{"id":11601,"date":"2022-03-20T20:16:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-20T20:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?post_type=case_study&#038;p=11601"},"modified":"2025-09-04T16:36:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:36:23","slug":"full-numerical-analysis-part-3-application-to-the-forensic-investigation-of-geotechnical-incidents","status":"publish","type":"case_study","link":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/case_study\/full-numerical-analysis-part-3-application-to-the-forensic-investigation-of-geotechnical-incidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Full Numerical Analysis Part 3: Application to the Forensic Investigation of Geotechnical Incidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11601\" class=\"elementor elementor-11601\" data-elementor-post-type=\"case_study\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b1656d8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"53338\" data-id=\"4b1656d8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5fead59\" data-eae-slider=\"36675\" data-id=\"5fead59\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccd4775 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ccd4775\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\"><em><strong>Technical Content: High<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\"><em><strong>Read Time: 15 minutes<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p><p>With the rapid advancement of computer technology, full numerical modelling is now routinely carried out in geotechnical engineering. Producing a full numerical model is not straightforward; if the numerical analysis is not applied properly, the output can lead to defective design and ensuing failure. However, if used with skill and care, full numerical modelling has enormous potential to explain the engineering behaviour of geotechnical structures and produce optimal and safe design.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ce21f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0ce21f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"598\" height=\"207\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9104\" alt=\"Full numerical analysis models representing the effect of excavating a foundation pit on an existing tunnel\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-1.jpg 598w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-1-300x104.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Full numerical analysis models representing the effect of excavating a foundation pit on an existing tunnel <a href=\"#references\">[1]<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a8e575 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a8e575\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/introduction-to-full-numerical-analysis-in-relation-to-soil-structure-failures\/\"><u>Part 1<\/u><\/a>\u00a0of this article I introduced the technique, and described both its advantages and disadvantages. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/case_study\/full-numerical-analysis-part-2-application-to-forensic-investigation\/\"><u>Part 2<\/u><\/a>, I described two case studies to show how the technique can be applied to forensic investigation of geotechnical and other soil\/structure failures.<\/p><p>In this final part, I will describe two more cases studies, exemplifying the power of the full numerical approach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c45acb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c45acb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">CASE STUDY 3: TIEBACK WALL FAILURE IN SOUTH KOREA<\/span>\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"#references\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63b82f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"63b82f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-2.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9105\" alt=\"An image of an exemplar Tieback Wall showing the typical construction layout\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-2.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-2-300x190.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-2-768x486.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">An image of an exemplar Tieback Wall showing the typical construction layout <a href=\"#references\">[3]<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cae2bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cae2bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The retaining wall consisted of an 18.3m high, cast-in place pile wall, supported by 9 layers of ground anchors, plus a further 21.7m high H-pile wall supported by numerous layers of rock bolts, with a 2m toe embedment, to retain a total height of 38m.<\/p><p>Based on the site investigation, a fracture zone was noted in the hard rock layer at depths below 30.4m.Sequential excavation proceeded until a catastrophic wall failure occurred after the final excavation stage.<\/p><p>After the collapse, a geotechnical expert performed a full numerical analysis to model the sequential behaviour and subsequent failure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f1641b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f1641b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The response of the anchored retaining wall was simulated by two-dimensional, non-linear finite element analysis. The shear strength reduction method was used to predict the potential failure planes in the anchored wall structures. With the input of sequential excavation stages, the model successfully simulated the progression of the failure plane and captured the change in failure mechanism.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec8b5b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ec8b5b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-3-1024x562.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9106\" alt=\"Analysed section and full numerical model of anchored retaining wall\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-3-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-3-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-3-768x421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-3.jpg 1203w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Analysed section and full numerical model of anchored retaining wall<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0f2084 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b0f2084\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-4-1024x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9107\" alt=\"Potential failure surfaces at different stages of excavation: (a) 18 m excavation, (b) 25 m excavation, (c) 31 m excavation and (d) 38 m excavation\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-4-1024x240.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-4-300x70.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-4-768x180.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-4.jpg 1308w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Potential failure surfaces at different stages of excavation: (a) 18 m excavation, (b) 25 m excavation, (c) 31 m excavation and (d) 38 m excavation<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bef01ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bef01ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The predicted failure surface shape was a good representation of the real incident failure surface, showing that the numerical method accurately modelled the real life incident. The model confirmed the failure mechanism and failure to take the fracture zone into account. If the model had been used as part of the design, the incident could have been predicted and avoided.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8499be elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f8499be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"693\" height=\"877\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9108\" alt=\"Comparison of predicted and actual (field) failure surfaces\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-5.jpg 693w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-5-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Comparison of predicted and actual (field) failure surfaces<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-109c36a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"109c36a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">CASE STUDY 4: BUILDING-OVERTURNING IN SHANGHAI, CHINA<\/span>\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"#references\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a><\/h4><p>On 27 June 2009, a 13-storey building within a construction site (labelled in the images below as\u00a0<i>Building 7<\/i>) abruptly fell over with little warning, killing one worker. Prior to the incident, a 4.6 m deep basement excavation was ongoing on the south side of both\u00a0<i>Building 6<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<i>Building\u00a0<\/i>7. The excavated soil was dumped on the north side of the two buildings and formed 10m high\u00a0<i>Stockpile 1<\/i>. As recorded by the local weather station, about half an hour before the building toppled, there was an intense rainfall event lasting for 5 hours.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-849f4ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"849f4ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-6-1024x710.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9109\" alt=\"Top left: view of ground and stockpile. Top Right: right after toppling of Building 7. Bottom Left: View of Building 7 after failure. Bottom Right: view of the foundation and ground below\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-6-1024x710.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-6-300x208.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-6-768x533.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-6.jpeg 1120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><b>Top left:<\/b> view of ground and stockpile<br><b>Top Right:<\/b> right after toppling of Building 7<br><b>Bottom Left:<\/b> view of Building 7 after failure<br><b>Bottom Right:<\/b> view of the foundation and ground below<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44ff0ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44ff0ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The preliminary conclusion from the Forensic Diagnosis Committee was that horizontal ground movement, caused by unequal lateral earth pressures on the two sides of Building 7, sheared off the underlying piles, causing the building to topple to the ground.<\/p><p>Considering the complexity of this failure, a three-dimensional full numerical analysis was conducted to verify the postulated failure mechanism.<\/p><p>The three-dimensional model included Building 6, Building 7, Stockpile 1 and the 4.6m deep excavation. The building superstructures, pile foundations and temporary earth retaining structures of the excavation were all modelled as per the actual site conditions. The simulated construction procedures duplicated the following on-site activities:<\/p><p>(1)Construction of Building 6 and Building 7<\/p><p>(2)Formation of Phase 1 of Stockpile 1 (4 m high) behind the buildings<\/p><p>(3)Consolidation of subgrade underneath the stockpile for six months<\/p><p>(4)Excavation of the 4.6 m deep basement and formation of Phase 2 of Stockpile 1 (10 m high)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfd4fc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dfd4fc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-7-1024x865.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9110\" alt=\"Top Left: 3D View. Top Right: Side View. Bottom Left: Temporary Earth Retaining Structures for the excavation. Bottom Right: Superstructures and pile foundations of the buildings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-7-1024x865.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-7-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-7-768x649.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-7.jpg 1091w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\"><b>Top Left:<\/b> 3D View<br><b>Top Right:<\/b> Side View<br><b>Bottom Left:<\/b> Temporary Earth Retaining Structures for the excavation<br><b>Bottom Right:<\/b> Superstructures and pile foundations of the buildings<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98e54a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98e54a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Surprisingly, the simulated building displacements at the completion of excavation and stockpiling indicated a slight northward (<i>instead<\/i>\u00a0of southward) inclination of the two buildings. The simulated northward inclinations of about 0.091% for Building 6 and 0.10% for Building 7 were unnoticeable. Moreover, the predicted maximum structural forces of the underlying piles were well within their design capacities and Stockpile 1 was still in a stable state.<\/p><p>These simulation results were consistent with the following two facts:<\/p><p>(1) No obvious sign of inclination was reported for either building before the abrupt failure<\/p><p>(2) The post-failure examination on the piles left in place showed that they had undergone either compressive or tensile failure, not shearing or bending failure, as preliminarily concluded by the Forensic Diagnosis Committee.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ab5341 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4ab5341\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-8-1024x637.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9111\" alt=\"3D views of simulated displacements of Building 7 and its underlying piles (negative displacement, southward to excavation; positive displacement, northward to stockpile)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-8-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-8-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-8-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-8.jpg 1148w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">3D views of simulated displacements of Building 7 and its underlying piles (negative displacement, southward to excavation; positive displacement, northward to stockpile)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15a3698 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15a3698\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To further investigate the true causation and failure mechanism, the heavy rainfall event was simulated in the model by saturating the stockpile. Stockpile 1 underwent a base failure with significant ground heave, extending below the footing of Building 7, as was actually observed. The simulated stockpile behind Building 6 was still in a safe condition, evidenced by no substantial ground heave below Building 6. This analysis demonstrated that the intense rainfall was a decisive factor, which triggered a deep-seated slip failure of the stockpile and exerted an upward load underneath the north side of Building 7. Consequently, the building fell over suddenly in the southward direction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-071706b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"071706b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"359\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-9a-1024x459.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9112\" alt=\"Analysis results accounting for rainfall. Left: side view of simulated total ground displacement. Right: top view of simulated vertical ground displacements (positive, heave; negative, settlement)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-9a-1024x459.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-9a-300x134.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-9a-768x344.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/FNA3-Image-9a.jpg 1509w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Analysis results accounting for rainfall.<br> <b>Left:<\/b> side view of simulated total ground displacement<br> <b>Right:<\/b> top view of simulated vertical ground displacements (positive, heave; negative, settlement)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c855d5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c855d5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">CONCLUSION<\/span><\/h4><p>The four case studies presented above (and in\u00a0<u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/case_study\/full-numerical-analysis-part-2-application-to-forensic-investigation\/\">Part 2<\/a><\/u>) only illustrate a few of the capabilities of full numerical analysis, and how it can assist with forensic investigation. If the analysis is performed properly, it can be applied successfully to various other types of cases as well.<\/p><p>With periodic updates to the analysis software, the process has become so user-friendly that even graduate engineers can perform the analyses with little guidance. This, however, might lead to the danger of misunderstanding either the way the software works or its limitations, as well as potentially using the wrong inputs or misinterpreting the results (i.e. the \u2018rubbish in \u2013 rubbish out\u2019 issue that effects all software).<\/p><p>Geotechnical engineering is part art, part science. The results of software analyses should be used to provide important evidence for judgments to be based on, and \u2018well-winnowed\u2019 experience should prevail.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11694f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11694f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">ABOUT THE AUTHOR\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/experts\/shimin-zhuang\/\">Er. Zhuang Shimin<\/a> is a Professional Engineer with a background in the design and construction of large-scale geotechnical solutions in Singapore and Hong Kong, including deep basements, retaining walls, reinforced soils, pipe jacking, deep shafts, deep foundations, pile-enhanced raft, segmental and cut &amp; cover tunnels. He is experienced in both 2D &amp; 3D geotechnical finite element analysis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3396cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3396cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>[1]\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.midasgeotech.com\/blog\/influence-of-excavation-foundation-pit-on-existing-tunnel\">https:\/\/www.midasgeotech.com\/blog\/influence-of-exc&#8230;<\/a><\/p><p>[2]\u00a0S.S. Jeong, Y.H. Kim and M.M. Kim (2016) Developments in Geotechnical Engineering: Forensic Geotechnical Engineering, Chapter 27 Failure Case Study of Tieback Wall in Urban Area, Korea, Springer, India (ISBN: 978-81-322-2376-4)<\/p><p>[3]\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pilebuck.com\/foundation\/soldier-pile-lagging-walls-uses-advantages-materials-used\/\">https:\/\/pilebuck.com\/foundation\/soldier-pile-laggi&#8230;<\/a><\/p><p>[4]\u00a0Tan, Y., W. Jiang, H. Rui, Y. Lu, and D. Wang. 2020. \u201cForensic Geotechnical Analyses on the 2009 Building-Overturning Accident in Shanghai, China: Beyond Common Recognitions\u201d J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (7):\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi-org\/10.1061\/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002264\">https:\/\/doi-org\/10.1061\/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002264<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the rapid advancement of computer technology, full numerical modelling is now routinely carried out in geotechnical engineering. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9038,"parent":0,"template":"","experties":[62],"class_list":["post-11601","case_study","type-case_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","experties-built-environment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Calcium Oxide &amp; Exothermic Reactions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hawkins investigates a farm fire caused by calcium oxide&#039;s exothermic 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