Characteristics of Rebound Deformation Caused by Groundwater Level Recovery: A Case Study of the Yuhuazhai Area in Xi’an, China

A rise in the water level may result in different vertical rebound levels of the ground surface, adversely affecting buildings. Ground rebound occurred in the Xi’an Yuhuazhai area from 2018 to 2019, but the soil’s deformation characteristics remain unclear. Drilling and water level data and FLAC3D 6.0 were used to simulate water level recovery. The deformation characteristics of different soil layers were examined, their future development was predicted, and the influences of various parameters on ground rebound were analyzed. The rebound amount of the hanging wall in the second confined aquifer was 38.32 mm, accounting for 61.12% of the total rebound amount. The rebound amount of the footwall in the second confined aquifer was 22.14 mm, accounting for 79.63% of the total rebound amount. The predicted maximum rebound of the upper and lower soil layers in the next 5 years was 2.8 mm and 2.6 mm, respectively, representing a vertical difference of 0.2 mm, which has no significant effect on building safety. The results provide a scientific basis for groundwater management and settlement prevention and control in Xi’an.