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Deep excavation with multi anchored diaphragm

wall
Excavation profonde avec un mur de soutnement ancre
plusieurs fois
J. Josifovski
1
, S. Gjorgjevski and M. Jovanovski
University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, R. Macedonia

ABSTRACT
The deep excavation in built-up urban areas with buildings and streets surrounding the site makes them quite formidable prob-
lems. Such a project of eight storey administrative-residential building located in the city centre of Tirana, Albania has been
carefully analyzed. The project anticipates a 20.5m deep excavation to be carried out with six underground storeys. The task be-
comes even more demanding having in mind the fact that the site is surrounded with six and eight storey buildings with base-
ments. The deep excavation pit with dimensions 27.7 36.9m is secured by a multi anchored diaphragm wall. The retaining sys-
tem as a temporary support has to ensure the stability of the soil and enable undisturbed excavation. The diaphragm wall has
been analyzed in several phases using the finite element method to obtain the shear, moments, displacements and support reac-
tions under earth and water pressure on different levels. In this paper the numerical modelling of the 20.5m deep excavation is
presented with some conclusive discussions.

RSUM
Les excavations profondes dans les agglomrations des zones urbaines avec des btiments et rues entourant le site constituent
des problmes tout fait formidables. Un tel projet de huit btiments administratifs rsidentiels situs dans le centre-ville de Ti-
rana, en Albanie a t soigneusement analys. Le projet prvoit une excavation profonde de 20.5m effectuer pour la construc-
tion de six tages souterrains. Lpreuve est encore plus exigeante ayant l'esprit le fait que le site est entour de six et huit b-
timents avec plusieurs tages avec sous-sol. Le trou de lexcavation profonde avec des dimensions 27.7 36.9m est assur par
un mur de soutnement ancr plusieurs fois. Le systme de rtention comme un soutien temporaire doit assurer la stabilit du sol
ainsi que de permettre une excavation non perturbe. Le mur de soutnement ancr a t analys en plusieurs phases selon la m-
thode des lments finis pour obtenir le cisaillement, les moments, les dplacements et les ractions d'appui sous la pression des
terres et de l'eau diffrents niveaux. Dans cet article la modlisation numrique de lexcavation de 20.5m de profondeur est
prsent avec quelques des discussions concluantes.

Keywords: deep excavation, multi anchored diaphragm wall, numerical analysis, finite element method



1
Corresponding Author.
1 INTRODUCTION
For construction of eight storey administrative-
residential building in the city centre of Tirana,
an excavation of 27.7 36.9m pit was necessary.
The building is planed with six underground sto-
reys: bottom floor as a basement, next three
floors are parking lots while the top two floors
are shopping and administrative premises. All
together an excavation of 20.5m has to be exe-
cuted, see Figure 1.

Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
A. Anagnostopoulos et al. (Eds.)
IOS Press, 2011
2011 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.
doi:10.3233/978-1-60750-801-4-1485
1485

Figure 1. Multi anchored diaphragm wall section AA(left)
protecting the excavation.

The excavation is secured by a retaining sys-
tem with a task to ensure the soil stability. The
diaphragm wall with thickness d = 0.8m total
length of L = 129.2m and height H = 25m has
only a temporal character. The diaphragm wall
has been comprised out of 2.7m reinforced con-
crete segments. The supporting structure repre-
sents a multi anchored diaphragm wall with
height of 20.5m plus additional 4.5m depth bel-
low the pit. The supports are pre-stress anchors
which introduce additional stabilizing forces into
the system. Depending on the requirements an
anchor type TTS15 with 5, 6 and 7 treads has
been chosen. Every cable is comprised of 7 wires
with 5mm in total of 15mm. The horizontal an-
chor spacing is set to L
s
= 2.7m while the vertical
is h
s
= 3m. The anchors are positioned with incli-
nation of o= 15
0
and they vary in total length.
2 CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE
The excavation and construction works had been
performed according to carefully devised proce-
dure [1]. To ensure a safe excavation first a dia-
phragm wall has been constructed. Specialized
cutter machinery was employed to excavate the
wall. After positioning of the reinforcements a
continuous concrete pour through fixed pipes has
been performed. The completion of the first
phase, namely the construction of the diaphragm
wall enabled the excavation of the pit. The exca-
vation and anchoring has been executed in six
continuous phases connected to the excavation
depth h as described in Table 1.

Table 1. Excavation phases.
Phase 1 2 3 4 5 6
h (m) -4 -8 -11.5 -14.5 -17.5 -20.5

Parallel to excavation a dewatering of the pit
has been performed using pumps with sufficient
capacity and number. The anchoring is per-
formed on every level in counter-clockwise di-
rection with rotational drilling and piping (130-
180mm). The anchors free length is variable at
different sections and depths. The grouting has
been performed using a cement injection mass
with 3% bentonite. After reaching the hardening
condition of the injection mass the tensioning
process of the anchors can start. Positioning all
anchors at certain level enables the excavation of
the next phase [2]. To ensure that the design val-
ues for the anchor force are properly introduced
it is necessary that 10% of the total anchors ful-
fill an acceptance test while 5% had to be tested
on lock-off load [5].
3 GROUND CONDITIONS
Enough field investigations and laboratory tests
have been performed to be able precisely to de-
fine the ground conditions with the material
properties accordingly.
The ground profile is comprised of 10 almost
horizontal soil layers. In the numerical model
they are represented by the following material
parameters: as unit weight, v as Poissons ra-
tio, M
v
as a compressibility modulus and strength
parameters given through c as cohesion and | as
angle of internal friction. They are presented in
Table 2 for every lithological unit, separately.

Table 2. Soil layer properties.
Type
h
(m)

(kN/
m
3
)
v
(/)
M
v

(MP
a)
c
(kPa)
|
(
0
)
J. Josifovski et al. / Deep Excavation with Multi Anchored Diaphragm Wall 1486
N 1.0 17 0.3 3 5 18
CI 3.4 19.3 0.3 10 30 18
ML 5.9 19.1 0.31 8 10 20
GW 6.8 19.0 0.34 11 25 18
ML 14.5 19.6 0.32 11 15 21
CL 16.0 19.6 0.30 12 5 24
CL 17.5 20 0.28 18 45 25
M 20.0 22 0.27 25 150 30
M 24.0 24 0.26 45 200 32
M 40.0 24 0.26 55 250 34

The top layer (N) is a man-made embankment
brownish silty clay containing pieces of bricks
and roots with thickness of around 0.7m; layer
(CI) is silty clay mixture with yellow colour me-
dium dense with average thickness of 2.4m; layer
(ML) is clayey silt predominate brown colour
medium dense with thickness from 2.0 to 2.5m;
layer (GW) is sandy gravel with local presence
of claylike matrix with thickness from 0.5m to
0.7m; layer (CL) is composed of silty clay mix-
tures medium low dense yellow colour encoun-
tered at 4.5m up to 9m depth; layers (M) are
Neogenes deposits composed by claylike Marls
to highly weathered alveoli. The underground
water is present on 4 to 5m below ground surface
in layers (GW) and (ML) while top layers and
(M) are with low permeability and relatively dry.
4 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
In order to obtain a realistic simulation of the ex-
cavation the problem was analysed using the fi-
nite element method on two- and three-
dimensional models. The popular program Plaxis
specialized for geotechnical engineering has
been proven as efficient in combination with
analytical solutions. The program enables simple
but efficient spatial modelling of different struc-
tural elements and accurate material definition.
The ground stress-strain state with the occur-
ring soil effect during the excavation process has
been simulated on a two-dimensional plane-
strain finite element model. The soil material is
discretized using the Mohr-Coulomb model
while the concrete diaphragm wall with linear
material law. The spatial discretization had been
varied depending on the situation but in general
triangular plane elements with 15 nodes had been
used for the soil and beams for the structural
elements of the wall and anchors [3].
4.1 Excavation
Since different ground and loading conditions
exist on the construction site, all four profiles
representing the four sides of the pit supported
with the anchored diaphragm wall had to be ana-
lysed. They are distinguished by the section
name as or BB followed by the subscripts l
for left or r for right side. The stage construc-
tion has been simulated in six continuous phases,
where the initial phase represents the calculation
of the ground stresses with constructed dia-
phragm wall. The excavation scenario from Ta-
ble 1 is illustratively presented in Figure 2 for
wall section AA
l
.




Figure 2. Finite element mesh of wall in section AA
l
for con-
struction phase (1-6).
First of all a rough estimate of the necessary
anchor (stabilizing) forces is obtained through fi-
nite element analysis using fix-end anchors.
Thus, determining the resistant force R
k
in every
phase at different level of wall section AA
l
, see
Table 3.

Table 3. Characteristic anchor forces in wall section
l
.
R
k
(kN/m)
level
(m)
Ph.2 Ph.3 Ph.4 Ph.5 Ph. 6
Phase 1 Phase 2
Phase 3 Phase 4
Phase 5 Phase 6
J. Josifovski et al. / Deep Excavation with Multi Anchored Diaphragm Wall 1487
-4 240.3 146.2 155.1 158.0 164.7
-8 541.8 493.6 491.2 492.2
-11.5 401.2 422.4 417.2
-14.5 401.2 502.5
-17.5 470.5

Besides the anchor force the calculation is
able to control the overall stability for every
phase of the excavation.
4.2 Anchors
The anchor look-off load P
0
has been determined
according to EN 1537 as
P
0
= 0.60 P
tk
(1)
where P
tk
is the characteristic load capacity of
tendon. In the case of anchor type TTS15 with
P
tk
= 350kN, produces a 210kN as a lock-off
force of one thread. The total anchor force is N
(number of cables) times the thread force.
According to calculated characteristic forces
R
k
which correspond to the required stabilizing
force the following anchor types are chosen, see
Table 4.

Table 4. Anchor type in wall section
l
.
level P
0

(m)
Anchor
type
(kN/m) (kN)
-4 4TTS15 311 840
-8 7TTS15 544 1470
-11.5 6TTS15 467 1260
-14.5 7TTS15 544 1470
-17.5 6TTS15 467 1260

Additional analytical calculations had been
performed in order to determine the maximal re-
sistant force of the single anchor following the
classical solution after P. Lendi, see Figure 3.


R
k
= (2rt
.
L
.
(p
v
.
tg + c))/B
p
v
= (z
1
+z
2
) / 2
.

z
1
= h+x
.
tg (o)
z
2
= z
1
+L
.
sin (o)
B = (1-sin (
)
)

sin (-2o))/cos(2)
Figure 3. Ground anchor.

The grouted body is positioned in Marls (be-
low depth 10.5m) with bond length of L
b
= 15m.
This calculation determines many important pa-
rameters, namely the design resistant force
R
d
= R
k
/
R
of anchor where
R
is a partial factor
of anchor resistance [4], see Table 5

Table 5. Soil and anchor properties.
Cohesion c 150 kPa
Internal friction | 30
0
0.523
Unit weight 19.2 kN/m
3

Height H 11.5 m
Distance x 10 m
Bond length L
b
15 m
Angle to horizontal o 15
0
0.262
Width B 1.3 m
Start depth z
1
14.18 m
End depth z
2
18.06 m
Pressure p
v
309.52 kPa
Resistance force R
k
2323.44 kN
Partial factor
R
1. 35 /
Design resistant
force
R
d
1721.06 kN

To obtain more realistic results a second finite
element analysis had been performed on a model
where the so-called node-to-node anchors dis-
J. Josifovski et al. / Deep Excavation with Multi Anchored Diaphragm Wall 1488
cretized with tendon and grouted body elements,
see Figure 4.


Figure 4. FE deformed mesh in section AA
l
(phase: 6 ).

In the finite element model the anchors have
been pre-stressed with the determined lock-off
force from Table 4. The anchors are positioned at
15 degrees of angle with length which is given in
Table 5. The computation leads to a solution of
the displacements, see Figure 5.


Figure 5. Horizontal displacements in section AA
l
(phase 6:
shadings).

The largest displacements are close to the po-
sition of the grouted body between the second
and fourth anchor. The displacements of the wall
are in the range from 2 - 4cm which has no im-
plications on the global stability. This fact has
been also proved by the distribution of the effec-
tive mean stresses in the ground, see Figure 6.

Figure 6. Effective stresses of wall section AA
l
(phase 6:
mean shadings).

A slight stress concentration can be seen in
the toe of the diaphragm wall while in the soil
next to the wall the mean stress ranges from
p= 150 - 400kPa. Finally, the total anchor force
had been determined, see Table 7.
level
(m)
P
(kN)
Anchor
type
EA
(kN)
L=L
f
+L
b

(m)
-4 831.6 4TTS15 109952.5 24.5+15
-8 1455.3 7TTS15 109952.5 12.5+15
-11.5 1247.4 6TTS15 109952.5 10.5+15
-14.5 1455.3 7TTS15 164850.0 8.5+15
-17.5 1247.4 6TTS15 192325.0 7+15

where P is the anchor force, EA is the axial rigid-
ity of the anchor, L is the total length of the an-
chor as a sum of free L
f
and bond L
b
length.
4.3 Diaphragm wall
Beside the soil stresses and displacement the fi-
nite element analysis determines the deformation
and internal forces of the diaphragm wall.
The maximal calculated horizontal displace-
ment of the wall is 41.9mm at the depth of
around 14m which concurs to the results pre-
sented in Figure 5. Interesting to mention is the
fact that the measured displacements during the
excavation had not excide the calculated ones.
Moreover, the internal forces in the diaphragm
wall section AA
l
are presented as envelopes cov-
ering all six phases of excavation. The diagram
of axial and shear force envelopes together with
the bending moments are presented in Figure 8.
Table 6. Anchors in wall section AAl.
J. Josifovski et al. / Deep Excavation with Multi Anchored Diaphragm Wall 1489

(a) (b) (c)
Figure 8. Envelops of (a) Axial forces N, (b) Shear forces Q
and (c) Bending moment M in wall section AA
l
.

The maximal value of the axial force is
-1.37MN/m at the foundation depth of around
20.5m. The shear force has a characteristic form
of a saw with maximal value of 503.5kN/m. Both
sides of the wall are tensioned in different phases
of excavation with 387.9kN/m/m as a maximal
bending moment.
According to internal forces the design of the
reinforced concrete sections has been performed
according to EN 1992 with the recommended
partial factors.
5 CONCLUSIONS
The deep excavation in highly urbanized area
such as the city centre of Tirana represents very
formidable task. In the current project a technical
solution of multi anchored diaphragm wall has
been proposed to secure the excavation of 20.5m
pit. This paper describes the numerical modelling
process by offering some conclusive discussions.
A two- and three dimensional finite element
analyses had been performed with an objective to
realistically simulate the deep excavation behav-
iour. Some difficulties of not quite precise regu-
lative have been encountered. Nevertheless, the
proposed model has been able describe all the ef-
fects in the process of excavation in difficult ma-
terial and loading conditions. At all time during
the execution of the work the diaphragm wall has
been instrumented with inclinometers and geo-
detic markers to measure the deformations. The
recordings had only confirmed the predictions
made by the numerical analysis. The construc-
tion started in September 2009 and finished in
March 2010, see Figure 9.


503.5kN/m
-1.37MN/m
387.9kNm/m
Figure 9. Deep excavation with multi anchored diaphragm
wall in Tirana.
REFERENCES
[1] German Society for Geotechnics (DGGT) 2003.
Recommendations on Excavations, Ernst & Sohn
Verlag fur Architektur und technische Wissenschaften
GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, ISBN 3-433-01712-3.
[2] H.G. Kempfert and B. Gebreselassie, 2006.
Excavations and Foundations in Soft Soils, Springer-
Verlag Berlin Heidelberg , ISBN 540-32894-7.
[3] D.M. Potts and L. Zdravkovic, 1999. Finite element
analysis in geotechnical engineering: theory. Imperial
College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Thomas
Telford Ltd, ISBN 0-7277-2783-4.
[4] EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design - General
rules.
[5] EN 1537 Execution of special geotechnical work -
Ground anchors.

J. Josifovski et al. / Deep Excavation with Multi Anchored Diaphragm Wall 1490

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