Study of the horizontal propagation of deformations generated by a shaft excavation, from the use of VSM machinery in soft soils in shanghai China

This research examines the geomechanical behavior of soft soil in Shanghai during the excavation of a large diameter shaft using an advanced Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine (VSM) recently developed and applied in China. The mechanisms of soil deformation and the possible effects on the adjacent infrastructure are the priorities of this paper, which is an important factor in densely populated urban areas. Due to the limited research on the mechanical interactions involved in this new method of deep shaft construction, the goal of this analysis is to quantitatively determine its effects on nearby structures. A three-dimensional finite element model replicates the excavation of a 51-meter-deep shaft, part of a large underground parking complex in the center of Shanghai. The numerical simulation clarifies the phenomena of stress redistribution, ground settlement, and structural interaction under loading conditions caused by the process of excavation. The results enhance the general understanding of soil-structure interaction in soft ground tunneling and provide insight into the formulation of optimized design methods and risk reduction strategies for deep excavations in difficult geotechnical environments.