Multi-Effects of Tunneling and Basement Excavation on Existing Pile Group

Abstract

Tunnels and foundation pits are two separate types of excavation that are frequently used in urban settings. Excavating tunnels and foundation pits sequentially around existing pile foundations is becoming more and more prevalent as urban underground space utilization rates increase. The deformation and load transfer mechanisms of the pile group foundation under two asymmetric excavation conditions of “first tunnel, then foundation pit” and “first foundation pit, then tunnel” are studied from the perspective of the relative positions of the tunnel–pile–foundation pit based on the constant gravity model test and 3D numerical simulation. The result shows: The pile settlement of the front pile (closer to the tunnel) caused by the excavation condition of the “first foundation pit-then tunnel” is relatively larger, while the pile settlement of the rear pile (closer to the foundation pit) caused by the excavation condition of “first tunnel-then pit” is larger. The transverse tilting of the pile group caused by the excavation of the “first foundation pit-then tunnel” is relatively larger. For the front pile, the pile tip resistance generated by “first excavation-then tunnel” is about 10% greater than it was before the initial excavation, which is greater than the result of “first tunnel-then foundation pit”. For the rear pile, the pile tip resistance generated by “first excavation-then tunnel” is about 85% greater than it was before the initial excavation, which is smaller than the result of “first tunnel-then foundation pit”. The multiple excavation sequence of “tunnel first-then foundation pit” leads to a larger induced bending moment for the front pile, whereas a larger induced bending moment for the rear pile results from the multiple excavation sequence “first foundation pit-then tunnel”.