Behavior of cantilever secant pile wall supporting excavation in sandy soil considering pile-pile interaction

Abstract

This study presents the results of a numerical investigation performed to investigate the behavior of a cantilever secant pile wall (CSPW) used to support excavation in sandy soil. These types of excavations have the potential to cause severe ground movement and possible damage to the adjacent structures. A major concern in supporting excavation is to predict and control ground movement associated with excavation particularly in cohesionless soils, as it could trigger global instability and catastrophic failure. The magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressure and ground movement depend mainly on soil properties, excavation depth, excavation plan geometry, the stiffness of the supporting wall, and the contact between the secant piles themselves. Three-dimensional finite element model has been developed in this study to capture the excavation and wall geometry. A parametric study has been performed using a wide range of sand density, excavation depth, wall flexural stiffness, and bonding between piles within the wall. The results allowed for the development of an approach to predict both the wall deflection for the case of fully and partially bonded piles. This will help engineers to predict ground movement and select an appropriate supporting system that can maintain the stability of the adjacent structures.