Deformation Characteristics and Support Optimization for Deep Excavations in Sandy Cobble Strata Considering Adjacent Sensitive Structures: A Case Study of a Deep Excavation Project in Sichuan Province

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Abstract
As China’s urban underground area grows, deep foundation pit projects in complex geological circumstances, particularly near critical infrastructure, must adhere to tight deformation control guidelines. However, limited research has been conducted on the deformation behavior of internal bracing systems in Sichuan’s sandy cobble strata. This research centers on a deep excavation near civil defense facilities in Pujiang County, Chengdu. We investigated the deformation characteristics of retaining piles and internal bracing systems using field monitoring, finite element simulations, and parameter sensitivity analysis, and proposed optimization solutions for the support scheme. Road settlement, pile-head vertical displacement, building settlement, and deep lateral displacement of retaining piles were all monitored in the field at different phases of excavation. MIDAS/GTS was used to generate a 3D finite element model that included bored piles as a contiguous pile wall. The model was verified against monitored data and showed a maximum variation of 3.7%. Parametric studies were conducted to optimize the equivalent stiffness of the contiguous pile wall and the standardized internal bracing system. The findings indicate that the maximum lateral displacement of retaining piles is the primary optimization restriction. Reducing the equivalent stiffness to 0.6t (relative to the baseline thickness t) causes displacement to surpass the warning threshold (35 mm), whereas increasing it to 1.2t or 1.4t limits deformation without incurring significant costs. Case G of the standardized internal bracing system ensures that the maximum pile displacement (21.95 mm) remains below the warning criterion (24.5 mm) while improving constructability. This work elucidates the deformation characteristics of internal bracing systems in sandy cobble strata near sensitive buildings, offering theoretical and practical assistance for comparable projects.
Funding Information
  • Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2024NSFSC0926)
  • Chengdu Municipal Science and Technology Program (2025-YF05-00392-SN)

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