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Observational Method for Deep Excavation

Project Description

The Observational Method (OM) is a standard practice to support/guide design of infrastructure in sensitive environments, in particular for large excavations in urban areas. The example presented here is one of several cases from the construction of a recent subway line in Rome.

The installed instrumentation allowed for a detailed understanding of the structural response, soil-structure interaction, and displacements of the surrounding area. Special focus was paid to the diaphragm wall displacements, because long-term performance requirements impose strict control on the concrete cracking.

In some cases the observed behavior was outside of the acceptable threshold level, necessitating back-analyses.

Itasca's Role

Our role was to perform numerical back-analyses when the observed behavior was not conforming the design expectation, using FLAC and a proprietary code specifically developed for this purpose. The objectives were to: a) evaluate the stress state and crack situation of the concrete structure; b) assess risks to the adjacent buildings/structures; and c) evaluate possible corrective measures to ensure excavation safely.

The adopted back-analysis procedure starts with the same design assumptions and parameters and then, through a sensitivity process, those parameters are calibrated until the numerical model fits the observed data. Also, during the process, the non-linear behavior of the structure is taken into account and the stiffness of the support is adjusted accordingly.

*This work performed by Augusto Lucarelli, Principal Engineer, prior to employment with Itasca Consulting Group, Inc.

Project Results

The numerical models have allowed, in all investigated cases, a very good understanding of the local and global behavior of the system and have avoided costly and time-consuming corrective measures.

Project Image(s)

(a) The MalatestaTBM shaft, (b) FLAC model, and (c) chart of actual inclinometer (line) and model (x) results for a cut-and-cover tunnel case.
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Bureau

U.S. Minneapolis
Itasca Consulting Group, Inc.

Secteur d'activité

Civil Engineering

Client

Roma Metropolitane

Lieu

Italy

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