Theoretical Analysis of Adjacent Tunnel Deformation Induced by Foundation Pit Excavation and Dewatering
Huan Zhao1, Kaihua Lu2, Guohui Feng3,*, Liwei Zhou1, Minjian Guo4, Yijie Jiang4, Zhi Ding3, Gang Wei3, Xiaozhen Fan3
1 China Power Construction Corporation East China Engineering Consulting & Design Institute Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
2 State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company, Hangzhou, China
3 Department of Civil Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, China
4 Zhejiang Huadong Mapping and Engineering Safety Technology Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, China
* Corresponding Author: Guohui Feng. Email: 
Structural Durability & Health Monitoring https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2026.083256
Received 31 March 2026; Accepted 14 May 2026; Published online 05 August 2026
Abstract
In urban areas, deep and large foundation pits often require dewatering during excavation. This process alters the free displacement field of surrounding soils, potentially causing uneven deformation in adjacent tunnels. To address this issue, the unloading of soil excavation and dewatering around the pit foundation are taken into consideration, which is clearer to actually foundation pit excavation. Firstly, utilizing the Mindlin method and the effective stress principle, the extra stress along the tunnel's axis is detected induced by the excavation and dewatering of foundation pits. Subsequently, the current tunnel is conceptualized as a Timoshenko beam supported by a three-parameter Kerr foundation, which can better take the shear deformation of the tunnel and the continuity of soil deformation into consideration. Finally, a finite difference method is applied to derive the theoretical solution for tunnel-soil interaction. The validity of the proposed model is confirmed through comparison with field monitoring data, and the results of calculation is closed to the actual measurements. Parametric analysis reveals that increasing excavation depth leads to a nonlinear rise in tunnel uplift and bending moment. A higher soil permeability coefficient results in a gradual reduction in tunnel deformation and internal forces. Enhanced tunnel bending stiffness decreases deformation but increases internal forces.
Keywords
Foundation pit excavation and dewatering; adjacent tunnel; Timoshenko beam; three parameters foundation model; finite difference solution
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