Analysis of braced excavations with coupled finite element formulations

Parametric studies of braced excavation behavior based on a coupled finite element formulation are presented to evaluate the current state-of-the-art. Effects of constitutive model, boundary conditions, and details of the construction process including sheet-pile installation and amount of overexcavation are considered in the analyses. Capabilities of current methods to replicate various aspects of observed performance are presented. The relative effect of each of the modeling aspects are illustrated by comparing results of both boundary displacement and stress-controlled simulations of construction with observed performance of a 40 ft deep cut through saturated clay.