Centrifuge modelling of tunnelling beneath axially loaded displacement and non-displacement piles in sand

Abstract

Tunnelling under piled structures is becoming more common in urban areas. However, there is limited guidance available for the prediction of settlements and the loss of bearing capacity of existing piles due to tunnel excavation. This paper aims to provide an improved understanding of the response to tunnelling of axially loaded displacement and non-displacement piles. Data are provided from a series of geotechnical centrifuge tests of tunnel excavation beneath single piles in dry silica sand. The tests evaluate induced settlements of the piles at varying levels of initial safety factor (i.e. the ratio between initial bearing capacity and applied load). Furthermore, a previously published analytical approach, based on cavity expansion theory, is used to investigate the variation of the residual safety factor at constant pile load with tunnel volume loss. The outcomes of both centrifuge and analytical investigations illustrate the importance of pile installation method and initial safety factor and improve understanding of tunnel-pile interaction mechanisms.