Influence of Individual Strut Failure on Performance of Deep Excavation in Soft Soil

This extended abstract presents a numerical investigation of the response of individual strut failure by analysing a 30 m deep excavation in marine clay supported by a diaphragm wall and ten levels of struts. Insufficient embedment depth of the wall into the stiff soil layer has also been accounted for, simulating possible construction imperfections. An advanced constitutive model including double hardening plasticity and small strain stiffness is employed for the analysis. It could be shown that provided a robust design is put in place in the first place significant stress redistribution capacity is available avoiding catastrophic failure of the excavation when individual support elements fail.