Two-Dimensional Numerical Approaches of Excavation Support Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Key Considerations and Modelling Techniques

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the characteristics of soil structure in excavation support systems and the use of numerical modeling to analyze these systems. It highlights the limitations of two-dimensional (2-D) analysis in capturing corner effects in deep excavations. The abstract emphasizes that soil is a complex material with time-dependent, nonlinear behavior affected by stress history. Various constitutive models are available to simulate soil behavior, including linear and nonlinear elastic models, elastic-perfectly plastic models, elasto-plastic models, and elastic-plastic models with kinetic hardening. The advantages and limitations of these constitutive models are discussed, with a focus on their ability to accurately represent soil behavior. The Mohr-Coulomb model is mentioned as a popular choice despite its limitations. Additionally, the availability of numerical software applications like PLAXIS, specifically PLAXIS 2-D, for geotechnical analysis is highlighted. Overall, this paper provides a concise summary of the characteristics of soil structure in excavation support systems, the importance of numerical modeling, and the different constitutive models used to simulate soil behavior in geotechnical analyses.