Abstract:
Pipe jacking system has been known for many years in Thailand, however, the understanding in fundamental concept of construction and design is still limited. This research aims to study the friction between pipe and surrounding ground, as well as the soil movement induced during pipe jacking. The research sites are the 230 kV Underground Power Lines Between Ladprao and Vibhavadi Substation Project, and the Bangkok Wastewater Project, Phase 3 (Nongkhaem-Phasicharoen) Project. The jacking force automatically recorded by computer system of the Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) shield. The ground movement was measured by means of the geotechnical instrumentation on the 230 kV Underground Power Lines Between Ladprao and Vibhavadi Substation Project. The results show that the Adhesion factor (alpha) which is the frictional coefficient between pipe and surrounding soil, is in the function of undrained shear strength (Su) and depended on the type of lubricator. The alpha- values of alpha = 0.44 - 0.094 In(Su) and alpha = 0.14 - 0.034 In (Su), are for bentonite slurry as a lubricant and bentonite/polymer slurry, respectively. It was found that the vertical ground displacement during pipe jacking mainly induced by volume loss of soil flowed in at the shield face. According to back analysis, the appropriate parameters, for prediction of the ground surface settlement, based on the empirical method proposed by Peck (1969) and O'Reilly & New (1982), i = 4.40 m., and K = 0.32 for ground loss ~ 0.46%. Based on finite element method analysis, the Eu/Su values those can be used for prediction of the ground surface settlement are about 300, 420, and 550 for soft clay, medium clay, and first stiff clay in Bangkok subsoils respectively.