A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects

The rapid advancement of modern megapolises has led to a dearth of surface space, and, in response, engineers have begun to trial substitutes below ground level. Shafts are generally used to provide temporary access and permanent work to the subsurface for tunnelling, as well as for lifts or ventila...

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Main Authors: Jianxiu Wang, Naveed Sarwar Abbasi, Weqiang Pan, Weifeng Wu, Sharif Nyanzi Alidekyi, Xiaofei Zhang, Panfeng Guan, Hao Li, Ali Asghar, Bilal Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6029
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author Jianxiu Wang
Naveed Sarwar Abbasi
Weqiang Pan
Weifeng Wu
Sharif Nyanzi Alidekyi
Xiaofei Zhang
Panfeng Guan
Hao Li
Ali Asghar
Bilal Ahmed
author_facet Jianxiu Wang
Naveed Sarwar Abbasi
Weqiang Pan
Weifeng Wu
Sharif Nyanzi Alidekyi
Xiaofei Zhang
Panfeng Guan
Hao Li
Ali Asghar
Bilal Ahmed
author_sort Jianxiu Wang
collection DOAJ
description The rapid advancement of modern megapolises has led to a dearth of surface space, and, in response, engineers have begun to trial substitutes below ground level. Shafts are generally used to provide temporary access and permanent work to the subsurface for tunnelling, as well as for lifts or ventilation purposes. In urban areas, one important design issue is the prediction of the excavation-induced displacements by open caisson shaft construction. Settlements and ground movements associated with open caisson shafts are influenced by the choice of construction method, soil composition, and excavation geometry. Compared with other geotechnical construction events, for instance, tunnelling, the literature relating to the ground deformations induced from open caisson shafts are comparatively limited. This review offers an evaluation of several case studies that utilize experimental and computational modeling techniques to provide clearer insights into earth pressure distribution and induced surface and subsurface soil displacements, as well as the associated ground deformations during open caisson shaft construction. The modeling test results are compared to the state of the practice ground deformation prediction theories and measured results from field monitoring data. Findings indicate that the lateral earth pressure distribution aligns closely with the theoretical predictions based on Terzaghi’s and Berezantzev’s models, and lateral earth pressure diminishes gradually until the onset of active wall displacement. Current modeling techniques generally fail to properly represent in situ stress states and large-scale complexities, emphasizing the need for hybrid approaches that combine physical and numerical methodologies. In future studies, modern approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring (e.g., PINNs, ACPP), multi-field coupling models (e.g., THMC), and transparent soil testing, hold profound potential for real-time prediction, optimization, and visualization of soil deformation. Numerical–physical coupling tests will integrate theory and practice. Improving prediction reliability in complicated soil conditions such as composite and heterogenous strata using different modeling techniques is still unclear, and further investigation is therefore needed.
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spelling doaj-art-d62faa1611ff4dcc82694e2030af0cd22025-08-20T03:11:21ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011511602910.3390/app15116029A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future ProspectsJianxiu Wang0Naveed Sarwar Abbasi1Weqiang Pan2Weifeng Wu3Sharif Nyanzi Alidekyi4Xiaofei Zhang5Panfeng Guan6Hao Li7Ali Asghar8Bilal Ahmed9College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaShanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200072, ChinaShanghai Tunnel Engineering and Rail Transit Design and Research Institute, Shanghai 200235, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaShanghai Tunnel Engineering and Rail Transit Design and Research Institute, Shanghai 200235, ChinaShanghai Tunnel Engineering and Rail Transit Design and Research Institute, Shanghai 200235, ChinaShanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200072, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaThe rapid advancement of modern megapolises has led to a dearth of surface space, and, in response, engineers have begun to trial substitutes below ground level. Shafts are generally used to provide temporary access and permanent work to the subsurface for tunnelling, as well as for lifts or ventilation purposes. In urban areas, one important design issue is the prediction of the excavation-induced displacements by open caisson shaft construction. Settlements and ground movements associated with open caisson shafts are influenced by the choice of construction method, soil composition, and excavation geometry. Compared with other geotechnical construction events, for instance, tunnelling, the literature relating to the ground deformations induced from open caisson shafts are comparatively limited. This review offers an evaluation of several case studies that utilize experimental and computational modeling techniques to provide clearer insights into earth pressure distribution and induced surface and subsurface soil displacements, as well as the associated ground deformations during open caisson shaft construction. The modeling test results are compared to the state of the practice ground deformation prediction theories and measured results from field monitoring data. Findings indicate that the lateral earth pressure distribution aligns closely with the theoretical predictions based on Terzaghi’s and Berezantzev’s models, and lateral earth pressure diminishes gradually until the onset of active wall displacement. Current modeling techniques generally fail to properly represent in situ stress states and large-scale complexities, emphasizing the need for hybrid approaches that combine physical and numerical methodologies. In future studies, modern approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring (e.g., PINNs, ACPP), multi-field coupling models (e.g., THMC), and transparent soil testing, hold profound potential for real-time prediction, optimization, and visualization of soil deformation. Numerical–physical coupling tests will integrate theory and practice. Improving prediction reliability in complicated soil conditions such as composite and heterogenous strata using different modeling techniques is still unclear, and further investigation is therefore needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6029open caisson shaftssoil–structure interactionearth pressureground displacementmodelingcoupling
spellingShingle Jianxiu Wang
Naveed Sarwar Abbasi
Weqiang Pan
Weifeng Wu
Sharif Nyanzi Alidekyi
Xiaofei Zhang
Panfeng Guan
Hao Li
Ali Asghar
Bilal Ahmed
A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
Applied Sciences
open caisson shafts
soil–structure interaction
earth pressure
ground displacement
modeling
coupling
title A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
title_full A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
title_fullStr A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
title_full_unstemmed A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
title_short A Comprehensive Review of Open Caisson Modeling Technology: Current Practices and Future Prospects
title_sort comprehensive review of open caisson modeling technology current practices and future prospects
topic open caisson shafts
soil–structure interaction
earth pressure
ground displacement
modeling
coupling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6029
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