2): 250–255

    Google Scholar 

  10. Liao H J, Su S F. Base stability analysis for excavation in anisotropic clay using slip surface method. Proceedings of International Conference of Urban Ground Engineering. London: Thomas Telford, 1998. 255–267

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chen W F. Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity. Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific, 1975. 47–99

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Ukritchon B, Whittle A, Sloan S W. Undrained stability of braced excavations in clay. J Geotech Geornviron Eng, 2003, 129(8): 738–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Osman A S, Bolton M D. Ground movement predictions for braced excavations in undrained clay. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2006, 132(4): 465–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lam S Y, Bolton M D. Energy conservation as a principle underlying mobilizable strength design for deep excavations. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2011, 137(11): 1062–1074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. O’Rourke T D. Base stability and ground movement prediction for excavations in soft clay. Retaining structures, London: Thomas Telford, 1993. 131–139

    Google Scholar 

  16. Su S F, Liao H J, Lin Y H. Base stability of deep excavation in anisotropic soft clay. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 1998, 124(9): 809–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang L Z, Shen K L, Ye S H. Undrained shear strength of K0 consolidated soft soils. Int J Geomech, 2008, 8(2): 105–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ou C Y, Hsieh P G. A simplified method for predicting ground settlement profiles induced by excavation in soft clay. Comput Geotech, 2011, 38(8): 987–997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu G B, Ng C W W, Wang Z W. Observed performance of a deep multistrutted excavation in Shanghai soft clays. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2005, 131(8): 1004–1013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hashash Y M, Whittle A J. Ground movement prediction for deep excavations in soft clay. J Geotech Eng, 1996, 122(6): 474–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mitchell J K, Soga K. Fundamentals of Soil Behavior. New York: Wiley, 2005. 374–375

    Google Scholar 

  22. Su S F, Liao H J. Effect of strength anisotropy on undrained slope stability in clay. Geotech, 1999, 49(2): 215–230

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  23. Prevost J H. Undrained shear tests on clays. J Geotech Eng Div, 1979, 105(1): 49–64

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    LiZhong Wang & Fan Long

Authors
  1. LiZhong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fan Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to LiZhong Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, L., Long, F. Base stability analysis of braced deep excavation in undrained anisotropic clay with upper bound theory. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 57, 1865–1876 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-014-5613-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-014-5613-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation