Deep Excavation Analysis
Deep Excavation Analysis
(OP)
I am doing a deep excavation stability analysis using GSTABL. The excavation is about 75 feet high and is mainly in clay with drianed friction angle 16 degree.
The bottom of the excavation will have a mat about 4 feet thick. I have developed a GSTABL model using a 4 feet mat and have given a concrte shear strength with phi = 50 degree. I have developed another GSTABL model where I have not incorporated mat as an "imaginary soil" layer. My first model with mat as an "imaginary soil layer" gives me a factor of safety (FS) about 1.0 but my second model without mat give me FS=0.80. I have the following questions:
1) which model is more appropriate, with mat as an soil layer or no mat layer just the weight of the mat?
2) if I use mat, is there any concern about the uplift of the mat due to slideing of the retained mass behind the excavation?
3) in order to achieve a FS=1.3 I am using deep drilled pier as stabilizing elements, based on the diffenrt modeling techniques forces are very different and I am not sure which one I should choos to design the piers. Any though or help will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance for any positive feedback. Regards,
The bottom of the excavation will have a mat about 4 feet thick. I have developed a GSTABL model using a 4 feet mat and have given a concrte shear strength with phi = 50 degree. I have developed another GSTABL model where I have not incorporated mat as an "imaginary soil" layer. My first model with mat as an "imaginary soil layer" gives me a factor of safety (FS) about 1.0 but my second model without mat give me FS=0.80. I have the following questions:
1) which model is more appropriate, with mat as an soil layer or no mat layer just the weight of the mat?
2) if I use mat, is there any concern about the uplift of the mat due to slideing of the retained mass behind the excavation?
3) in order to achieve a FS=1.3 I am using deep drilled pier as stabilizing elements, based on the diffenrt modeling techniques forces are very different and I am not sure which one I should choos to design the piers. Any though or help will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance for any positive feedback. Regards,
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
My suggestion is to model the slope without the mat foundation. Relative to a 75 foot cut, a 4 foot concrete mat is insignificant. You do not indicate what diameter, length or spacing of drilled shaft you are using or how you are modeling the shafts with the slope stability software. I have had relatively good luck with other software modeling drilled shafts as reinforcement lines then converting the reinforcement line force into drilled shaft designs using LPile.
Good Luck.
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
If the excavation would be completed at the same time that the concrete is placed (not cured), then I agree with dgillette, you can model the concrete as a surcharge equivalent with its weight.
If the excavation would be completed after the concrete is placed and fully cured (I can not figure out how, we just assume it is possible), then I slightly disagree with dgillette. I believe the concrete strength contribute to the stability of the excavation and can be relied upon. You can consider the concrete strength in your analyses and should model the concrete as a soil layer with phi = 40 degree and C > 500 kPa (72 psi). The C value is way less than the strength of concrete (e.g., 25,000 kPa or 3,600 psi); however, as noted by PEinc you do not want to use the full strength of concrete. It may give you strange results.
If the concrete mat is contributing to the stability of the slope (particularly on the third scenario and may be on the second), you may need to consider the applied pressure on the structural design of the mat. Generally, in an extreme case, it may cause localized tension on the upper portion of the mat which means the excavation has been subject to noticeable movement. The only way to analyse and design this for the structure of the mat is to run a FEM. If anybody has a more simpler design approach, I appreciate comments.
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
Get slice forces and solve by hand for force equilibrium with the weight of concrete within the circle and a few feet outside of it to be sure that the program's not assuming something impossible. Assuming the shortest possible shear surface (vertical) and neglecting the comparatively minor frictional part of the strength, the shearing resistance is 4'X72psiX144 = 40,000 lb per unit length of slope, that is, measured into the page if you are looking at a section). The concrete only weighs 4'x150pcf=600 psf, peanuts compared to the shear strength of the concrete. Looking at it in section view, the lowest possible resistance of a shear surface through the concrete (vertical, no normal stress so no friction component) is equal to 40,000 lb per foot into the page, equal to the weight of a 4'x66'x1' chunk of concrete. You can't simply pick a strength for the concrete and assume that it's OK on the basis that it's a lot lower than the real value, because there is another governing mechanism that has to be checked. If you prefer not to do all the hand calculations to verify that result is OK, just make the concrete into 150 pcf gravel with a high phi', and no cohesion. That will make the lifting issue go away, and it's a little closer to reality than the 600 psf surcharge, although it won't make much difference in a 75' cut.
I don't know the exact configuration of the OP's cut and the critical failure surfaces, but methinks the lifting mechanism would govern the resistance the concrete can provide.
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
The verification method explained by dgillette is very amazing (thanks by the way), as you can even use it to figure out the shear and moment for structural design of the mat (instead of running a FEM). Just need to impose assumption in regard to flexibility of the mat and there you go. If you do not feel comfortable with simplifying the flexibility of the mat for structural design, then still need to run FEM for structural design.
Notwithstanding all the above, I still can not imagine how you could be in the third scenario. Unless you are running your analyses for short term and long term soil parameters and the third scenario is for the long term soil parameters.
dgillette, I would appreciate to know if you are conducting slope stability analyses for a slope with a building almost close to the top, how do you model the perimeter concrete foundation for the building? Let assume the goal is to figure out the minim factor of safety for the bulding.
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
A more likely version (call it Scenario 3b), is that the initial excavation is modeled without any concrete at all, but that the long-term stability is modeled with it. Cuts in clay often fail later, once negative excess PWP has dissipated or something like that.
Geoman110, in your last paragraph, are you referring to a building with its footings actually on the upper part of the slope? Could you post a sketch?
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
It is a permanent support system. Temporary excavation support system is already in place. Mat will be inplace even before constructing the permanent stabilizing piers (slurry wall/caissons). I have already discussed this problem with Dr. Garry of GSTABL7 and based on my discussion with Dr. Garry, I am solving the problem as described below:
I have run GSTABL model without concrete surchrage and concrete layer. From this run of GSTABL, I am taking the difference of the driving force and the resisting force, lets say it is 87,000 lb. The weight of the concrete of the mat is 1 ft x 4 ft (thickness) x 200 ft (cross section width) x 150 = 120,000lb.
Just to be conservative, I am using half of the concrete weight, i.e., 60,0000. using half of the concrete results in a difference of about 27,000 lb between driving and resisting force (instead of 87,000 lb). Using this approach of utilizing the conrete mat into stability reduces the stabilizing element sizes about 50%.
Let me know if you agree or disgaree with my approach.
I personally think that this problem should have been solved using more sophisticated program such as Plaxis.
RE: Deep Excavation Analysis
dgillette; thank you for the response. You are correct, I am referring to a footing on the upper part of the slope (more accurately, a short distance behind the crest). I will prepare a sketch and post it later. Should I start a new thread for this? I do not want to hijack this one; however, the topics are pretty close.