Experimental study on the ground movement due to consecutive construction of retaining wall and underground space in cohesionless soil

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.