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GeoStudio | PLAXIS Wiki PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 04: Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation
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              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 01: Foundation in overconsolidated clay
              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 02: Excavation in sand
              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 03: Loading of a suction pile
              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 04: Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation
              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 05: Phased excavation of a shield tunnel
              • PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 06: Construction of a road embankment
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    PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 04: Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation

    Application PLAXIS 3D
    Version PLAXIS 3D
    Date created 04 October 2018
    Date modified 12 October 2022

    This lesson is concerned with a diaphragm wall that is constructed in a stiff sandy clay layer with a groundwater level at 1.0 m below the surface. The excavation process of a diaphragm wall is executed in a specific sequence to obtain the maximum support from the surrounding soil and to prevent soil collapse. A diaphragm wall consists of a number of individually constructed sections. The construction of one such section is modelled in this exercise.

    A single diaphragm section is excavated in three parts, and the construction can be modelled in five phases. In the first three phases, the wall is excavated part by part in the sequence as shown in Figure 5.1. During the excavation, fluid bentonite with a unit weight of 11 kN/m 3 is simultaneously pumped in the trench so that the bentonite pressure and the arching in the soil prevent the surrounding soil from collapse. After digging of the trench has been completed, in the fourth phase, fluid concrete is poured in the trench replacing the bentonite. In the fifth phase the concrete hardens, and the diaphragm wall section is complete. The stability of the excavation is lowest in the third phase, when the section is entirely excavated and filled with bentonite. A safety factor is calculated through a phi-c reduction procedure after each phase to observe the stability of the excavation.

     Geometry of the diaphragm wall

    Tutorial case files

    • Green book PLAXIS_3D_CEV22.02_Tutorial_04_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.pdf
    • Green book PLAXIS_3D_CEV22.01_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.pdf
    • Green book PLAXIS_3D_CEV22_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.pdf
    • Green book PLAXIS_3D_CEV21_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.pdf

    Command log files

    • Notepad spiral PLAXIS_3D_CEV22.02_Tutorial_04_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.p3dlog
    • Notepad spiral PLAXIS_3D_CEV22.01_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.p3dlog
    • Notepad spiral PLAXIS_3D_CEV22_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.p3dlog
    • Notepad spiral PLAXIS_3D_CEV21_Tutorial_05_Stability of a diaphragm wall excavation.p3dlog

    The attached *.p3dlog file contains all the commands to generate the model. With a Bentley Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement [GSE] licence, you can use the commands runner to open the *.p3dlog file and to execute all commands in one go, see also this instruction.

    Older downloads

    • PLAXIS 3D 2018 - Tutorial Lesson 05.pdf
    • PLAXIS 3D 2018 - Tutorial Lesson 05.p3dlog [command log file]

    See also

    Track previous  PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 03: Loading of a suction pile   [Tutorials]


    Track next  PLAXIS 3D Tutorial 05: Phase excavation of a shield tunnel  [Tutorials]

    • PLAXIS 3D
    • Diaphragm
    • concrete
    • retaining wall
    • PLAXIS
    • D-wall
    • bentonite
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    • Micha van der Sloot Created by Bentley Colleague Micha van der Sloot
    • When: Wed, Dec 18 2019 10:45 AM
    • Felipe Fonseca Last revision by Bentley Colleague Felipe Fonseca
    • When: Wed, Oct 12 2022 12:56 PM
    • Revisions: 8
    • Comments: 0
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