Ground movements due to pile driving in an excavation in soft soil

An excavation in soft clay for the construction of a deep basement frequently is accompanied by large ground movements that may damage piles preinstalled at the base of the excavation. In a recent project involving the construction of a 10 m wide. 3.7 m deep drain, the construction method adopted entailed excavating the site soils and then driving precast concrete piles. The excavation was supported by steel sheet piles braced by one level of struts. Large settlements and horizontal movements of the ground were observed during pile driving. These movements exceeded those occurring during the excavation phase. Concrete aprons outside a one-story building adjacent to the excavation were badly damaged during excavation and pile driving. However, the building supported on steel piles was undamaged.