BRACED CUTS

MD. AFTABUR RAHMAN, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
CHITTAGONG-4349, BANGLADESH
EMAIL: maftabur@gmail.com
 WHAT IS BRACED CUTS ?
For deep excavation, vertical faces of the cuts are hazardous ! !

This vertical cuts can be protected by using temporary bracing systems

to avoid failure that may be accompanied by considerable settlement
or by bearing capacity failure of nearby foundations

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 WHAT IS BRACED CUTS ?

Braced Cut Deformation Pressure distribution

To design braced excavations, estimation of lateral earth pressure to

which the braced cuts will be subjected is mandatory

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 TYPES OF BRACED CUT

Soldier beam (a vertical steel or timber beam) is driven into the ground
before excavation
Laggings, which are horizontal timber planks, are placed between soldier
beams as the excavation proceeds
Wales and struts are installed when excavation reaches the desired
depth Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)
 TYPES OF BRACED CUT

Here, interlocking sheet piles are driven into the soil before excavation

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

TYPES OF BRACED CUT

Wales Struts Sheet pile

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 DESIGN OF BRACED CUT

Theory of lateral earth pressure can be a good option, however several

factors like soil types, construction methods, types of equipment's restrict
the use of typical lateral pressure distribution in designing braced cuts !

Therefore, empirical relations based on experiments, analytical

calculations, field observations are employed to estimate pressure
envelope for braced cuts

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR BRACED CUT DESIGN

Sand Soft to Medium Clay Stiff Clay

Ref: Peck (1969)

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR BRACED CUT DESIGN
Assumptions
1. Applicable having depth greater than 6m
2. Water table is below the bottom of the cut
3. Sand is drained with zero pore water pressure
4. Clay is undrained and pore pressure is not considered

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR BRACED CUT DESIGN
Cuts in SAND (Peck, 1969)

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR BRACED CUT DESIGN
Cuts in CLAY (Peck, 1969)

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR LAYERED SOIL

Equivalent cohesion

Equivalent unit weight

Pressure envelope in clay is then used to design the cuts

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

PRESSURE ENVELOPE FOR LAYERED SOIL

Equivalent cohesion

Equivalent unit weight

Pressure envelope in clay is then used to design the cuts

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

DESIGN OF COMPONENTS OF BRACED CUT: STRUTS
Struts are horizontal column subject to bending. The load-carrying
capacity of columns depends on their slenderness ratio, which can be
reduced by providing vertical and horizontal supports at intermediate
points.
For wide cuts, splicing is necessary

Should have minimum vertical

spacing of about 2.75m

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

DESIGN OF COMPONENTS OF BRACED CUT: STRUTS

First Strut

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

DESIGN OF COMPONENTS OF BRACED CUT: STRUTS

Draw the pressure envelope for the braced cut

Mark the strut levels
The soldier beam or sheet piles are assumed to be hinged at
the strut levels, except for top and bottom ones
Determine the reactions for the two simple cantilever
beams
Calculate the
Knowing thestrut
strutloads
loads at each level and the intermediate bracing
conditions allows selection of the proper sections from the steel
construction manual
Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)
DESIGN OF COMPONENTS OF BRACED CUT: SHEET PILES
For each of the sections, determine the maximum bending moment
Determine the maximum value of the maximum bending moment
obtained in previous step
Obtain the required section modulus of the sheet piles as

Choose a sheet pile having a section modulus greater than or equal to

the required section modulus

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

DESIGN OF COMPONENTS OF BRACED CUT: WALES
Wales may be treated as continuous horizontal members if they are spliced
properly. Conservatively, they may also be treated as though they are
pinned at the struts.
At level A,

At level B,

At level C,

At level D,
Obtain the required section modulus of the sheet piles as

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)

 NUMERICAL PROBLEM
Cross-section of a long braced cut is shown in following figure. Determine
a) Earth pressure envelope
b) Strut loads at A, B, C
c) Section modulus of the sheet pile section required
d) A design section modulus for the wales at level B

Foundation Analysis Methods (CE-6203)