The Performance of the Deep Basement for

Dragon Centre
James Y H Lui
Paul K F Yau
Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited

Abstract

To date the majority of basement excavations in Hong Kong over 20 metres deep have been
made in areas where the soils have previously been dewatered due to either construction of
adjacent caisson foundations or underground structures. The measurements of ground
movements associated with these excavations are therefore altered by this earlier construction
listory.

As part of the design requirements for deep basements in Hong Kong, a full scale pumping test
is normally carried out prior to commencement of the excavation. This paper describes the
scope of the instrumentation necessary for the pumping test and examines the predicted and
actual ground movements as a result of the pumping test. The data collected include porewater
pressures on both sides of the diaphragm wall, the wall deflections and ground surface
settlements outside of the walls. The actual wall movements due to excavation are also
examined. Recommendations for design parameters are made for future basement excavations
in a similar soil profile.

Introduction

The new retail building described in this paper comprises a 9-storey reinforced concrete
structure on top of a five-level basement for private car and lorry parking. The development
was commenced in November 1989 and was completed in December 1993. The retail complex
Is presently known as Dragon Centre and is one of the biggest shopping centres in the heart of
the Western Kowloon Peninsula.

The site is located on an old reclaimed land where no significant basement or caisson
construction has taken place in the adjoining areas. The initial stage consisted of the installation
of a perimeter diaphragm wall to bedrock around the site to provide the temporary and
permanent support for excavation as well as a groundwater cutoff. Prior to commencement of
basement excavation, the effectiveness of the cutoff was tested by a large scale pumping test
after the wall had been installed.

The data collected during the pumping test included pore water pressures on the diaphragm
walls, the wall deflections and ground surface settlements away from the wall. These data were
then back-analysed to establish a set of design parameters for prediction of wall deflections and
ground movements resulting from the subsequent basement excavation. The design parameters
could b e confirmed by comparing the predicted movements with the measured values on
completion of the basement excavation.

183
 LEGEND
J71
<> DRILLHOLE LOCATION

THE SITE

9 ts

I
1824 SHORE UNE

>-Al ■ -
J/yen CHOW street,.
I

ma
ors

** H U1

T E Tj
1

Figure 1 Site location plan.

The site

The site is located on the reclaimed foreshore in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. The location plan is
shown in Figure 1.

The site is rectangular in plan and measures about 107 metres by 67 metres. The site is bounded >
by Yen Chow Street on its southeast boundary and open areas for carparking on the remaining
boundaries. The site is generally flat with ground level at +4.5mPD. Historical records show
that the original foreshore runs along the centre line of Yen Chow Street. Within 100 metres of
the site, the adjacent buildings are either supported on pad footings or driven precast concrete
piled foundations. The MTR tunnels run about 100 metres away from and parallel to the
north-east boundary. It is believed that the ground beneath the site has not experienced any
substantial stress changes resulting from construction dewatering activities since it was
reclaimed in 1924.

Ground conditions

An investigation comprising 15 vertical drillholes was carried out to determine the geology and
geotechnical parameters of the strata. Undisturbed soil and rock samples together with Standard
Penetration Tests at typically 2.5 metres centres were carried out in all drillholes. Standpipes
and piezometers were installed in drillholes at the site corners to establish the groundwater
levels. The results of the ground investigation showed that the ground is progressively

184
 THE SITE

SANDY MARINE DEPOSIT

011

11

CO PtETEO 1»
DOC X*05£E
GRXTE

-TS
CDC
CO PtETELV B5 FORMATION “CEVEL*
-20

w
COM 1-fTELY ISO -n

eg s as Mgga
CDC tJJ DECX’OSEP 1S0
UM«j *. CRAffTE
1SS

V ..—
XOtY -M
200-0.20 100 0 4
_ DECOMPOSED

\ 88!
200TXLY0 Koran GRANITE 200 O.u -LO
200007 laro.n
HOC -u
IDOrftM 200/001
MOfQjOJ 200/0 JO?
-M
2COU3
-U

~v>

Figure 2 Geological section on south diaphragm walls.

underlain by loose granular fill, marine deposits, completely to highly decomposed granite and
the granite bedrock. The geological succession on the site can be summarized as:

Level (mPD) Geological Description

_ _+4,5 to -0.5 _ _ 1 nns& silty fine to coarse sand with brick fraaments (Fill)

-0.5 to -5.5 Loose silty clayey fine sand with shell fragments (Marine Deposits)

-5.5 to -27.5 Dense silty fine to coarse sand Completely Decomposed Granite (CDG)

-27.5 to -55 Very Dense silty coarse sand Completely to Highly Decomposed Granite (C/HDG)

Below -55 Granite bedrock (M/SDG)

The groundwater level is approximately at 1.5 metres below ground level. Atypical geological
section through the site is shown on Figure 2.

The substructure

The basement structure was constructed within a closed box measured 107 metres by 67 metres
in plan. The box was formed by 1200mm thick cast-in-situ concrete perimeter diaphragm walls
and was constructed using the top-down method to a maximum depth of 27 metres below
ground level. The basement floors were reinforced concrete flat slabs spanning between
columns typically at 10 metres centres. The slab was generally 450mm thick with the exception
of Basement B5 slab which was 700mm thick. The floor to floor height was maintained at 4.9m
within the basement.

Internal columns supporting the basement floors consisted of steel box stanchions surrounded
by reinforced concrete to satisfy the fire proofing requirements. For the purpose of corrosion

185
 protection, the voids in the box stanchions were backfilled with sand-cement grout. Each
internal column was supported on a single bored pile founded on the bedrock with an allowable
bearing capacity of 5*MPa. The bored pile foundations were 2 to 2.8 metres in diameter, with
bell-outs ranging from 3 to 4.2 metres in diameter. The bored piles were generally installed to
depths of 45 to 65 metres below the existing ground level.

The dead weight of the superstructure was not sufficient to resist the hydrostatic uplift pressure
at the lowest basement level. For long-term condition, a system of permanent sub-soil drainage
underneath the Basement B5 slab was designed to relieve the hydrostatic uplift pressure. At the
same time, the diaphragm walls were designed to allow for zero pore water pressure at the B5
slab level also for the long-term condition.

Following completion of the pumping test, the basement was constructed by the top-down
method with the ground floor slab being cast first. The construction of the superstructure
proceeded from the ground floor upwards while excavation was carried out beneath the slab.
The basement slab was cast on grade when the excavation reached the basement one level. The
process was repeated until the excavation reached the lowest basement level. The construction
of the underdrainage system was completed prior to casting the B5 slab.

Design constraints

Previous experience in Hong Kong (Davies 1980 and Hampheson 1986) has indicated that
large ground movements could occur during deep excavations in decomposed granite soils
particularly when the ground has never been consolidated by the past construction dewatering
activities.

It was recognized at the outset that the controlling criterion for the design was to minimize the
ground movements outside the site and the effect of construction on the surrounding areas.

Yen Chow Street consists of six traffic lanes and is one of the busiest roads in Sham Shui Po.
Major services ran beneath the road and they were considered to be susceptible to damage from
ground movements. Most adjacent structures were 10 storey high residential buildings
supported on driven precast concrete pile and were located on the opposite side of Yen Chow
Street. The Sham Shui Po Police Station which is more than 80 years old is about 60 metres to
the southwest of the site and is supported on shallow pad footings. Any damage to these
adjacent structures was unacceptable and therefore had to be avoided throughout the
construction period.

Recognizing these constraints, the decision was made to use a sophisticated groundwater cutoff
wall involving diaphragm walls installed down to the rockhead. The cutoff effectiveness was
further enhanced by providing toe grouting to 10 metres below the wall toe. Ground
movements were also minimized by employing the top-down construction sequence in the
analysis of the diaphragm walls. The walls would therefore be supported by the basement floors
prior to each stage of excavation.

Since the ground had never been tested by dewatering, it was decided that the cutoff
effectiveness together with the compressibility of the ground would be determined by a
full-scale pumping test. The data collected were then back-analysed to establish a set of useful
design parameters for prediction of ground movements due to subsequent basement excavation.

186
 SURFACE BOX WITH COVER

TOP CAP SURFACE BOX WTTH COVER

GROUND LEVEL

CONCRETE BACKBLL

BENTONITE BALL

NON SHRINK CEMENT GROUT ------------ 10mm SWGLE SIZE AGGREGATE

CEMENT: 1C**n
10mm PERFORATED PVC PIPE
WATER: 42*8 WITH 2 LAYERS OF MYLON MESH

ADMIXTURE: (LSkfl METHOCEL

PLASTIC TUBE

OR EQUIVALENT
CEMENT BENTONITE GROUT
(1:1 BY WEIGHT)
WCUNOMETER ACCESS TUBE

BENTONITE BALL

100mm LD. RESERVATION TUBE SAND FILTER

CASAGRANDE PIEZOMETER TIP LEVEL

ROCKHEAD LEVEL BENTONITE BALL

(WEATHERING GRADE Bl OR BETTER)

CEMENT BENTONTTE GROUT
(1:1 BY WEIGHT)

BASE LEVEL OF INCLINOMETER TUBE

BOTTOM OF HOLE

BOTTOM OF HOLE

TYPICAL DETAILS OF INCLINOMETER TYPICAL DETAILS OF STANDPIPE/PIEZOMETER INSTALLATION

STEEL COVER

SAND FILL

CONCRETE 7Bmm FILL

8
GROUT OR EPOXY
MATERIAL
254 PVC TUBE

124 X 500 LENGTH 19mm 4 WALL OR COLUMN

STEEL ROD ANCHOR SOCKET
COMPACTED GRANULAR
BACKFILL
30mm 4 DRILLHOLE
4mm THICK
250mm SO. STEEL PLATE

BUILDING SETTLEMENT POINT

XM H*

SURFACE SETTLEMENT POINT

Figure 3 Details of instruments.

1 27
 The monitoring data recorded during the pumping test included porewater pressures on both
sides of the perimeter walls, lateral wall deflections and ground surface settlements.

Instrumentation

For the purposes of the pumping test, the following instrumentation was employed:

a. Standpipes and piezometers were installed in drillholes outside the site with tip levels
maintained, some at the bottom of the Fill or Marine Deposits and some at three or five
metres above rockhead.

b. Observation wells were installed in close proximity of the outside faces of the walls at
regular intervals along the perimeter.
The monitoring data from (a) and (b) were intended to provide adequate information to
establish the porewater pressure profiles on both sides of the diaphragm walls during the
pumping test.

c. A large number of settlement points were installed on the ground surface within 60 metres
of the site. Each point was cast on a concrete plinth about one metre deep. The top of the
plinth was separated from the road pavement by a strip of sand fill surrounding it.

e. Inclinometers were installed within the diaphragm walls at the centre of the boundary and
along thp; l o n g s i d e of the. boundary. Their depths were extended to at
-------a t-the qvartH points
least two metres below the rockhead. The torpedo and the readout unit used for the
inclinometer monitoring were calibrated once a month to ensure the accuracy of the
measurements.

The details of the instruments and a monitoring layout plan are presented in Figures 3 and 4.

Groundwater control

The substructure requires an excavation of between 26 and 27 metres deep, which is one of the
deepest building basements in Hong Kong. The measures adopted to minimize groundwater
drawdown outside the site during basement excavation were:

a. to extend the perimeter diaphragm walls down to rockhead,

b. to provide a grout curtain beneath the wall toe to form a deep groundwater cut-off, the
curtain was formed by high pressure cement-bentonite grout applied to the wall toe and to
10 metres below the wall toe,

c. as a contingency measure, to install recharge wells at five metres centres immediately

outside the site and in front of the adjacent buildings at the opposite side of Yen Chow
Street to maintain water levels, if necessary, during excavation.

188
 0 CSO 0 G$1

-I
G3
c£l_
12

THE SITE
♦|P$ «1
JGH GU U.
<81 e °«

OPEN SPACE

It _________
“ |o— —I «
0G21 €>G22 6gZF»M G?L®7 OG25+M OG26

CMq
YEN CHOW e G” street
Gn G41 _______
nS
v bt
0 GX .87 ~ \G3S XG36 y B8 . B9pG37 w 810 8 0 .812 0 , 813 t 8 U p , 8l5X e r eu

822 826 828

820 GC
G42 G43 uni 823 <9°°
G45 3* 825 ©G46
819 B2t

LEGEND:

P1
61
P1EZOMETER/STANOP1PE OUTSIDE SITE 0 GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT POINT
lX
-$- INCLINOMETER Bl
y BUILDING SETTLEMENT POINT

Figure 4 Monitoring layout plan.

As part of the Buildings Department’s requirements, the cut-off effectiveness of the diaphragm
walls was required to be tested by a fullscale pumping test prior to the basement excavation.
Following completion of the diaphragm walls, a multiple well pumping test was carried out to
simulate the construction dewatering for the subsequent basement excavation.

Multiple well pumping test

An array of pumping wells at about 25 metres centres, as shown in Figure 5, was used to lower
the water table over the entire site area to the basement B5 level, which is about 27 metres
below the existing ground level. The wells were constructed to within five metres of rockhead
based on the results of predrilling records from the diaphragm wall and 80 bored piles. The
on-off switches were set at between -25.5 mPD and -27.0 mPD in the wells. The test was
maintained for eleven days until steady state was achieved. Then the pumps were switched off
simultaneously to allow recovery of the water table. The data collected from the pumping and
recovery tests included:

a. the flow rates from the pumping wells for the design of basement underdrainage system,

b. water levels in standpipes and piezometers inside and outside the site,

189
 ® cts 0«’
®cn ®GSpyr
1
pjGlQ O a V < OOT
=2+; )06q<X o°’i
lWJ
APJ'tf l ws. aP?

THE SITE X *PS e 010

n

s! AP1WS
.W7 0«l

GTL 13 .W10 U A*
*B1 e G12 4* e cis
T OPEN SPACE huWti kWZA

0K>- AHI
O AHO 1
G18c 0 20
1
Otl ,wu lWI SA ,W» jvn
I 15 g “ ** L_j» AH3 M _ _ _.17
♦ J
1 ri *Li— t"«"t—
w'jT pc,?; o 01 eG?3-»w cxe7 0G2S<-P9 0G26 O 0Z 6g77-»H0 g 4 Hl QG?9

YEN CHOW ®M1 eK

® STREET
G38 HL GCQ
G39 _____________ G41
15
XG36 y B8 r B9pG37 w BX) B O 4H3 tB13 yBKQ Bljy e „B-fe

B22 .826 877 .

B20 B23 <3 044 GO
an B2S
GO G4S0 ©G46
B24 __________

LEGEND:

W1
<|> PUMPING WELL

APlgj PlEZOMETER/STANDPIPE INSIDE SITE PIEZOMETER/STANDP1PE OUTSIDE SITE GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT POINT

11-0. INCLINOMETER &1

Ol Q OBSERVATION WEU- y BUILDING SETTLEMENT POINT

Figure 5 Layout of multiple well pumping test.

c. settlement of the ground surface and adjacent buildings using precise levelling,

d. deflections of the diaphragm walls using inclinometers.

Examples of the measurements are summarized graphically in Figures 6 to 10. The recharge
wells were not operated during the pumping test.

During the steady state of the pumping test, the following were observed:
a
a. The total steady state flow rate from the pumping wells was 25m /hr.

b. The readings from the standpipes and piezometers installed within five metres of the wells
inside the site indicated that the water table was lowered in general between 23.5 and 29.5
metres below ground. The readings for instruments between wells showed hydrostatic
water pressure.

c. With the exception of locations near the eastern corner of the site, the average groundwater
drawdowns from the standpipes and piezometers outside the site were recorded to be 0.5 m
and 1.5 m respectively. The porewater pressure diagram generally follows the triangular
distribution which indicates that the CDG aquifer is unconfined due to the sandy marine

190
 PUMPING WELL NO. W t
Flow Rate (m3/hr)

PUMPING WELL NO. W 13

~l l l I I r“ r | i i
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time (hrs.)

Figure 6 Measured flow rate during pumping test

PUMPING TCST- RECOVERY TEST

10
LEU€HO

• -27.0 mPD -26.69 mPD

leva

-33.59 mPD

-39.99 mPD -40.39 mPD

TFIEVEU

Q
-10

-20
-M- -H- -M-

-30 I i|l
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time ( h r s . )

Figure 7 Measured groundwater drawdown inside site during pumping and recovery tests.

191
 RECOVERY TEST
PUMPING TEST

0.00

+— p
Drawdown (m)

1.00

2.00
t-ecENg

«-e ■e-&
■e
•23.1 mPO -23.7 mPO
■&
-43 3 mPO -35.42 mPD

3.00
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time

Figure 8 Measured groundwater drawdown outside site during pumping and recovery tests.
Lateral Deflection of Diaphragm TTall (mm)

PUMPING TEST ------ --------------- ----------------- RECOVERY TEST

o
cn
_

200 400 600

Time (hrs.)

Figure 9 Measured wall deflection during pumping and recovery tests.

192
 Time (hr.)
100 200 300 400 500 600
I I I I I f
Settlement (mm)
cn o cn

recovery test

Figure 10 Measured ground surface settlements outside site during pumping and recovery tests.

THE SITE

GROUND LEVEL mPO'

U m THK.
DIAPHRAGM WALL

MEASURED PlEZOMETRC HYDROSTATIC

PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION PRESSURE
ADJACENT TO THE INSIDE DISTRIBUTION
FACE OF THE WALL P ; 2
t4' * 2«’ -0 KN/m - 2MJ KN/m •20
— --------------- MEASURED
PIEZOMETRIC
PRESSURE
DISTRIBUTION
BACK CALCULATED PIEZOMETRIC \ Po « ADJACENT TO
PRESSURE BY SEEP* A378.3kN/m 2
W OUTSIDE
2 face of the
Pwt|l6.4 kN/m wail
AT - 3 < S 9 m P O
BACK
CALCULATED
P w r 172.6 k N / m 2 PIEZOMETRIC
PRESSURE BY
AT-40.43mPD
HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE
DISTRIBUTION

x» wo wo t n
l ___t < i

TOE GROUTING

Figure 11 Measured water pressure distribution on the wall during pumping test at the steady state.

193
 049
— - GU 0 £50 .G51
\ ®cs r

T’l
_GT1
©I eGF THE SITE

QG7 G?COy 0G7<\ I OG29

TREET /
G4Q
GJ3 „B6 qGM y B7 T \G35 G36~w 0 gg G ~ 813 <BU Q O _816

822 826 877

820
B71 oneCU
G42 GL3 ass B2S
619

LEGEND

---------- Zj- ---------- GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT CONTOUR (mm)

Figure 12 Ground surface settlement contours during pumping tests.

deposit layer. Two piezometers at the north eastern corner indicated drawdowns of 3 to
3.5m. It was believed that these drawdowns were due to the leakage either through the
diaphragm wall joints which comprised a waterstop joint to 30 metres with a milled
hydrofraise below or under the toe of the wall.

d. The ground surface settlements recorded were in the range of 4 to 16mm as shown in
Figure 12. Negligible settlements were recorded on all adjacent buildings.

e. The maximum lateral deflections are given in 3 inclinometers in Figures 15 to 17 and were
in the range of 50 to 80 mm recorded at the top of the diaphragm walls. The deflection
profiles indicated that the walls generally underwent rotation at the wall toe.

The water pressure distributions on the walls together with the ground settlement contours due
to the pumping test are shown in Figures 11 and 12.

On complete recovery of the water table inside the site, the following observations were made:

a. The water table both inside and outside the site required three days to achieve complete
recovery.

b. There was negligible recovery in the ground surface settlements.

194
 S P T *N* (blows/300mm)/ E (MN/m2 )
0 200 400 600 800 1000
IfGENO BACK-ANALYZED E PROALE (SECTION 1-1)

BACK-ANALYZED £ PROALE (SECTION 2-2)

BACK-ANALYZED E PROALE (SECTION 3 ) EzOjBN

10
BACK-ANALYZED E PROALE (SECTION 4M)
ExUN
YEN CMOW S t R E t l AVERAGE BACK-ANALYSED E PROFILE

BOREHOLE LOCAnO PlAN. SPY VALUES BORQKXED13

20 BPT VALUES BOREHOLE D«

huN
KPT VALUES BOREHOLE CM
F *1.4 Fl
SPT VALUES BOREHOLE DlO

30
E.2N

£ -2N
uo

50

60

Figure 13 Back-analyzed ‘E* profile with SPT ‘N ? values.

c. The lateral wall deflections recovered by 25 to 40mm which were about half of the
maximum wall deflections due to pumping test.

Back-analysis of pumping test data

The pumping test data were back-analysed in an attempt to establish the variables that might
affect the measured movements. The first stage of the back -analysis involved using the finite
element computer program “SEEP” to analyse the ground water seepage resulting from the
pumping test at the steady state. This was achieved by adjusting the permeability of the rock
mass so that the calculated porewater pressures match with those recorded in piezometers under
the steady state of the pumping test. The results of the analysis showed that the match would be
obtained by adopting a rock mass permeability of 1 x 10' 8 m/sec. It should be noted that the
porewater pressures on both sides of the walls follow the triangular distribution. Having
matched the porewater pressures due to the pumping test, the water pressures on both sides of
the wall toes for each stage of basement excavation can be obtained by linear interpolation of
the hydraulic head loss across the wall. Figure 11 compares the measured and calculated
porewater pressures due to the pumping test.

The pumping test would create a difference in porewater pressures on both sides of the walls
and hence the horizontal deflection of the diaphragm wall could take place. A back-analysis of
the wall deflection as measured by inclinometers could be carried out. The measured horizontal

195
 movements were used to calibrate the original
computer model by varying the input data until
the calculated wall deflections matched the
Derived from watt deflection
measured deflections at the steady state of the in multiple well pumping
test. (Origan Centre J
pumping and recovery tests.

8
Cant. Plaza building
residual soil

( M H / m1 *
Lateral wall movements during pumping test and ( Martin. 19771

basement excavation were analysed by using an Oerwed from

pumping tells '
in-house computer program “FREW”. The

*“
program assumes that the soils on both sides of a Normally loaded

Young's Modulus. E* or Conslroined Modulus.

sands
retaining wall behave as a linear elastic lO'Appolonio. 19701
Derived from plate and-
continuum between active and passive limits. pile tests. Hong Kong
(Philcox. 1 9 6 7 1
The soil properties used in the analysis include Bank of China building
modulus of elasticity, E’, bulk density, the . virgin compression
( Tomlinson. 1953 1
active, passive and at-rest earth pressure >------ E ' » I O N (MN/m 2 |
coefficients. The at-rest earth pressure Residual soil
(Martin. 1977*
coefficient is usually given by Ko = l-sin<|>’. The
active and passive earth pressure coefficients are
obtained from the charts derived by Caquot and
Kerisel. The modulus of elasticity of soils, E’, is
conveniently correlated to SPT ’N’ values using Bonk ol China . plate test
(Tomlinson. 1953 I
the relationship:
too ISO 200 250
E’(MN/m 2 ) = f x N S P T Blowcovnt ( N blows / 3 0 0 mm]

The wall deflections recorded on the complete

Figure 14 Relationship between SPT ’N’
recovery of the water table were difficult to values and Young’s modulus ’E’.
match. However with Ko being assigned to be
equal to 0.3 to 0.4, a reasonable fit could be
achieved. This is perhaps due to the fact that stress relief has taken place in soils adjacent to the
wall under panel excavation. The state of the at-rest earth pressure has been reduced close to the
active pressure. The values ’f ’ for different ranges of SPT ’N’ values of soils resulting from the
back-analysis are summarized in Table 1.

Tablet

Depth (m) Soil Type SPrN’ Value f

(blows/300mm)

0 - 10 FILL/MD <20 0.8

10-15 CDG 20-50 1.1

15-28 CDG 50-100 1.4

28-40 CDG 100-200 2.0

40-50 HDG 200-250 2.0

The relationship between SPT ’N’ values and modulus of elasticity E’ of the soils is plotted on
 Figure 13 and a chart shown in Figure 14. This correlation is comparable to that derived from
settlements during a pumping test given by Davies(1987).

Lateral DeDecttoxt (nun)

IOO Distance from Excavation (m)

Settlement (mm)
X 2 4 S 70
[°t i t i f°i i t iXy.« t t |°i t i f |°i , ,
0 t

FILL
10
« fa x A • IfD
20

CDG 30
40
w 50
-20 CDG

LEGEND

WALL DGRJECDOM SACK ANALYZED TO

Up 1
CDG MATCH WITH THE ACTUAL WAU
‘ MM DEALtCTKX DUE Tv HAr»L TEST
o
RFEDCTED WALL DEHJECBQN due TO
TDFCOWW EXCAVATION TO B3 IEVSL.

MEASURED WALL DEFLECTION DUE TO

1 C/HDC
o TOTOOWN EXCAVATION TO «S LEVO.

MEASURED WALL DEFLECTION

YEN CHOW S T
MEASURED WALL OEAJECnON AFTER
<XM*WT£ RECOVERY OF WATER TABLE

BEDROCK r*«DCTW DEFLECTOR AFTER

—70
MEASURED GROUND SURFACE

EXCAVATION TO m level

MEASURED GROUND SURFACE

SETTLEMENT FROAlE DUE TO PuuRC
TEST

Figure 15 Measured ground surface settlement profile and wall deflection during pumping, recovery tests
and top-down basement excavation (Inclinometer U).

Using the back analysed soil properties, the wall deflections due to the subsequent excavation
were analysed and the results were compared with those measured during the excavation. The
resulting wall deflections and ground settlements away from the wall are shown in Figures 15
to 17. It should be noted that reasonable match on the wall deflections were achieved and the
adjacent ground settlements were about 50% of the wall deflections with the settlement
influence zone being maintained at about the depth to the zero wall deflection.

As the majority of the settlement was attributable to the wall deflection, it was considered
appropriate to establish a relationship by normalizing the settlement behind the wall with
respect to the maximum wall deflection for pumping test and the final stage of excavation, as
shown in Figures 18 and 19. The maximum ground settlement was measured to be about 0.3
and 0.5 of the maximum wall deflection for the pumping test and the basement excavation
respectively. The maximum ground settlement occurred close to the wall for the case of
pumping test. However, for the case of the basement excavation where the wall would be
supported by the floor slabs prior to each stage of excavation, the maximum ground settlement
occurred at a distance away from the wall. This distance appeared to be independent of the
excavation depth and could be estimated as 30% of the depth to the maximum wall deflection.
The horizontal extent of the ground settlement behind the wall would be limited to within a
distance equal to the depth of zero wall deflection.

197
 , Laitsral !><£UcUaa (mm)
M -« Distance from Excavation (m)
10 20 30 40
a 100

Settlement
§ S g S
I oc
(CUT®) 1* *1

I
I
I CDG
I
L£G€NO
w«x censcnoN back ahalv h> to
MATCH WITH M ACTUAL WALL
oowcnox DUE TO PUMTWAJ TOFT

PREDCTED WALL P6FLJBCTKM CUE TO

TOPOCWN CXGAMATON TO B» WEL
-e
KASURED WALL DEFUBCTKX DUE TO
KWW EXXVAHON TO •» LEVEL
D
MEASURED WALL LXMECDQM CUE TO
puma test

MEASURED WALL DEFLECTION AHCR

YEN CHOW S T .
A COMPETE RBOOAETO OF WATCH Ta*j£
AT «B4 WO

PRCDCTCD WALL DEFLECTION AHEM

COMPLETE fCOOV W OF WATCH TABLE
X
AT *>-0 MFD

MEASURED GROUND SURFACE

•»- SETTWMWT PRORLE DUE

EMCAWADOH TO BS LEVEL
TO TOPCOww

MEASURE 0 GROUND SURFACE

KTTUMXf PROFIT DUE TO PUMRM5
TOST

Figure 16 Measured ground surface settlement profile and wall deflection during pumping, recovery tests
and top-down basement excavation (Inclinometer 14).

Lateral DeGwctian (nun)

IOC M • -« Distance from Excavation (m)
10 20 30 40 50 60
Settlement (mm)
o o o o o o

mx

LEGEND
waul oeflecdon back analyzed to
e MATCH WITH THE ACTUAL WALL
OERJECnOR DUE TO RAPING TEST

PREDICTED WALL OEFLECTlOf CUE TO

.Q. TOPCOWW tXCAVATKM TO W LEVEL

MEASURED WALL DEFLECTION QUE TO

Q TOPOOWW EXCAVATION TO B$ LEVEL

MEASURED wall DEFLECTION DUE TO

— PLAAPWG TEXT

MEASURED GROUND SURFACE

«cttlb«ht PROFVE DUE ip TOPCOWW
Excavation to to level

MEASURED GROUND SURFACE

TOrnjEMawr profve due to rath;
TOST

Figure 17 Measured ground surface settlement profile and wall deflection during pumping, recovery tests
and top-down basement excavation (Inclinometer 16).

198
 DISTANCE FROM THE DIAPHRAGM WALL L
He
05 0

bhmox.
-G-

0J-
JjunsaxOJ
t h max.
OX -

QjgU*

DISTANCE FROM THE WALL

GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT

YEN CHOW ST.

M
------- NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 1-1)

Conclusions

The following observations and conclusions can be made on the basis of the back-analysis
carried out on the pumping test data.

• The results of the seepage analysis clearly demonstrated the importance of achieving a good
seal between the diaphragm wall and the intact rock. The analysis indicated that grouting
beneath the wall toe could achieve a reduction in permeability such that drawdowns could be
limited to below 2m outside the site for an unconfined CDG aquifer.

• On complete recovery of the water table, the wall deflections decreased to about 50% of the
maximum deflections due to pumping test for an unrestrained diaphragm wall.

• The soils adjacent to the diaphragm wall could be subject to stress relief as a result of panel
excavation. The initial at-rest earth pressure coefficient, Ko, may decrease to a value close to
the active earth pressure coefficient Ka. With the reduced Ko values between 1 -sintj)’ and Ka,
a reasonable match with the profile of the wall after recovery of the water table was obtained
in the back-analysis.

• For a typical geological profile beneath reclaimed land which has never been subject to any
previous dewatering activities, the ratios of the stiffness of the soil E’ (MN/m 2 ) and the SPT
’N’ values are in the range of 0.8 to 2.0, depending on the SPT ’N’ values of the soils as

199
 DISTANCE FROM THE DIAPHRAGM WALL
De
ftv 2S 1.5 1 0.5 0
bhmax. I” ~T~ T ~ r~ 1

0.5
* =05
*h max.

1.G De

L » DISTANCE FROM THE WALL

bh.mjix
GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT

He

, .x rc-; x

YEN 04CW ST.

A5'
NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 1-1)

NORMAUZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 2-2)

NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 3-3)

Tigurel9Anormalizedgraund nrfacesettlementdue <rbasernentexcavation.

given in Table 1. These relationships can be used to reasonably predict wall deflections and
hence ground movements for basement excavation under similar ground conditions.

• The ratio of the maximum settlement to the maximum wall deflection resulting from the
pumping test is usually smaller than that caused by the basement excavation. In general, the
maximum ground surface settlement is equal to 30% and 50% of the maximum wall
deflection caused by pumping test and basement excavation respectively. The extent of the
ground surface settlement profile is generally limited to a distance equal to the depth beyond
which deflection no longer occurs. The maximum ground settlement usually occurs either
close to the wall or behind the wall at a distance which is equal to 30% of the depth to the
maximum wall deflection. 1 /

• It is recommended that a full scale pumping test be carried out prior to commencement of
deep excavations in Hong Kong. In this case, the installation of instruments to monitor
porewater pressures, wall deflections and ground settlements enabled predicted movements
to be compared with the measured values throughout the pumping test. The mathematical
models developed from the back-analysis of the pumping test data were then used to assess
the performance of the subsequent basement excavation. It was possible to refine the
prediction or predict with greater confidence for ground movements and performance
aspects of basement construction based on pumping test data and the back-analysis work.

200
 Acknowledgments

The Authors wish to thank the Client, Fotosky Investment Limited, for permission to publish
this paper and to acknowledge the considerable efforts of their colleagues of Ove Arup &
Partners in carrying out the back analyses of the pumping test data, for without teamwork such
an undertaking is not possible.

References

1. Chan, A.K.C. & Davies, J.A. (1984) Some aspects of design and construction of
foundations for highrise buildings in Hong Kong. Proc, of the Third International Conf on Tall
Buildings, Hong Kong & Guangzhou

2. Davies R.V. & Henkel D.J. (1980) Geotechnical Problems associated with the construction
of Chater Station. Proc, of the Conf, on Mass Transportation in Asia Hong Kong Session.

3. Davies J.A. (1987) Groundwater control in the design and construction of a deep
excavation. Proc, of the Ninth European Conf, on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.

4. Hampheson C., Fitzpatrick A. J. & Anderson J.M.D. (1986) The basement and substructure
for the new headquarters of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hong Kong.
Proc. Instn. Civ. Engrs. Part 1 .

5. O’Rourke, T.D. (1981) Ground movements caused by braced excavation, Journal of

Geotechnical Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 107------------------------ ----

201
 TSUEN WAN STATION APPROACH TUNNELS
GROUND MOVEMENTS

The total ground movements have been determined by assessing the following main causes:
1. Diaphragm Wall Installation.
2. Basement Excavation
3. Construction Dewatering

1, Diaphragm Wall Installation

Assumed groundwater level - 3.00

Lowest Slurry level - 5.50
Excess Slurry head = 2.50
Top CDG Layer - -12.40 mPD
Thus lateral ground movements 25.00 mm (Refer to figure 1)
Davies & Henkel (1980), Humpheson et al (1986)

The vertical settlement due to diaphragm wall installation is assumelto be equivalent in magnitude to the lateral*' ,
ground movements.
The estimated profile of ground settlement due to diaphragm wall
* construction is estimated from the figure of "Distribution of ground (Refer to figure 2)
p Settlements due to diaphragm wall construction"(after Davies and Henkel 1981).

Thus vertical ground movements 25.00 mm

2. Basement Excavation

The lateral and vertical ground movements due to basement excavation have been obtained
from a Finite Difference Analysis using FLAC.

The relationship between lateral wall movements and the vertical ground movements due to basement excavation can be checked using
results presented in a paper by Lui & Yau, 1995. (Refer to figure 3)
General relationship:
Maximum vertical ground movement 0.5
Maximum horizontal deflection of wall

3, Dewatering (Abstracted from Report DD300-REP-C-0050-00 "Protection of Existing Structure Report -

The process of dewatering will cause an increase in effective stress within the soil mass resulting in
vertical settlement of the ground. Horizontal movement of the ground due to dewatering effects in this
instance is considered to be insignificant.

A maximum of Im drawdown of ground water level outside the box is assumed.

A simple method of estimating elastic settlement (8) of the ground due to drawdown of groundwater may be expressed
as follows:
8=Aa’H/E*

where: A3* is the net increase of effective stress, H and E are the thickness and Young*s Modulus of soil.

For this location the estimated maximum ground settlement near the wall due to dewatering = 20.5mm
(Table 6.2.2. 1 Report Ref. DD300-REP-C-0050-00 "Protection of Existing Structure Report - Tsuen Wan By-Pass).

The Zone of influence for this element of the ground movement is assumed to be 3D, a linear relationship is assumed.
 Mii.
in trench
Original Splllemcnl
g r o u n d level
100
•
— . - i
Excess E
slurry aL Piezomelrlc
H E

•
head , level

•
~ 00 *

F I L L 8. MARINE DEPOSITS
Id
s
U)
0 9 '□
tn
___
/

DECOMPOSED GRANITE __mavemenX-

1
— In decomf>osed g r o n i
a9 ;

“TrfTlrom excavation

Horizontal
movement 0 . f
O
CM

EXCESS SLURRY HEAD ( A H ) m

NOTE: Wall contracted in panel

lengths ol 6m ( average )
 Distonce from diaphragm wall
' Depth of diaphragm wall;
0.4 0.5 0.8
0
g"
PM c
e
« E
E - 0.5
3 5— «*
ai
V)
,
tn x
0
S
I .or

>
1

”jj] . DD-300: Tsuen Wan Section Protection of Existing Structure Report

Tsuen Wan Bypass

—I -----
 DISTANCE FROM THE DIAPHRAGM WAUL

1!i
2.0 O.S

Abstracted from "The

so
s0
-nax.. .5
max.

DISTANCE FROM THE WALL

bh.rrux
GROUND SURFACE SETTLEMENT

- Geotechnical Division, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, 1995

He

"Proceeding of Seminar art Instrumentation In Geotechnical Engineering"

YEN CHW/

A5
NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 1-1

o NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 2-2]

Lui and Paul KF. Yau

I

NORMALIZED SURFACE SETTLEMENT PROFILE (SECTION 3-31

Fl
A normalized ground surface settlement due to basement excavation.

3•