Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 137

The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)

August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia

3D Finite Element Modelling of Sheet Pile Wall Excavation:

A Case study in Bangkok
Chhunla Chheng1*, Suched Likitlersuang2,*
1
Master student, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok,
Thailand.
2
Professor, Geotechnical Research Unit, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok, Thailand.
*
Corresponding author: [email protected],

Abstract Sheet pile wall has been used extensively as a soil retaining structure during the excavation process
in soft ground. Meanwhile, finite element method (FEM) has been widely used as a numerical tool to predict
wall movements due to soil excavation. In FEM, many factors including soil parameters, structures’ parameters
and construction stages simulation influence the analysis results. This paper presents a modelling of sheet pile
wall at deep excavation using 3D FEM. The study focuses on the structures’ stiffness modelling and the stages
of construction simulation. The hardening soil model and its parameters adopted from previous study was
employed in the analysis. To validate the model, an excavation site located in the center of Bangkok was
selected to model. PLAXIS 3D – a commercial software for solving finite element problem was employed in this
study. In overall, the results of wall movements from 3D FEM agree well with the instrumented data
confirming that the modelling could reflect the real behavior of sheet pile walls at deep excavation in soft soils
in Bangkok.

Keywords 3D Finite element analysis, Deep excavation, Wall deformation, Hardening soil model, stiffness
parameters, Soft soil

I. INTRODUCTION1

S heet piles have been used extensively as a retaining

structure in excavation worldwide. It is one of the soil
retaining structure which is relatively cheap and simple
in installation. However, the deformation is relatively
large. Hence, the behaviour of sheet piles during the
excavation process needs to be assessed carefully. To
estimate the deformation of sheet pile walls, a 2D finite
element analysis (FEA) has been used dominantly since
the past time due to the simplicity, and less time
consuming though most of the projects cannot be
simplified as 2D problem.

At present, computers are becoming more powerful Figure 1. Layout of Siam Motor Machine Building
which benefits the utilization of 3D FEM in prediction
of deformation of sheet piles. Modelling of a crooked
cross sectional area of sheet piles in 3D FEM is not II. BANGKOK SUBSOIL CONDITION
simple by just input the stiffness parameters directly.
Therefore, this study aims to provide the guideline to Bangkok is located on the low flat of Chao Praya
model sheet piles in 3D FEM which will provide Delta in the central plain region of Thailand. The soil
accurate wall deformation predictions by comparing with layers are generally divided into 7 different layers
field data. PLAXIS 3D – a commercial software is including Made Ground (MG), Bangkok Soft Clay
employed in this study. A case study of Siam Motor (BSC), Medium Clay (MC), First Stiff Clay (1st SC),
Machine Buiding available in [2] constructed in Clayey Sand (CS), Second Stiff Clay (2nd SC) and Hard
Bangkok is selected. The underground excavation depth Clay (HC) [3]. The constitutive modelling for soils used
is about 7.2 m deep below ground and the excavaton area in this study is Hardening soil model (HSM), an
are rectangle with 58.7 m long and 32.8 m wide as advanced soil model for describing both soft and stiff
shown in Figure 1. Two inclinometers installed at long soils [4]. It adopts well-known hyperbolic model
and short sides of the excavation are considered. developed by [5] and Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion.
The complete set of soil parameters for HSM was
reported by Likitlersuang, et al. [1] as shown in Table 1.
Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 138
The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)
August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia

Moreover, Bangkok groundwater condition suffered

from deep well pumping leading to drawdown of pore
water pressure as in Figure 1.

Table 1: Hardening soil model parameters (after Likitlersuang, et al. [1])

b c' ' ' E50ref ref

Eoed Eurref
Soil type  ur m K 0nc Rf Rinter Analysis
(kN/m ) 3
(kPa) (̊) (̊) (MPa) (MPa) (MPa) type

MG 18 1 25 0 45.6 45.6 136.8 0.2 1 0.58 0.9 0.7 Drained

BSC 16.5 1 23 0 0.8 0.85 8.0 0.2 1 0.7 0.9 0.7 Undrained
1st SC 19.5 25 26 0 8.5 9.0 30.0 0.2 1 0.5 0.9 0.7 Undrained
CS 19 1 27 0 38.0 38.0 115.0 0.2 0.5 0.55 0.9 0.7 Drained

MG
0.8 m

BSC

16.5 m
1st SC

24.0 m

CS

(a) (b)
Figure 2. Pore water pressure profile at initial condition from 3D FEA. (a) Shading view. (b) Extracted values.
and A are the height and sectional area of the sheet pile’s
cross section respectively.  is the unit weight of plate
III. SOIL RETAINING STRUCTURES MODELLING
and  steel is the unit weight of sheet piles. Esteel and I
Excavation was supported by 18 m-long sheet pile are Young's modulus and moment of inertia per wall
wall and 3 levels of strutting system. Sheet piles possess width of the sheet piles. E and G on the left sides of the
a complex and non-symmetrical cross-section. However, equations are modulus of elasticity and shear modulus of
plate elements are used to model the sheet piles in 3D plate orderly. The numbers represent the directions or
FEM. The crooked sectional area of sheet piles are plans to which they are respected. The vertical,
simplified into straight surface plate element and longitudinal, and transversal directions are denoted as 1,
stiffness parameters are adjusted using following 2, and 3, respectively.  is Poisson’s ratio and assumed
equations adopted from [6] and its values are presented as zero in the study as recommended by [6]. Further
in Table 2. Struts and wailings were also used in this details of sheet pile models can be found in [6].
projects to provide lateral supports to sheet piles. Their
axial and flexural stiffnesses are major properties which IV. CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCES
are reasonably modelled as beam element in FEM. Their
input parameters are also summarized in Table 2. Underground construction of this project started by
installation of sheet piles surrounding the excavation
d h (1) area. Then the excavation was started by first excavation
to the depth of 1.50 m below ground level. The surcharge
  A steel / d (2)
was also applied at early stage. Before proceeding the
E1  12Esteel I / d 3
(3) excavation to the depth of 3.9 m, the bracing was
installed at level of 0.8 m deep (1st level). Later, prior to
E2  E1 / 20 (4) the excavation to 5.8 m deep, the bracing was installed at
0 (5) level 2.9 m below level 0.00 (2nd level). 3rd level of strut
was installed at 5.1 m deep before the excavation
G12  6Esteel I /10d 3
(6)
reached the final depth of 7.2 m. These construction
G13  Esteel A / 6d (7) stages are summarized in Table 3. The finite element
mesh as shown in Figure 3 consists of 139,957
G23  Esteel A / 20d (8) tetrahedral elements with the average dimension of 1.96
m.
where d is the equivalent thickness of the plate, while h
Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 139
The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)
August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia
Table 2: Parameters for structural models

Sheet piles Steel Struts Steel Wailings

Parameters
(FSP - IV) (300x300x172kg/m) (400x400x172kg/m)

d (m) 0.17 - -
A (m2) - 1.20 × 10-2 2.19 × 10-2
γ (kN/m3) 4.48 78.50 78.50
E (kPa) - 200 × 106 200 × 106
E1 (kPa) 188.60 × 106 - -
E2 (kPa) 9.42 × 106 - -
I3 (m4) - 6.75 × 10-5 6.66 × 10-4
I2 (m4) - 2.04 × 10-4 2.24 × 10-4
 0 - -
G12 (kPa) 9.42 × 106 - -
G13 (kPa) 4.75 × 106 - -
G23 (kPa) 1.42 × 106 - -
Surcharge: 5 and 10 kN/m2

Table 3: Construction sequences

Stage Construction activities
1 Wish-in-place of sheet pile walls and excavation to -1.50 m
2 Installation 1st level struts and wailings and excavation to -3.90 m
3 Installation 2nd level struts and wailings and excavation to -5.80 m
4 Installation 3rd level struts and wailings and excavation to -7.20 m
Surcharge is applied.

110 m 140 m

35 m

Figure 3. Finite element mesh of Siam Motor Machine Building

Cantilever types of wall movements can be observed at

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS stage 1, while deep inward types are seen at later stages
of excavation after the bracing system was installed.
3D FEA provides the results of wall deformation at all These observations agree with the observation from
locations around the excavation site as displayed in Clough and O’Rourke [7]. Figure 6(a) depicts the values
Figure 4. The shading view shows that the lateral wall of wall movements and comparison with instrumented
movement increases with the stage of excavation. As two data from IN A1 at all 4 stages of modelling. The
inclinometers were installed at the short and long side of maximum lateral wall movements are 90 mm, 100 mm,
excavation, the readings are used to compare with the 145 mm, and 193 mm at stage 1 to 4, respectively
simulation results. To consider the value of the comparing to 50 mm, 105 mm, 149 mm, and 187 mm
movement, cross sections are cut as in Figure 5, and the from IN A1. Figure 6(b) presents the results of lateral
values at all stages of excavation are plotted against wall movements on the long side from 3D FEA
depth as depicted in Figure 6(a) and (b) for short side comparing with inclinometer number B1 (IN B1). The
and long side of retaining walls respectively with the maximum lateral wall movements are 136 mm, 140 mm,
comparison to the measured field data. It can be seen that 172 mm and 216 mm from stage 1 to 4 orderly. The
the shape of deformations of all stages completely agree inclinometer was read at 78 mm, 37 mm, 213 mm and
with the in-situ situation as reported by inclinometers 222 mm for stage 1 to 4 respectively.
readings.
Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 140
The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)
August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Figure 4. Wall deformations: (a). Stage 1. (b) Stage 2. (c) Stage 3. (d) Stage 4.

(a) (b)
Figure 5. Lateral wall movement at stage 4 by PLAXIS 3D [movement × 40]. (a) On the short side (IN A1). (b) On the long side (IN B1).

The maximum ground surface settlement at final stage is

Both locations reveal that the differences are as less as 207 mm which is about 0.9 time the maximum lateral
10% except the stage 1 of excavation which may be wall movement at the corresponding stage of analysis.In
caused by the installation effect. this mean time, the upper limit by [9] was 1. Hence, the
Furthermore, Figure 7(a) depicts the values of the lateral 3D FEM for sheet pile walls is confirmed reasonable and
wall movements at the middle of the long wall where the accurate
largest lateral wall movement occurs. The wall
movements at 4 stages are plotted. Moreover, the ground
surface settlement corresponding to the largest lateral
wall movement at stage 4 from 3D FEM and the trilinear
empirical relationship of ground surface settlement
proposed by [8] are plotted in Figure 7(b).
Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 141
The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)
August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia
Wall movement, h (mm)
Wall movement, h (mm)
0 50 100 150 200 250
0 50 100 150 200 250 0
0

5
5

Depth (m)
Depth (m)

10
10

15 15

20 20

IN A1 - Stage 1 IN B1 - Stage 1
IN A1 - Stage 2 IN B1 - Stage 2
IN A1 - Stage 3 IN B1 - Stage 3
IN A1 - Stage 4 IN B1 - Stage 4
PLAXIS 3D PLAXIS 3D

(a) (b)
Figure 6. Lateral wall movements: (a) 3D FEA vs. IN A1. (b) 3D FEA vs IN B1.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, 3D FEM can be applicable for deep

excavation analysis to predict the lateral wall movements
of sheet piles. The modified stiffness parameters of sheet
(a) (b)
piles provided accurate prediction of wall movement as
Figure 7. Results of ground movement at the middle of the long side wall: (a) Lateral
indicated wall movement.
in the case stuy.(b)Furthermore,
Ground surface settlement.
the maximum
ground surface settlement from 3D FEM agreed well
with the empirical relationship. In overall, the 3D FEM
will predict ground movements in excavation which is
Regional Conference in Civil Engineering (RCCE) 142
The Third International Conference on Civil Engineering Research (ICCER)
August 1st-2nd 2017, Surabaya – Indonesia

retained by sheet pile wall accurately provided that all

relevant parameters including soil parameters, choice of
constitutive modelling, pore water pressure modelling,
structural materials parameters determination, and
construction sequences are considered correctly in the
3D FEM in order to get accurate wall deformation
prediction.

VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The first author wishes to thank the AUN/SEED-Net
(JICA) for a scholarship during his study. Authors would
like to thank Geotechnical Research Unit (GRU) of
Chulalongkorn University for the software PLAXIS
license support.

VIII. REFERENCES

[1] S. Likitlersuang, C. Surarak, D. Wanatowski, E. Oh, and A.

Balasubramaniam, "Finite element analysis of a deep excavation:
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[2] T. Sutabutr, "Deformation Analysis of Deep Excavation in
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[3] S. Likitlersuang, C. Surarak, D. Wanatowski, E. Oh, and A.
Balasubramaniam, "Geotechnical parameters from pressuremeter
tests for MRT Blue Line Extension in Bangkok," Geomechanics
and Engineering: An International Journal, vol. 5, pp. 99-118,
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[4] T. Schanz, P. Vermeer, and P. Bonnier, "The hardening soil
model: formulation and verification," Beyond 2000 in
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[5] J. M. Duncan and C. Y. Chang, "Nonlinear analysis of stress and
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[6] R. B. J. Brinkgreve, S. Kumarswamy, W. M. Swolfs, D.
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PLAXIS bv, The Netherlands, 2015.
[7] G. W. Clough and T. D. O’Rourke, "Construction-Induced
Movements of Insitu Walls," in Design and Performance of Earth
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