10/22/2010

Case Studies of Support

of Open Excavations and
Distressed Retaining
Walls in Malaysia
Ir. Liew Shaw Shong

Type of Case Studies

1 : Jack-In Pipe Anchorage

2 & 3 : Excavation in Fill Ground

10/22/2010

Case Study 1

Building Boundary

Soldier Pile Wall

(9 rows of JackIn Anchors)

CBP Wall

Soldier Pile Wall

(5 rows Ground
Anchors)

4
(9 rows of JackIn Anchors)

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Jack-In Anchor Installation

Ground Anchors

Tunnel Construction in
progress

Building

Jack-In Anchors

CBP Wall

Tunnel Construction in
progress
5

GEOLOGY & SUBSOIL CONDITIONS

Meta-sedimentary Kajang formation overlain by some
alluvial deposits consisting of sandy clayey silts and fill
0

Layer 1 Fill
(Clayey
Silt)

Depth (m)

10

15

Layer 2 Clayey
Silt
Layer 3 Sandy Silt

20

25

Layer 4 Sandy Silt

Legend
LL
PL
MC

30
16

17

18

19

20

Bu lk Unit Weig ht (kN/m3 )

10

20

30

SPT'N

40

20

40

60

80

400 00

80000

Atterberg L imits You ng M od ulus (kPa)

10/22/2010

PULL-OUT TESTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Pull out tests on jack-in anchors to verify
the development of shaft
resistance/friction with time.
Inclinometer, load cell, strain gauges and
settlement marker were installed to verify
the design performance of support
system.
7

Mobilised
Average Shaft Resistance with Time
Pull Out Shaft Resistance of SGE Jacked Anchors vs Time
Mobilised Average Shaft Resistance (kPa)

80

60

Mobilised shaft resistance

increases with time.

13.2

210 days
to
270 days

14
11.5

20.5

22

14.2

11.5
10
14

8.5

20.5
7.5 5.5 12
12.5 3
23.8
25

40

14.5
16.1
7.5

11
5.5
10.8 13.7
14.8
32.7 10
4.85
13.6

10.3

Legend
19.6

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9

22.4

24
26.7
12.5

20

8.35

6.4
8
26.5
37.3

10.6 28.1
21.8

7.27

32

Note : Figures Beside Date Points denote

mobilised anchor head movement in mm
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

Time (Days)

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Pull Out Tests for Instrumented Jack-In Anchor

18m

0.6m

1.6m
VWSG - C

VWSG - B
3.0m

VWSG - C
6.0m

VWSG - D
9.0m

VWSG - F

12.0m

15.0m

200

150

100

P ull-Out Test
Test 1 ( 5 Days)
15-Jan-2002
Test 2 (14 Days)
25-Jan-2002
Test 3 (21 Days)
1-Feb-2002

50

4.6m
VWSG - D

10.6m
VWSG - F

7.6m
VWSG - E

250

Jacked
Anchor at
Level 4

250

Pull-Out Load (kN)

VWSG - E

Pull-Out Load (kN)

VWSG - A

Jacked
Anchor at
Level 7

200

150

Pull-Out Test
Test 1 ( 6 Days)
04-Mar-2002
Test 2 (14 Days)
12-Mar-2002
Test 3 (24 Days)
22-Mar-2002

100

50

0
10

20

30

Head Displacement (mm)

Pipe Shaft Resistance
Test 1 : A-B
Test 1 : B-C
Test 1 : C-D
Test 1 : D-E
Test 1 : E-F
Test 2 : A-B
Test 2 : B-C
Test 2 : C-D
Test 2 : D-E
Test 2 : E-F
Test 3 : A-B
Test 3 : B-C
Test 3 : C-D
Test 3 : D-E
Test 3 : E-F

40

80

120

Shaft Resistance (kN/m2)

Shaft Resistance (kN/m2)

10

20

30

Head Displacement (mm)

40

Pipe Shaft Resistance

Test 1 : C-D
Test 1 : D-E
Test 1 : E-F
Test 2 : C-D
Test 2 : D-E
Test 2 : E-F
Test 3 : C-D
Test 3 : D-E
Test 3 : E-F

80

120

Jack-in Anchor Load with Time

150

Loading at Jacked Anchors

Level 3
Level 5
Level 7
Level 9

140
130
120
110

Level 3 - FEM Results

Level 5 - FEM Results
Level 7 - FEM Results
Level 9 - FEM Results

7th layer : 22/02/2002

Load cell : 6/03/2002

Lo a d (k N )

100
90

5th layer : 19/01/2002

Load cell : 29/01/2002

80
70

9th layer : 27/03/2002

Load cell : 28/03/2002

60
50
40

3rd layer : 5/01/2002

Load cell :12/01/2002

30
20
10
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

10

300

Time (Days)

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Prestressed Ground Anchor Load with Time

600

550

Load cell : 19/02/2002

500
450

L o ad (kN )

400

Load cell : 20/03/2002

350
300

Load cell : 19/01/2002

250
Load cell : 22/02/2002

200
150

Loading at Ground Anchor

Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5

100
50

Level 2 - PLAXIS
Level 3 - PLAXIS
Level 4 - PLAXIS
Level 5 - PLAXIS

0
0

50

100

150

200

11

250

300

Time (Days)

Wall Movement
Ground Anchor Wall

Jack-In Anchor Wall

Wall Movement (mm)
0

10

Wall Movement (mm)

20

30

40

3
4

8
8

14

16
18
20
22

26

40

50

Measured Wall Deflection

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10

- Movement (Back analyses) of

CBP wall for each stages

10

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

12

24

30

8
10

20

2
4

10

12
14

16
18

Measured Wall Deflection

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Final Stage

20
22
24

- Movement (Back analyses) 12

of
CBP wall for each stages

26

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S e t tle m e n t (m m )

Ground Settlement behind CBP Wall

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160

Jack-In Anchors Wall : dV/dH (wall) = 1.57

Ground Anchor wall : dV/dH (wall) = 3.37
dV : Ground Settlement Behind the Wall

Ground Settlement at

dH : Horizontal Wall Deflection

Jacked Anchor Wall (Measured)

Jacked Anchor Wall (FEM Results)
Ground Anchor Wall (Measured)
Ground Anchor Wall (FEM Results)
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

13

140

Time (Days)

BACK ANALYSES WITH FEM MODELLING

FEM Plane Strain Analysis (PLAXIS)

Hardening Soil Model

Interface Element : To model the Soil

Interaction with Wall & Anchorage
Elements

Temporary Wall and Jacked Anchors :

Beam Element (Axial & Bending
Stiffness)

Consolidate for 6 months after final

excavation to model Drained Condition

14

10/22/2010

Typical FEM Model

Beam Element (Jack-In Anchors)

Beam Element
(CBP Wall and Soldier Piled Wall)

Interface Element

15

Soil Shear Strain within Jack-In Anchor

Retaining System
Relatively larger shear strains ranging between
0.26% and 0.38% developed along the
potential slip surface

16

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Total Ground Displacement of Jack-In

Anchor Retaining System
The reinforced soil mass has more displacement
at the upper portion with gradually reduced
trend towards the lower portion

17

Dimensionless Ground Surface Settlement

Distance from Wall / Excavation Depth
Settlement / Excavation Depth (%)

25

20

15

10

0.05

0.1
Clough & ORourke
(1990)

0.15

Maximum wall movement of CBP wall at

final excavation is about 0.002H

18

0.2

10/22/2010

Interpreted E from SPT-N & Pressuremeter

(PMT)
Effective Young's Mudulus, E' (kPa)

0.0x10

3.0x10

6.0x10

9.0x10

1.2x10

1.5x10

1.8x10

0
Legend
Interpreted E' (PMT)
Interpreted E' (SPT)

E' After Jacked Anchor Inclusion

Depth(m)

10

15

20

25

a) E for upper clayey silt = 2150 x SPTN

b) E for lower sandy silt = 2600 x SPTN
c) Back-analysed:
E Jacked Anchor Wall 30% more than E Prestressed Ground Anchor Wall

19

30

CONCLUSIONS FOR TYPE 1 CASE STUDY

The jack-in anchor wall behaves
as a semi reinforced soil wall.

The mobilised shaft resistance
of jacked anchor ranges from
20kPa to 30kPa.

Increase in stiffness shall be
considered in the design.

FEM can analyze complicated
interaction of the entire soil20
structure system

10

10/22/2010

RECOMMENDATIONS
To avoid flexural effect, strain
gauges shall be installed in pairs at
jacked anchor section.

Research on generation of excess
pore water pressure & its
dissipation around and along the
jacked anchor shall be carried out.

Locked in tensile stress under
compressive injection may increase
movement within reinforced earth21
mass

Case Study 2
High rise development
with 5 storey
basement car park

Deep excavation:
7m-14.5m

22

11

10/22/2010

Plan
High rise development
with 5 storey
basement car park

Deep excavation:
7m-14.5m
23

Cross Section

Located at the toe

of a filled slope

Soil nail stabilisation works

to facilitate excavation
24

12

10/22/2010

TOPOGRAPHIC
Original hilly ground with natural valley & stream
Loose sandy silt overlaying a thin deposited soft
compressible material at valley area

15m high
filled slope

25

SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS
BH-4

BH-IM4

BH-IM1

BH-SP1

BH-3

BH-2

BH-1

26

13

10/22/2010

SOIL NAILING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

 6m to 12m soil nail at 1.25m c/c spacings

 4V : 1H reinforced gunite facing
 sufficient weepholes / subsoil drains

27

Additional Strengthening Works at the Valley Area

12m long FSP

IIIA sheet pile
wall
2 rows of 18m
long soil nail
anchorage

3 rows of
subsoil drains

Permanent RC
props against
basement
structure
28

14

10/22/2010

INSTRUMENTATION MONITORING

29

Lateral Ground Displacement

SPT-N Value

Depth (m)

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

-2

-2

-4

-4

-6

-6

-8

-8

-10

-10

-12

-12

-14

-14

-16

-16

-18

-18

-20

-20

-22

-22

-24

-24

-26

-26

-28
-30
-32
-34
-36
-38

-28

Legend
20/9/2004
23/10/2004
04/11/2004
09/11/2004
24/11/2004
21/12/2004
24/01/2005
21/02/2005
22/03/2005
12/11/2005
SPT-N

IM-01

-30
-32

Legend
09/11/2004
24/11/2004
21/12/2004
24/01/2005
21/02/2005
22/03/2005
12/11/2005
SPT-N

IM-04

-40

-34
-36
-38

30
-10

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 110

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

-40

100 110

Ground Lateral Displacement (mm)

15

10/22/2010

Ground Settlement
01/08/04

10/09/04

20/10/04

29/11/04

08/01/05

17/02/05

29/03/05

08/05/05

17/06/05

10

10

Ground Settlement (mm)

-10

-10

-20

-20

-30

-30

-40

-40

-50

-50

-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
-110
-120
-130
-140

-60

Legend
SM01
SM02
SM03
SM04
SM05
SM06
SM07
SM08
SM09
SM10
SM11
SM12

-70
-80
-90
-100
-110
-120

Sheet Pile
Installation

-130
-140

Construction

-150

Post-Construction

-150

-160

-160
01/08/04

10/09/04

20/10/04

29/11/04

08/01/05

17/02/05

29/03/05

08/05/05

17/06/05

31

Date

Groundwater Table
01/08/04 20/09/04 09/11/04 29/12/04 17/02/05 08/04/05 28/05/05 17/07/05

SP 01
Groundwater Table (RL m)

50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40

SP 03

Sheet Pile Installation

Construction

Post-Construction
32

50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40

Date 17/02/05 08/04/05 28/05/05 17/07/05

01/08/04 20/09/04 09/11/04 29/12/04

16

10/22/2010

Back Analysis

FEM plane strain analysis

Hardening soil model
Coupled consolidation undrained analysis
Initial stresses were calculated by gravity loading33

Soil Parameters
Layer

Material

Ave
SPT-N

b
(kN/m3)

Su
(kPa)

c
(kPa)

(
)

E
(kPa)

Eur
(kPa)

Back
Analysed
E
(kN/m2)

RL57m
RL49m

Sandy
Silt
(Fill)

12

18.5

32

30,000

90,000

18,000

RL49m
RL43m

Sandy
Silt
(Fill)

18.5

32

22,500

67,500

16,200

RL43m
RL40m

Sandy
Clay
(Weak
Zone)

18

40

0.5
(5)#

20

32,500

97,500

32,500

RL40m
RL37m

Sandy
Silt

10

18.5

5 (10) #

32

25,000

75,000

25,000

RL37m
RL21m

Sandy
Silt

20

18.5

5 (10) #

32

50,000

150,000

50,000

Below RL21m

Gravelly
Sand

50

19.5

32

125,000 375,000

125,000
34

# Improved apparent cohesion adopted in FE back analysis at the last few stages.

17

10/22/2010

Lateral Ground Displacement

0

10

20

30

40

50

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

60

60
12m Soil Nail

55

55
Shotcrete

50
50

45

Depth (RL m)

45
40
18m Soil Nail

40

Sheet Pile
35

35
30

30

Legend
Legend
Measured
Measured
Back-analysed
Back-analysed

25

25

20

Stage: Progressive
nailing

Stage: Completion of
excavation and soil
nail stabilisation

Stage: Post-installation

of sheet piles with first

row of 18m soil nails

15

20

35
0

10

20

30

SPT'N'

40

50

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Lateral Ground Displacement (mm)

INTERPRETATION

Youngs modulus (E)

E = 1500 to 1800 x SPTN ..for upper loose fills
E = 2500 x SPTN ..for weathered Granitic Residual subsoil
Unloading/reloading stiffness, Eur = 3 x E
36

18

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Ground Settlement
30

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

10

10

10

Settlement (mm)

-10

-10

-20

-20

-30

-30

-40

-40

-50

-50

-60

-60

-70
-80

Legend
Back-Analysed
Measured

-70

Stage: Progressive nailing

-80

Stage: Post-installation of sheet piles

with first row of 18m long soil nails
Stage: Completion of excavation
and soil nail stabilisation

-90
-100

-90
-100

-110

37
30

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

10

-110

Distance From Excavation Face (m)

INTERPRETATION
 Larger ground settlement as compared to FE
back-analysis
 Possible reasons:
High compressed air flushing the soil to form open
hole (micro tunneling)
Excessive ground loss and stress relief
Ground deformation continues at a decreasing rate
38

19

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Subsidence Trough at Active Wedge

Settlement (mm)

30

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

10

10

10

-10

-10

-20

-20

-30

-30

-40

-40

-50

-50

-60

-60

-70

Legend
Back-Analysed
Measured

-70

-80

Stage: Progressive nailing

-80

Stage: Post-installation of sheet piles

with first row of 18m long soil nails
Stage: Completion of excavation
and soil nail stabilisation

-90
-100

-90
-100

-110

-110
30

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

10

39

Distance From Excavation Face (m)

INTERPRETATION OF FEM
Large shear strain developed along the
potential slip surface immediately behind the
reinforced soil mass
Settlement trough profile at active wedge
Band of potential slip surface running through
the soft clayey deposit reinforced soil mass
slides laterally
Soil nails have restricted the development of
40
active zones within the reinforced soil mass

20

10/22/2010

CONCLUSION FOR CASE STUDY 2

Successful stabilisation of loose fill by soil
nailing technique.
Excessive ground loss due to open-hole drilling
in loose fill should be carefully considered.
FE analysis provides good insight view of the
inherent failure mechanism in investigating the
distresses and back calculated operating
engineering parameters.
41

42

21

10/22/2010

Case Study 3

Investigation of Soil Nailed Slope

Distress at Fill Ground & Remedial
Solution

43

Site Location

44

22

10/22/2010

Site Layout

45

Introductions
4V:1H soil-nailed slope

Entire stretch is approximately
60m at uncontrolled fill over a
valley

Existing 8m to 11 m high
Reinforced Soil wall was 23m
away from soil-nailed slope

46

23

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Localised Surface Slips

47

Localised Surface Slips

48

24

10/22/2010

Pocket Pilecap Excavation

Project Site
Heterogeneous
Fill

49

Tension Cracks

50

25

10/22/2010

Subsoil Profiles

Decayed Wood

Subsoils mainly consist

of clayey SAND and
sandy SILT with SPT-N
ranging from 5 to 33

51

Instrumentation Schemes
Two (2) inclinometers (namely
IN-1 & IN-2) to monitor the
nailed slope performance

Ten (10) ground settlement
markers were installed

An additional inclinometer (IN5) was installed

52

26

10/22/2010

Instrumentation Layout

GSM - 3

GSM - 1
GSM - 2

****GSM-1 (WILL
BE BOLD )

53

Groundwater Level
Two (2) observational wells
(SP-1 and SP-2) to measure
groundwater level during period
of unexpected prolonged rain
storm between March and April
2008

Groundwater fluctuated
drastically between August and
December 2008 during
construction of soil nailing work
54

27

10/22/2010

Rain Hyetograph
(Kuala Lumpur Rain Gauge Station)
Sheet Pile Installation & Top Row
Anchored Nail Installation

Abnormal storm

01/04/2008 First
Surface Collapse

Passive Berm Bottom Row

Waler Beam
Excavation
Anchored
Installation
Nail & Horizontal
Drain Installation

08/07/2008 SP1
Installation

55

Inclinometers Results
Section A-A
Towards Excavation Side

Towards RS Wall

Reduced Level (m)

50

100

87

87

86

86

85

85

84

84

83

83

82

82

81

81

80

80

79

79

78

78

77

77

76

76

75

75

74

74

73

73

72

72

71

71

70

70

69

69

68

Cumulative Displacement (mm)

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850

SOIL NAILED SLOPE WITH

TOE LEVEL AT RL74.0m

68

IN-1

IN-2

25.04.2008 (Collapsed of loose shallow slip of soil nail slope)

25.05.2008 (Pilecap pocket excavation)
25.06.2008
26.07.2008
25.08.2008 (Nearby piling work, sheet pile installation & heavy downpour)
25.09.2008 (Rectification work of localised collapse)
23.10.2008 (Sheet pile machine broke down & heavy downpour)
27.11.2008
24.12.2008
22.01.2009

56

28

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Inclinometer Results
IN-5

Towards Excavation Side

Cumulative Displacement (mm)

Reduced Level (m)

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
420
440
460
480
500

Towards RS Wall

83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59

SOIL NAILED SLOPE WITH

TOE LEVEL AT RL 74.0m
Permanent Sheet Pile (12 ~ 15m Length)

16.07.2008 (Installation of IN-5)

15.08.2008
25.08.2008 (Heavy downpour)
03.09.2008 (Extraction of temporary sheet pile)
25.09.2008
13.10.2008
23.10.2008
11.11.2008 (Maximum monitoring result)
04.12.2008 (Tie back after the installation of anchored nail)
17.12.2008 (Reading had been stabilised)
24.12.2008 (Final measurement before IN-5 was spoiled)

57

Remedial Solutions
Instrumentation Monitoring
(During & After Slope Distress)

Additional ten (10) numbers of
displacement markers were
installed; 5 numbers were
located near the crest of slope
while the rest of 5 number were
positioned at lower tier of RS
wall
58

29

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Displacement Markers (DSMs)

Monitoring Results & Tension Cracks
Settlement Markers at Lower Tier of RE Wall
DSM-5

DSM-3

DSM-4

DSM-2

30

15

DSM-1

45

60

Displacement (mm)

50
13.05.2008

14.05.2008

17.05.2008

23.05.2008

26.06.2008

08.08.2008

14.08.2008

Settlement Markers at the Soil Nailed Slope Crest

DSM-6

DSM-7

DSM-8

DSM-9

DSM-10

Displacement (mm)

50

100

150

200

250
23.06.2008

26.06.2008

30.06.2008

02.07.2008

30.07.2008

14.08.2008

18.08.2008

59

Ground Settlement Markers (GSMs)

Monitoring Results

60

30

10/22/2010

Typical Cross Section

61

Monitoring Results for

Instrumented Anchor Nail
MOBILISED FORCE RESULT OF ANCHORED NAIL
0

25

50

75

Elapsed Days
125
150

100

175

200

225

250

275
220

220
200

Passive Berm
Excavation

Sheet Pile Installation &

Top Row of Anchored Nail Installation

Waler Beam
Installation

200
180

04/04/09

15/03/09

02/23/09

0
03/02/09

20

0
14/01/09

40

20

25/12/08

60

40

05/12/08

80

60

11/15/08

100

80

26/10/08

120

100

06/10/08

140

120

16/09/08

160

140

27/08/08

160

08/07/08

Load Transferred (kN)

180

Bottom Row Anchored

Nail & Horizontal
Drain Installation

Date

Level A

Level B

Level C

62

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10/22/2010

Finite Element Method (FEM)

Analyses
Hardening soil model

Anchor nails with little
bending stiffness and
modelled as geotextile
element

Sheet piles modelled as
plate element

63

Soil Material Properties in FEM

Analyses
Material

Average
SPT N

Bulk
Density,
b (kN/m3)

Effective
Cohesion,
c (kN/m2)

Effective
Friction
Angle,
(o)

Loose Fill
Material

17

18

Original Granitic
Residual Soils

20

20

31

Very Hard
Weathered
Granite

100

20

40
64

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10/22/2010

Finite Element Method (FEM)

Analyses
Loose Fill:
E = 1500~1800 SPT N
(kN/m2)

Original granitic residual soil:
E = 2500 SPT N (kN/m2)

Interpreted effective residual
strength:
c r = 0 kPa and r = 18o

65

Potential locations of tension

cracks and slip surface

Tension
Cracks
Surface
Slippage

66

33

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Back Analysis of Potential Failure

Slip
Inherent failure mechanisms :
TENSION CRACKS become
APPARENT during PILECAP
EXCAVATION

FEM results confirmed high
shear strain in SEMI-CIRCULAR
failure and cutting through the
installed nails

67

5.0 Conclusions

It is IMPERATIVE to study original

topography and normally, natural valley has
high potential of retaining SOFT deposit.
Drilling method using HIGH COMPRESSED
AIR as flushing medium shall be carefully
assessed in loose fill ground
PROPERLY & WELL-PLANNED
instrumentation scheme shall be carried out
prior to the commencement of excavation &
nailing works
FEM is GOOD geotechnical assessment tool
68

34

10/22/2010

Thank You
69

35