Numerical simulation method and application for the entire dynamic sinking process of a deep-water super-large caisson foundation
DONG Xuechao1, 2, LU Zheng1, 2, ZHENG Qinggang3, JIANG Fan4, LI Jiahang1, 2, GUO Mingwei1, 2*
(1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; 2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; 3. China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430050, China; 4. China Railway Bridge & Tunnel Technologies Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210061, China)
Abstract：Deep-water super-large caisson foundations have been extensively utilized in cross-river and cross-sea bridge engineering. The sinking process entails the coupled interaction of significant soil deformation and structural dynamic response, making accurate simulation throughout the entire construction sequence challenging using traditional numerical methods. This paper presents a numerical simulation approach for the complete dynamic sinking process of deep-water super-large caissons, employing the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method. A unified model was developed to simulate the entire process, encompassing controlled touchdown, segment addition construction, and sinking through soil excavation. A user-modified Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model was proposed to characterize the distinct mechanical behavior of soil under excavation disturbance (fluid-like response) and structural compaction (solid-like response). The method was validated with the multi-dredging-well stepped-type caisson of the main pier of the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge as a case study. Results indicate that the model accurately reproduced the trajectory of changes in the caisson bottom elevation, with an average relative error of only 2.1% (1.0% error in the final sinking stage) between calculated and measured values, and a coefficient of determination reaching 0.993. This study revealed for the first time the dynamic coupling mechanisms of local soil upheaval induced by cutting edge penetration, the soil backflow phenomenon caused by air-lift soil excavation, and the re-accumulation of migrated soil. The overall kinetic energy to internal energy ratio of the model remained below 1%, confirming the quasi-static nature of the caisson-soil system during the construction process. The friction coefficient between the caisson sidewall and the soil was found to be negatively correlated with settlement, though parameter sensitivity was low. This method provides a crucial basis for ensuring construction safety in caissons subjected to complex soil-structure interactions.
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2026, Vol. 45 
