Experimental study of heaving in a cofferdam on soft ground
Abstract
A series of experimental studies using 2 rigid wall cofferdam models in a test box filled with bentonite on sand mat were conducted to study heaving and reasonable countermeasures. Heaving was generated by excavation inside models, uniform surcharge on the surface and several levels of ground water. We found that it is more reasonable to evaluate heaving by the sustaining capacity at the bottom excavated than by circular slip because heaving is plastic flow. Through a series of experiments, we presume that countermeasures outside a cofferdam are more effective than inside, and heaving is affected by the ground water level.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Geotechnical Engineering and Analysis
Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 659–663
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter