A modified back analysis method for deep excavation with multi-objective optimization procedure

Real-time prediction of excavation-induced displacement of retaining pile during the deep excavation process is crucial for construction safety.This paper proposes a modified back analysis method with multi-objective optimization procedure,which enables a real-time prediction of horizontal displacement of retaining pile during construction.As opposed to the traditional stage-by-stage back analysis,time series monitoring data till the current excavation stage are utilized to form a multi-objective function.Then,the multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is applied for parameter identification.The optimized model parameters are immediately adopted to predict the excavation-induced pile deformation in the continuous construction stages.To achieve efficient parameter optimization and real-time prediction of system behavior,the back propagation neural network (BPNN) is established to substitute the finite element model,which is further implemented together with MOPSO for automatic operation.The proposed approach is applied in the Taihu tunnel excavation project,where the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated via the comparisons with the site monitoring data.The method is reliable with a prediction accuracy of more than 90%.Moreover,different optimization algorithms,including non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II),Pareto Envelope-based Selection Algorithm II (PESA-II) and MOPSO,are compared,and their influences on the prediction accuracy at different excavation stages are studied.The results show that MOPSO has the best performance for high dimensional optimization task.

Model-scale tests to examine water pressures acting on potentially buoyant underground structures in clay strata

Throughout the service life, underground structures are subjected to transient and sustained hydrostatic pressures. The reservoir impoundment results in an increase in water level, as well as hydraulic gradient,which can endanger the uplift performance of infrastructure. In uplift design, a reduction factor is often suggested for buoyant force acting on underground structures in clays due to the time lag effect.However, the mechanism of pore pressure generation in clays is not fully understood. This investigation presents a novel U-shaped test chamber to assess the pore pressure generation with time in the horizontal branch subjected to an increase in reservoir level in the left vertical branch. A mathematical model is developed to explain the time lag effect of pore pressure generation. The test program also involves the evaluation of uplift pressure acting on foundation model in the right vertical branch due to adjacent reservoir impoundment. It is found that the time lag effect of pore pressure generation in clays can be observed irrespective of hydraulic gradient, but a higher hydraulic gradient can lead to a faster response in pore pressure sensors. A reduction factor of 0.84-0.87 should be considered to reduce the conservatism of uplift design.

Model test and numerical simulation of a new prefabricated double-row piles retaining system in silty clay ground

This paper introduces a new prefabricated recyclable double-row piles retaining system for excavations in silty clay ground.Laboratory model test and numerical simulation are conducted to study the system behavior upon excavation.The horizontal displacement(δ_(h)),Von Mises stress(δ_(M)),strain(ε),ground surface settlement(δ_(v)),and earth pressure are systematically investigated.Furthermore,the monitoring data of 13 excavation cases supported by double-row piles retaining system are presented and discussed.The experimental results can basically match the numerical results,and the maximumδ_(M),maximum bending moment(M_(max)),maximum horizontal displacement(δ_(hm))of structural members are all less than the tolerance limits.The ground surface settlement model of double-row piles retaining system consists of three zones,i.e.,rebound influence zone,primary influence zone and secondary influence zone.The dhm values are 0.07%–1.42%of the excavation depth(He).The maximum ground surface settlement(δ_(vm))is generally less than dhm.The ratio ofδ_(vm)=δ_(hm)varies between 0.09 and 0.76,with an average value of 0.5.The observed earth pressure on the retained side of front pile(paf)is about 0.53–0.57γH below the excavation surface.Above the excavation surface,p_(af)decreases dramatically when getting closer to the ground surface.

Analysis of jacking forces during pipe jacking in granular materials using particle methods

Trenchless technology is often used in congested urban areas or river crossings to install underground pipelines to minimize disturbance to surface traffic or other activities.Pipe jacking is a typical technique applied to jack pipe segments between two working shafts.However,the design of the jacking force is usually implemented using empirical methods.It should be emphasized that the jacking force will change for each site,depending on the magnitude of overcut,lubricants,work stoppages,geology and misalignment.A particle method is proposed to estimate the jacking force along the pipe.The microparameters are calibrated for sandy soils in Shenyang,so that the macroscale material behavior can be reproduced using the particle model.Hence,the normal force around the pipe circumference can be derived in the particle model,after which the interface friction coefficient is applied to evaluate the friction resistance mobilized at the soil-pipe interface.A modified Protodyakonov’s arch model can be used to assess the magnitude of earth pressure acting on the shield face.In the end,the combination of friction resistance and face pressure provides the jacking force.The efficacy of the proposed particle method is demonstrated by comparing calculated jacking forces with those measured in the field for three types of jacking machines in sandy soils under the Hun River,Shenyang.