Submerged construction of an excavation

2
This tutorial illustrates the use of PLAXIS 2D for the analysis of submerged construction of an excavation. Most
of the program features that were used in Tutorial 1 will be utilised here again. In addition, some new features
will be used, such as the use of interfaces and anchor elements, the generation of water pressures and the use of
multiple calculation phases. The new features will be described in full detail, whereas the features that were
treated in Tutorial 1 will be described in less detail. Therefore, it is suggested that Tutorial 1 should be
completed before attempting this exercise.
Objectives
• Modelling soil-structure interaction using the Interface feature.
• Advanced soil models (Soft Soil model and Hardening Soil model).
• Undrained (A) drainage type.
• Defining Fixed-end-anchor.
• Creating and assigning material data sets for anchors.
• Simulation of excavation (cluster de-activation).
Geometry
This tutorial concerns the construction of an excavation close to a river. The submerged excavation is carried out
in order to construct a tunnel by the installation of prefabricated tunnel segments which are 'floated' into the
excavation and 'sunk' onto the excavation bottom. The excavation is 30 m wide and the final depth is 20 m. It
extends in longitudinal direction for a large distance, so that a plane strain model is applicable. The sides of the
excavation are supported by 30 m long diaphragm walls, which are braced by horizontal struts at an interval of 5
m. Along the excavation a surface load is taken into account. The load is applied from 2 m from the diaphragm
wall up to 7 m from the wall and has a magnitude of 5 kN/m2/m.
The upper 20 m of the subsoil consists of soft soil layers, which are modelled as a single homogeneous clay layer.
Underneath this clay layer there is a stiffer sand layer, which extends to a large depth. 30 m of the sand layer are
considered in the model.

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Create new project

43 m 5m 2m 30 m 2m 5m 43 m

5 kN/m2/m 5 kN/m2/m

1m

19 m

10 m

20 m

Figure 17: Geometry model of the situation of a submerged excavation

Since the geometry is symmetric, only one half (the left side) is considered in the analysis. The excavation
process is simulated in three separate excavation stages. The diaphragm wall is modelled by means of a plate,
such as used for the footing in the previous tutorial. The interaction between the wall and the soil is modelled at
both sides by means of interfaces. The interfaces allow for the specification of a reduced wall friction compared
to the friction in the soil. The strut is modelled as a spring element for which the normal stiffness is a required
input parameter.

3.1 Create new project

1.
Start PLAXIS 2D by double clicking the icon of the Input program .
2.
Click Start a new project.
3.
In the Project tabsheet of the Project properties window, enter an appropriate title.
4.
In the Model tabsheet keep the default options for Model (Plane strain}, and Elements (15-Node).
5.
Set the model Contour to xmin = 0 m, xmax = 65 m, ymin = -30 m and ymax = 20 m.
6.
Keep the default values for units and constants and click OK.

The project is created with the given properties. The Project properties window closes and the Soil mode view
will be shown, where the soil stratigraphy can be defined.

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 Geotechnical Engineering – Laboratory Exercise on Plaxis 2D

3.2 Define the soil stratigraphy

To define the soil stratigraphy:

1. Click the Create borehole button and create a borehole at x = 0.

The Modify soil layers window pops up.
2. Add the top soil layer and specify its height by setting the top level to 20 m and the bottom level to 0 m.
3. Add the bottom soil layer and specify its height by keeping the top level at 0 m and by setting the bottom
level to -30 m.
4. Set the Head in the borehole to 18 m.

Next the material data sets are defined and assigned to the soil layers, see Create and assign material data sets
(on page 13).

3.3 Create and assign material data sets

Two data sets need to be created; one for the clay layer and one for the sand layer.
The layers have the following properties:

Table 3: Material properties of the sand and clay layer and the interfaces

Parameter Name Clay Sand Unit

General

Material model Model Hardening Soil Hardening soil -

Type of material behaviour Type Undrained (A) Drained -

Soil unit weight above phreatic level γunsat 16 17 kN/m3

Soil unit weight below phreatic level γsat 18 20 kN/m3

Parameters

Secant stiffness in standard drained

E50ref 4 · 103 40 · 103 kN/m2
triaxial test

Tangent stiffness for primary

E oedref 3.3 · 103 40 · 103 kN/m2
oedometer loading
ref
Unloading / reloading stiffness Eur 12 · 103 120 · 103 kN/m2

Power for stress-level dependency

m 1.0 0.5 -
of stiffness

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 Geotechnical Engineering – Laboratory Exercise on Plaxis 2D

Parameter Name Clay Sand Unit

Cohesion (constant) cref' 1 0 kN/m2

Friction angle φ' 25 32 °

Dilatancy angle ψ 0 2 °

Poisson's ratio νur' 0.15 0.2 -

nc
K0-value for normal consolidation K0 0.5774 0.4701 -

Groundwater

Data set - Standard Standard -

Soil type - Coarse Coarse -

Use defaults - None None -

Permeability in horizontal direction kx 1 · 10-3 1 m/day

Permeability in vertical direction ky 1 · 10-3 1 m/day

Interfaces

Interface strength - Manual Manual -

Strength reduction factor Rinter 0.5 0.67 -

Initial

K0 determination - Automatic Automatic -

Over-consolidation ratio OCR 1 1 -

Pre-overburden pressure POP 5 0 kN/m2

To create the material sets, follow these steps:

1.
Click the Materials button in the Modify soil layers window.
The Material sets window pops up, where the Soil and interfaces option is selected by default as the Set
type.
2.
Click the New button in the Material sets window to create a new data set.
3.
For the clay layer, enter Clay for the Identification and select Hardening Soil as the Material model. Set the
Drainage type to Undrained (A).
4.
Enter the properties of the clay layer, as listed in Table 3 (on page 37), in the General, Parameters and Flow
parameters tabsheets.
5.
Click the Interfaces tab. Select the Manual option in the Strength drop-down menu. Enter a value of 0.5 for
the parameter Rinter.

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Define the structural elements

This parameter relates the strength of the soil to the strength in the interfaces, according to the equations:
tan(φinterface) = Rinter tan (φsoil) and cinter = Rinter csoil where: csoil = cref , see Table 3 (on page 37)
Hence, using the entered Rinter-value gives a reduced interface friction (wall frictions) and interface cohesion
(adhesion) compared to the friction angle and the cohesion in the adjacent soil.
6.
In the Initial tabsheet keep the default option for the K0 determination and the default value for the
overconsolidation ratio (OCR). Set the pre-overburden pressure (POP) value to 5.0.
7.
For the sand layer, enter Sand for the Identification and again select Hardening soil as the Material model.
The material type should be set to Drained.
8.
Enter the properties of the sand layer, as listed in Table 3 (on page 37), in the corresponding edit boxes of the
General and Parameters tabsheet.
9.
Click the Interfaces tab. In the Strength box, select the Manual option. Enter a value of 0.67 for the
parameter Rinter. Close the data set.
10.
Assign the material datasets to the corresponding soil layers.
• When the Rigid option is selected in the Strength drop-down, the interface has the same strength
properties as the soil (Rinter = 1.0).
• Note that a value of Rinter < 1.0 , reduces the strength as well as the stiffness of the interface (for more info
see the corresponding section in the Reference Manual.
• Instead of accepting the default data sets of interfaces, data sets can directly be assigned to interfaces by
selecting the proper data set in the Material mode drop-down menu in the Object explorers.

3.4 Define the structural elements

The creation of diaphragm walls, strut, surface load and excavation levels is described below.

1. Click the Structures tab to proceed with the input of structural elements in the Structures mode.

3.4.1 To define the diaphragm wall:

A diaphragm wall with the following material properties has to be defined:

Table 4: Material properties of the diaphragm wall (plate)

Parameter Name Value Unit

Material type - Elastic -

Isotropic - Yes -

Axial stiffness EA1 7.5 · 10 6 kN/m

Bending stiffness EI 1.0 · 10 6 kNm2/m

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Define the structural elements

Parameter Name Value Unit

Weight w 10 kN/m/m

Poisson's ratio ν 0.0 -

Prevent punching - No -

1. Click the Create structure button in the side toolbar.

2. In the expanded menu select the Create plate.

3. In the drawing area move the cursor to position (50 20) at the upper horizontal line and click. Move 30 m
down (50 -10) and click. Click the right mouse button to finish the drawing.
4. Click the Show materials button in the side toolbar. Set the Set type parameter in the Material sets
window to Plates and click the New button. Enter Diaphragm wall as an Identification of the data set and
enter the properties as given in Table 4 (on page 39).
5. Click OK to close the data set.
6. Drag the Diaphragm wall data set to the wall in the geometry and drop it as soon as the cursor indicates that
dropping is possible.
7. Click OK to close the Material sets window.

Note: In general, only one point can exist at a certain coordinate and only one line can exist between two
points. Coinciding points or lines will automatically be reduced to single points or lines. More information is
available in the Reference Manual

3.4.2 To define the interfaces:

1. Right-click the plate representing the diaphragm wall.

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Figure 18: Positive interface assignment to existing geometry

2. Select Create > Positive interface.
3. In the same way assign a negative interface as well.

Note:

• In order to identify interfaces at either side of a geometry line, a positive sign ( ⊕) or negative sign (⊖)
is added. This sign has no physical relevance or influence on the results.
• A Virtual thickness factor can be defined for interfaces. This is a purely numerical value, which can be
used to optimise the numerical performance of the interface. To define it, select the interface in the
drawing area and specify the value to the Virtual thickness factor parameter in the Selection explorer.
Non-experienced users are advised not to change the default value. For more information about interface
properties see the Reference Manual - Chapter 5 - Advanced Geometric Modelling options.

3.4.3 To define the excavation levels:

1. Click the Create line button in the side toolbar.

2. To define the first excavation stage move the cursor to position (50 18) at the wall and click. Move the cursor
15 m to the right (65 18) and click again. Click the right mouse button to finish drawing the first excavation
stage.
3. To define the second excavation stage move the cursor to position (50 10) and click. Move to (65 10) and
click again. Click the right mouse button to finish drawing the second excavation stage.
4. The third excavation stage is automatically defined as it corresponds to the boundary between the soil layers
(y = 0).

3.4.4 To define the strut:

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Define the structural elements

You will define a strut with the following material properties:

Table 5: Material properties of the strut (anchor)

Parameter Name Strut Unit

Material type - Elastic -

Axial stiffness EA 2 · 10 6 kN

Out-of-plane spacing Lspacing 5 m

1.
Click the Create structure button in the side toolbar and select the Create fixed-end anchor in the
expanded menu.
2.
Move the cursor to (50 19) and click the left mouse button. A fixed-end anchor is is added, being represented
by a rotated T with a fixed size.
3.
Click the Show materials button in the side toolbar. Set the Set type parameter in the Material sets
window to Anchor and click the New button. Enter Strut as an Identification of the data set and enter the
properties as given in Table 5 (on page 42). Click OK to close the data set.
4.
Click OK to close the Material sets.
5.
Make sure that the fixed-end anchor is selected in the drawing area.
6.
In the Selection explorer assign the material data set to the strut by selecting the corresponding option in
the Material drop-down menu.
The anchor is oriented in the model according to the Directionx and Directiony parameters in the Selection
explorer. The default orientation is valid in this tutorial.

Figure 19: Parameters for fixed-end anchors in the Selection explorer

7.
Enter an Equivalent length of 15 m corresponding to half the width of the excavation.

Note: The Equivalent length is the real distance between the connection point and the fixed end point. For
an excavation problem that is typically half the width of the excavation as the axis of symmetry in the middle
of the excavation is considered fixed.

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Generate the mesh

3.4.5 To define the distributed load:

1.
Click the Create load button in the side toolbar
2.
Select the Create line load option in the expanded menu to define a distributed load.
3.
Move the cursor to (43 20) and click move the cursor 5m to the right to (48 20) and click again. Right-click to
finish the drawing.

4.
In the Selection explorer assign a value of -5 kN/m/m to the y-component of the load (qy,start,ref).
Figure 20: Components of the distributed load in the Selection explorer

3.5 Generate the mesh

In order to generate the mesh, follow these steps:

1. Proceed to the Mesh mode.

2. Click the Generate mesh button in the side toolbar. For the Element distribution parameter, use the
option Medium (default).
3. Click the View mesh button to view the mesh.

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Figure 21: The generated mesh

4. Click the Close tab to close the Output program.

3.6 Define and perform the calculation

In practice, the construction of an excavation is a process that can consist of several phases. First, the wall is
installed to the desired depth. Then some excavation is carried out to create space to install an anchor or a strut.
Then the soil is gradually removed to the final depth of the excavation. Special measures are usually taken to
keep the water out of the excavation. Props may also be provided to support the retaining wall.
In PLAXIS 2D, these processes can be simulated with the Staged construction loading type available in the
General subtree of the Phases window. It enables the activation or deactivation of weight, stiffness and strength
of selected components of the finite element model. Note that modifications in the Staged construction mode of
the program are possible only for this type of loading. The current tutorial explains the use of this powerful
calculation option for the simulation of excavations.

3.6.1 Initial phase

1. Click the Staged construction tab to proceed with the definition of calculation phases.
The initial phase has already been created.
2. Keep its calculation type as K0 procedure. Make sure all the soil volumes are active and all the structural
elements and load are inactive.

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3.6.2 Phase 1: External load

1. In the Phases explorer click the Add phase button to create a new phase.
The default settings are valid for this phase. In the model the full geometry is active except for the wall,
interfaces, strut and load.
2. Click the Select multiple objects button in the side toolbar. In the appearing menu select Select line >
Select plates.

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3. In the drawing area define a rectangle that includes all the plate elements.
4. Right-click the wall in the drawing area and select the Activate option from the context menu.
When the wall is unselected it can be seen that wall is now visible in the color that is specified in the material
dataset.
5. Right-click the distributed load to activate it and select the Activate option from the appearing menu.
The load has been defined in the Structures mode as -5 kN/m/m. The value can be checked in the Selection
explorer.
6. Make sure all the interfaces in the model are active.

Note: The selection of an interface is done by right-clicking the corresponding geometry line and subsequently
selecting the corresponding interface (positive or negative) from the context menu.

3.6.3 Phase 2: First excavation stage

1.
Click the Add phase button in the Phases explorer.
A new calculation phase appears in the Phases explorer. Note that the program automatically presumes that
the current phase should start from the previous one and that the same objects are active.

Note: To copy the settings of the parent phase, select the phase in the Phases explorer and then click the Add
phase button. Note that the settings of the parent phase are not copied when it is specified by selecting it in
the Start from phase drop-down menu in the Phases window.
2.
The default settings are valid for this phase. In the Staged construction mode all the structure elements
except the fixed-end anchor are active.
3.
In the drawing area right-click the top right cluster and select the Deactivate option in the appearing menu.

The model for the first excavation phase looks like this:

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Figure 22: Model view for the first excavation phase

3.6.4 Phase 3: Installation of a strut

1.
Click the Add phase button in the Phases explorer.
2.
Activate the strut.
The strut turns black to indicate it is active.

3.6.5 Phase 4: Second (submerged) excavation stage

1.
Click the Add phase button to add a new phase.
2.
Deactivate the second cluster from the top on the right side of the mesh. It should be the topmost active
cluster.

Note: Note that in PLAXIS 2D the pore pressures are not automatically deactivated when deactivating a soil
cluster. Hence, in this case, the water remains in the excavated area and a submerged excavation is simulated.

The result is this model:

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Figure 23: Model view for the second excavation phase

3.6.6 Phase 5: Third excavation stage

In the final calculation stage the excavation of the last clay layer inside the pit is simulated.

1.
Click the Add phase button to add a new phase.
2.
Deactivate the third cluster from the top on the right hand side of the mesh.

The model for the phase looks like this:

Figure 24: Model view for the third excavation phase

The calculation definition is now complete.

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3.6.7 Execute the calculation

Before starting the calculation it is suggested that you select nodes or stress points for a later generation of load-
displacement curves or stress and strain diagrams. To do this, follow the steps given below.

1. Click the Select points for curves button in the side toolbar.
The connectivity plot is displayed in the Output program and the Select points window is activated.
2. Select some nodes on the wall at points where large deflections can be expected (e.g. 50 10). The nodes
located near that specific location are listed. Select the convenient one by checking the box in front of it in the
list.
3. Click on the Update tab at the top left to save the selected points, close the Output program and go back to
the Input program.
4. Click the Calculate button to calculate the project.

During a Staged construction calculation phase, a multiplier called ΣMstage is increased from 0.0 to 1.0. This
parameter is displayed in the calculation info window. As soon as ΣMstage has reached the value 1.0, the
construction stage is completed and the calculation phase is finished. If a Staged construction calculation
finishes while ΣMstage is smaller than 1.0, the program will give a warning message. The most likely reason for
not finishing a construction stage is that a failure mechanism has occurred, but there can be other causes as well.
See the for more information about Staged construction.

3.7 View the calculation results

In addition to the displacements and the stresses in the soil, the Output program can be used to view the forces
in structural objects. To examine the results of this project, follow these steps:

3.7.1 Displacements and stresses

To view displacements and stresses, follow these steps:

1. Click the final calculation phase in the Calculations window.

2. Click the View calculation results button on the toolbar.
As a result, the Output program is started, showing the deformed mesh (scaled up) at the end of the selected
calculation phase, with an indication of the maximum displacement:

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Figure 25: Deformed mesh after the third excavation stage

Note:
In the Output program, the display of the loads, fixities and prescribed displacements applied in the model
can be toggled on/off by clicking the corresponding options in the Geometry menu.

3. Select the menu Deformations > Incremental displacements > |Δu|.

The plot shows colour shadings of the displacement increments, which indicates the forming of a mechanism
of soil movement behind the wall.
4. Click the Arrows button in the toolbar.
The plot shows the displacement increments of all nodes as arrows. The length of the arrows indicates the
relative magnitude.
5. Select the menu Stresses > Principal effective stresses > Effective principal stresses.
The plot shows the effective principal stresses at the three middle stress points of each soil element with an
indication of their direction and their relative magnitude. Note that the Center principal stresses button is
selected in the toolbar. The orientation of the principal stresses indicates a large passive zone under the
bottom of the excavation and a small passive zone behind the strut.

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Figure 26: Principal stresses after excavation

3.7.2 Shear forces and bending moments

To plot the shear forces and bending moments in the wall follow the steps given below.

1. Double-click the wall.

A new window is opened showing the axial force.
2. Select the menu Forces > bending moment M.
The bending moment in the wall is displayed with an indication of the maximum moment:

Figure 27: Bending moments in the wall

3. Select Shear forces Q from the Forces menu.
The plot now shows the shear forces in the wall.

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Note: The Window menu may be used to switch between the window with the forces in the wall and the
stresses in the full geometry. This menu may also be used to Tile or Cascade the two windows, which is a
common option in a Windows environment.
4. Select the first window (showing the effective stresses in the full geometry) from the Window menu.
Double-
click the strut.
The strut force (in kN) is shown in the displayed table.
5. Click the Curves manager
button on the toolbar. As a
result, the Curves manager
window pops up.
6. Click New to create a new chart.
The Curve generation window pops up.
7. For the x-axis select the point A from the drop-down menu. In the tree select
Deformations - Total displacements - |u|.
8. For the y-axis keep the Project option in the drop-down menu. In the tree select Multiplier -
ΣMstage.
9. Click OK to accept the input and generate the load-
displacement curve. As a result the curve is plotted:

Figure 28: Load-displacement curve of deflection of wall

The curve shows the construction stages. For each stage, the parameter ΣMstage changes
from 0.0 to 1.0. The decreasing slope of the curve in the last stage indicates that the amount
of plastic deformation is increasing. The results of the calculation indicate, however, that the
excavation remains stable at the end of construction.

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