Finite element investigation of ground response during diaphragm wall panel installation

Abstract

The construction of diaphragm wall panels inevitably changes the initial stress condition and causes movements in the surrounding soil mass. The ground response is affected by a number of aspects including the ground condition and construction procedure, thus creating complexities and uncertainties to explain the field observation and predict the potential influence on adjacent assets. This paper analyzes observed data from field and model tests, and identifies important aspects which may affect the ground response during the diaphragm wall panel installation process. These aspects mainly include (i) construction details in the trench excavation, (ii) concreting characteristics, (iii) initial ground conditions, and (iv) the panel width. Finite element analyses are then conducted to understand their impact on the ground response in a systematic manner. The analysis procedure follows some typical test programmes reported in the literature, to reproduce the observed phenomenon and explain the mechanisms more consistently. This study demonstrates some key issues that should be considered carefully in practice to mitigate risks in the diaphragm wall installation process.