2D and 3D numerical analysis on strut responses due to one-strut failure

Wengang Zhang, Runhong Zhang, Yinrong Fu, A.T.C. Goh and Fan Zhang

Abstract

In deep braced excavations, struts and walers play an essential role in the whole supporting system. For multi-level strut systems, accidental strut failure is possible. Once a single strut fails, it is possible for the loads carried from the previous failed strut to be transferred to the adjacent struts and therefore cause one or more struts to fail. Consequently, progressive collapse may occur and cause the whole excavation system to fail. One of the reasons for the Nicoll Highway Collapse was attributed to the failure of the struts and walers. Consequently, for the design of braced excavation systems in Singapore, one of the requirements by the building authorities is to perform one-strut failure analyses, in order to ensure that there is no progressive collapse when one strut was damaged due to a construction accident. Therefore, plane strain 2D and three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses of one-strut failure of the braced excavation system were carried out in this study to investigate the effects of one-strut failure on the adjacent struts.

Key Words

three-dimensional; braced excavation; one-strut failure; load transfer percentage; load increase percentage; finite element

Address

Wengang Zhang: 1.) National Joint Engineering Research Center of Geohazards Prevention in the Reservoir Areas, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China 2.) School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China 3.) Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 430072, China Runhong Zhang and Yinrong Fu: School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China A.T.C. Goh: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore Fan Zhang: IIIBIT-Sydney, Federation University, NSW 2000, Australia

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