Numerical simulations reveal building displacement and differential settlement effects due to rising groundwater levels, suggesting potential geotechnical risks.
In the North China region, measures such as restricting groundwater extraction and promoting cross-basin water diversion have effectively alleviated the problem of excessive groundwater exploitation. Nevertheless, the continuous rise in groundwater levels may alter the mechanical properties of foundation soil layers, potentially leading to geotechnical hazards such as foundation instability and the uneven settlement of structures. This study employs FLAC3D software to simulate the displacement, deformation, and stress–strain behavior of buildings and their surrounding strata during the dynamic recovery of groundwater levels, aiming to assess the impact of this process on structural integrity. Research findings indicate that the maximum building settlement within the study area reaches 54.8 mm, with a maximum inter-column differential settlement of 8.9 mm and a peak settlement rate of 0.16 mm/day. In regions where differential settlement aligns with the interface between the floor slab and walls, tensile stress concentrations are observed. The maximum tensile stress in these zones increases progressively from 1.8 MPa to 2.19 MPa, suggesting a potential risk of tensile cracking in the concrete structures. The influence of groundwater level recovery on buildings exhibits distinct phase characteristics, and the response mechanisms of different lithological strata vary significantly. Therefore, particular attention should be given to the physical properties and mechanical behavior of strata that are highly sensitive to variations in moisture content. These findings hold significant reference value for the sustainable development and utilization of underground space in the North China region.
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Li et al. (2025) studied this question.
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