In general, the design of braced excavations is usually performed by empirical methods. Such an approach, however, raises questions about the deformation behavior of the system due the specific setup involved. Application of the finite element method (FEM) to this project, however, bridged the gap in the empirical methods and provided a calibration tool for detailed design optimization.

Plain strain FEM analysis was performed using the SIGMA/W computer program. A linear-elastic soil model was used in combination with an elastic perfectly plastic model having a modified Mohr Coulomb yield criterion. These parameters thus eliminated unrealistic tension behind the sheet piles and initiated yielding.

For each stage of construction, nodal displacements, strains, and stresses from the previous stage were set as the initial state values and then updated based on analysis of the current stage. Removal of materials and dewatering was simulated by excavation elements with internal bracings activated for each stage. Selected profiles of sheet pile bending moment and deflections are shown in the three plots. The FEM analysis resulted in the elimination of a costly tieback along the landside, the removal of two rows of internal bracing tiers, and the reduction of the sheet pile embedment length from 120 ft to 90 ft.