Construction pits

Construction of new buildings or structures with an underground component requires a construction pit. When a city is already fully built up, the distance between the construction pit and existing buildings is often only a short distance. This can cause inconvenience and damage.

Horizontal soil sealing by water-glass injection (2017)

The application of water glass injection as a soil barrier in construction pits is regularly used in the Netherlands. A number of practical projects have shown that water-glass injection does not give sufficient results in terms of water inhibition. The reasons for this can vary widely. For this report, we chose to investigate two implementation aspects, namely ambient vibration and injection pressure. The extent to which these two aspects can affect the water inhibition effect of a water glass injection has been investigated.

Soilmix Walls Handbook (2016)

This handbook provides a representation of current knowledge in the field of soilmix technology for the realisation of soil retaining, water retaining and water inhibiting walls. The book covers different application areas of soilmix walls, both temporary and permanent soilmix walls and walls with a vertical bearing function.

Plaxis bulletin

The English-language Plaxis bull etin is published twice a year. It is the combined magazine of Plaxis BV and the Dutch Plaxis Users Association. The magazine focuses on the use of the finite element method in geotechnical engineering.

Plaxis knowledge database

The Plaxisknowledge database is expanded every month with tips, videos, scripts and software updates. The database also houses some twenty models and eighty scientific publications on research and practical cases where Plaxis has been used.

Calculation rules for diaphragm walls (2014)

CUR Recommendation 76:2014 covers diaphragm walls, executed in Dutch conditions with on-site cast-in-place reinforced concrete. As a second, revised edition, the CUR-Advocation describes additional provisions for the design and calculation of diaphragm walls.

Calculation rules for unreinforced underwater concrete floors (2014)

CUR Recommendation 77:2014 contains calculation rules for the design, dimensioning and detailing of unreinforced underwater concrete floors with a temporary function.

Pile-founded buildings adjacent to deep excavations (2013)

This research provides insight into the mechanisms of soil-building interaction in pile-founded buildings adjacent to deep excavations. The study specifically focused on excavations adjacent to buildings founded on old (wooden) piles in soft soil. Work prior to excavation was found to have the greatest impact on the ground level and buildings. The study can be used for the design and monitoring of deep construction projects in such areas.

TU Delft research

• Rapid pile load tests in the geotechnical centrifuge (2012)
• Laterally Loaded Piles, Models and Measurements (2010)
• On the Modelling of Pile Installation (2009)
• Deformations and damage to buildings adjacent to deep excavations in soft soils (2009)
• Reliability of Sheet Pile Walls And The Influence of Corrosion: Structural Reliability Analysis with Finite Elements (2007)

Handbook on Sheet piling (2012)

Sheet Pile Structures (Volumes 1 and 2) contains all the information needed for the design, construction and management of sheet pile structures. The handbook shows how to install sheet piling according to the latest insights and the latest regulations and technology. The latest edition has been brought fully into line with Eurocode 7 (Geotechnical Design).

Recommendations for building piles in urban environments (2012)

This report aims to meet the need for additional knowledge on cofferdam behaviour in relation to adjacent structures. The practical study focused on the North/South Line. The report provides an overview of the current knowledge on the design of cofferdams in urban areas in relation to adjacent structures, considering not only the behaviour of the cofferdam between soil barriers (i.e. within the cofferdam), but also the deformations of the soil mass outside the cofferdam.

Directive on anchor piles (2011)

This CUR guideline is primarily intended for designers and executing parties. In particular, the publication contains a description of various anchor pile systems, calculation rules for decisiveness and axial spring stiffness, durability and quality assurance. The focus is on execution sensitivity and quality assurance. This has led to a proprietary safety philosophy for anchor piles.

Manual for diaphragm walls (2010)

This CUR handbook contains a comprehensive description of the design and execution process of diaphragm walls. The handbook pays attention to the important connection between design and execution. Quality control during and after execution, as well as monitoring are also described. Lessons learned from previous damage cases are also discussed; these experiences were used to identify critical components in design and execution.

Directive on measuring and monitoring construction pits (2010)

This CUR guideline is intended to optimise the use of measuring and monitoring in construction pits, and thus improve risk management. To fully exploit the added value of measuring and monitoring, this publication pays explicit attention to incorporating monitoring in the construction process and in the project organisation.

Delft Cluster: Rapid pile testing (2010)

This research into the optimisation of pile foundations called, among other things, for better models for calculating the bearing capacity of piles and for fast and cheap methods to test the bearing capacity of installed piles, such as quasi-static techniques.

Delft Cluster: Behaviour of construction pits (2009)

Results of research into the behaviour of construction pits consisting of combined sheet piling. Measurements were used to gain insight into the internal forces of construction pits. Data were collected from two construction pits for the tunnel under the Pannerdensch Kanaal.

Delft Cluster: Quality improvement of foundations and construction pits (2009)

Research into quality improvement of foundations and construction pits, focusing on the use of better risk management.

North South Line - Amsterdam (2008 - 2013)

In 2008, serious damage occurs to a number of houses on Vijzelgracht in Amsterdam due to leakage in the construction pit under construction there. On 4 June 2009, the Veerman Commission presents its final report 'Building Connections'. The advice: continue, but with some - mainly organisational - improvements. On the North South Line knowledge website, the knowledge gained from the construction process is shared and discussed online. It is a website for and by experts, with articles on facts and figures, research and practical cases.

Analysis of forty damage cases (2007)

In the 2007 monthly magazine Cement (no 6, page 5), Prof Frits van Tol of TU Delft gives an extensive analysis of forty damage cases to construction pits over the past 10 years. His conclusion is that in two thirds of the cases, the necessary knowledge was available but had not been used.
Van Tol therefore advocates improving construction-related training and studies. Research is also needed into the installation effects when making sheet piling, as (slot) leakage is a major cause of damage.
A.F. van Tol, Damage cases in construction pits, Cement 2007 no 6, p 6-13 (not digitally available)

Vlissingen 'De Fonteyne' (2005)

The 'De Fonteyne' car park in Vlissingen was successfully completed in 2005, despite the complexity of the project with vulnerable neighbouring properties. Everything went smoothly around the nine-metre-deep excavation. A brief overview can be found in a presentation by the Municipality of Vlissingen.