Central Artery/Tunnel Project Excavation Induced Ground Deformations

Estimate of deformations around urban excavations is a primary concern for designers, contractors, owners, and potentially affected third parties. Significant efforts have gone into the development of empirically based methods to estimate deformations relying on a large number of case histories. The construction of the deep excavations for the central artery/tunnel project provides valuable information on observed deformations due to the construction of these excavations. Lateral deformations and surface settlements for three construction contracts are collected and summarized in a form similar to published empirical charts. The stiff support system used in these braced excavation and the embedment of the wall into stiff strata control deformations to minimal levels. The data show that surface settlements, although small, extend farther away from the excavation than previously reported.