Deep excavation-induced ground surface movement characteristics – A numerical investigation

This paper concerns the characterization of deep excavation-induced ground surface movements, using the results of numerical investigation. A calibrated 2D finite element model using the Lade’s double hardening constitutive model for soil was used to form a database of the wall and ground surface movements associated with deep excavation. The results indicated that the cantilever and the lateral bulging excavation stages produce distinctive patterns of ground surface movement profiles, and that final ground surface movement profiles can be constructed by combining the cantilever and the lateral bulging components with a reasonable degree of accuracy. A two-step approach for use in the prediction of ground surface movement profiles is proposed.