Ground Movements Associated with Wall Construction: Case Histories

Abstract

The construction of diaphragm wall panels can cause movements to the adjacent ground. The magnitude of the movements depends on various factors such as the construction technique, soil type, and panel dimensions. These movements can be excessive if the wall dimensions and construction technique are not properly chosen or the process of wall construction is not properly controlled. This paper presents four case histories on the adjacent ground response to the construction of diaphragm wall panels. The aspects of performance monitored include lateral soil movements and soil settlements. The monitoring results indicated that the lateral soil movements caused by the construction of wall panels increased with increasing wall dimension. These results suggest that the magnitude of the lateral soil movements could be minimized by reducing the dimensions of the wall panels. The results also suggest that the use of high slurry levels during the construction of the wall panels would help to minimize the lateral soil movements.