Development and performance analysis of soil flow protector to reduce soft soil settlement caused by cavity formation

Abstract

Settlement of a relatively small magnitude occurs in box structures supported by pile foundations. However, if cavities are generated under the box structure, ground settlement can be accelerated by surrounding soil entering the cavities. In order for the structure to maintain stability for a long period of time, sustainable development to maintain the stability of the building must be continued. Preventing rapid ground settlement can lead to long-term structural stability and prevent the occurrence of life-threatening damage, thereby helping to maintain and build a sustainable urban infrastructure. Thus, in this study, a soil flow protector (SFP) that can be easily installed on the sides of the structure was developed to mitigate the aforementioned problem. Field tests and numerical analysis were performed to investigate the effect of SFP installation on structural stability and settlement reduction. After performing field experiments, it was found that SFP installation could reduce ground settlement and ground horizontal displacement. Moreover, for a 79.9-mm settlement, the safety factor was 1.315, which remained stable even when the settlement reached 345 mm. Hence, the developed SFP can be used to reduce soft ground settlement affecting box structures supported by pile foundations.