Abstract: “This paper investigates the interaction between tunnelling in soft soil and adjacent piled structure. Several three-dimensional finite element analyses are performed to study the deformation of pile caps and piles during the construction of a nearby tunnel. The comparison between free field analyses with those of coupled analyses is also presented. To simulate the tunnelling process and its effects on piled structures, one symmetric half of the soil medium, the tunnelling boring machine, face pressure, the final tunnel lining, the pile caps, and the piles are modelled in several construction phases. The paper is organized into three parts: the first part describes the adopted numerical model; the second part investigates the response of pile caps during tunnelling; and the last part is concerned with the deformation of piles in the presence of the superstructure.”

Keywords: Finite element, tunnelling, soil structure interaction, pile foundation, three-dimensional analysis