Comparison between FEM analyses and inclinometer readings of a deep excavation

In this thesis, supported deep excavations are designed with the help of finite elementsoftware is studied. The results of the finite element code are compared with thedisplacements of the retaining wall obtained from in-situ inclinometer results.The proposed method of Terzaghi-Peck lateral earth pressure envelope acting to the supportedexcavations are not used in designing with finite element codes. Lateral earth pressure comesout according to the elements used in wall and deformations related to soil rigidity in finiteelement calculations. Lateral earth pressures before excavation are obtained from lateral earthcoefficient at rest. Moreover, lateral earth pressures mobilized during the excavation arecalculated by the poisson ratio and elasticity values, which affect the lateral deformations infinite element software.There are many finite element software used in geotechnical and foundation engineering,however, Plaxis V8 is one of the widely used programs.Using PLAXIS V8 software, a supported deep excavation is modeled. Although finiteelement analysis is widely used in geotechnics, there are many questions about the reliabilityof the results. Weather used in verification of software or determining the lateraldeformations, hazard level around the excavation independent from the analysis, planning oin-situ measurements become a restriction. Therefore, inclinometer installation is veryefficient tool to detect lateral deformations.Modifying the designs and calculating the effects of deformations to the structures near theexcavations is possible by the help of inclinometer results. In this thesis, deformations that ispredicted from finite element analysis and inclinometer measurements are compared. Inconclusion, it is observed that results are in accordance with the in-situ measurements.