Numerical-geostatistical-based approach to investigate the earth pressure evolution within the large grid wall foundation under adjacent surcharge loading

Abstract

This study presents an investigation of the earth pressure evolution within the large grid wall foundation by deep mixing at the expansion site of the Lianyungang port operation. The earth pressure coefficient within the structure fully embedded into the deep soft clay soils cannot only be designed based on the active and passive earth pressure. Therefore, this investigation attempted to use a combination of numerical modelling and post-processing of the numerical results using the geostatistical method to study the critical part of the foundation to endure high earth pressure. The numerical modelling was validated using the centrifuge lateral displacement results. Moreover, the post-processing of the numerical results using geostatistics helped to comprehend the earth pressure evolution within the location of the large grid wall foundation by deep mixing. The Kriging method was found to be the best gridding method based on its high performance and stability on the two datasets that were implemented. The results presented herein depicted that the large grid wall foundation will suffer high induced stresses on the upper part up to the depth of approximately 5 m and as a result it will cause lateral displacement, tilting and shearing off improved soil on the upper section of the foundation. Furthermore, the factor of safety-based numerical and centrifuge shear stress results was 10.14, and 13.79 respectively, while based on the flexural stress from the numerical model the factor of safety was 88.2. Thus, indicating that the large grid wall foundation by deep mixing will be able to withstand the induced stress from the 250 kPa of the surcharge loading.