Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association ISSN:2233-8292(Print) 2287-4747(Online) 한국터널지하공간학회 논문집

This study aims to experimentally investigate ground settlement and ground movement around the square pipe by its penetration in sandy ground. A series of laboratory model tests were carried out with a small-scale auger equipment for penetration of a square pipe as well as a newly designed test box with a sand raining equipment. From the experiments, it is shown that a square pipe induces ground movement evenly around it in a low overburden condition. However, as the overburden becomes higher, ground movement by a square pipe is concentrated mainly above it. Especially, horizontal strain above the square pipe was mainly dominated by its penetration. In addition, sand surface movement is the smallest in case of the dimensionless penetration rate equal to 0.2. When its penetration rate of the square pipe is fixed, the rotation speed of auger controls surface movement whether it is settlement or heaving. Therefore, the selection of an optimal dimensionless rate for the square pipe is a key design factor to minimize ground settlement in a trenchless construction.