The changes in earth pressure and ground settlement due to the underground excavation nearby the existing retaining wall according to the separation distance between underground excavation and retaining wall, were studied experimentally. A soil tank having 160 cm in length and 120 cm in height, was manufactured to simulate the underground excavation like tunnel by using 5 separated bottom walls. The variation of earth pressure was measured according to the excavation stages by using 10 separated right walls simulating the retaining wall. The results showed that the earth pressure was changed by the lowering of first bottom wall(B1), however the earth pressure was not changed significantly by the lowering of third bottom wall(B3) since B3 had sufficient separation distance from retaining wall. Lowering of first bottom wall(B1) induced the decrease of earth pressure in lower part of retaining wall, on the contrary, lowering of first bottom wall(B1) induced the increase of earth pressure in middle part of retaining wall proving the arching effect.

ABSTRACT:The ground movement and changes in earth pressure due to the consecutive construction of retaining wall and underground space were studied experimentally. A soil tank having 160 cm in length and 120 cm in height, was manufactured to simulate the vertical excavation like retaining wall by using 10 separated right side walls and underground space excavation like tunnel by using 5 separated bottom walls. The variation of earth pressure and surface settlement were measured according to the excavation stages. The results showed that the decrease of earth pressure due to the wall movement can cause the increase of earth pressure of the neighboring walls proving the arching effect. Experiments simulating continuous construction sequence also identified arching effect, however only 50% of earth pressure was restored on the 10th right side wall due to the movement of 1st bottom side wall unusually.