This document presents an example to illustrate how to prescribe hydraulic boundary conditions in

modelling deep excavations using Plaxis 2D. In this example, the water table behind the wall is
maintained at 2 metre below ground level (mbgl), and the water table inside the cofferdam is drawn
down to 1 m below the excavation level.

Example for illustration

 Figure 1 shows an example of a deep excavation model (half model). Details of geometry and
water conditions are shown below.

Half-width of
excavation = 10m
GWL 2m below GL
(outside cofferdam)

7m
excavation

GWL 1m below
excavation level
(outside cofferdam)

 Due to difference of water levels inside and outside the cofferdam, water outside the cofferdam
will flow into the cofferdam. The seepage paths are shown in yellow arrows.
 A soil cluster is created for the top two metre of soil behind the wall, and a soil cluster is created
for the top one metre of soil below the excavation level inside cofferdam.

Figure 1: Example of deep excavation model.

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Define hydraulic boundary conditions

 Figure 2 shows the input hydraulic boundary conditions to model the seepage:
1. Fixed head of 2mbgl is defined along the ground water table outside the cofferdam;
2. Fixed head of 2mbgl is defined at the side boundary outside the cofferdam;
3. Fixed head of 8mbgl is defined along the ground water table inside the cofferdam;
4. Closed boundary is defined at the symmetric plane of the half model;
5. Closed boundary is defined at the bottom boundary assumed the stratum below is
impermeable;
6. Retaining wall is modelled with an impermeable interface;
7. Soil above water table must be set to dry. Otherwise, Plaxis programme cannot recognize
the fixed head defined for 1 and 3;
8. Excavated volume is modelled as dry.
 See Appendix for direct input on Plaxis

7. Soil above water table

must be set to DRY.

8. Excavated
volume Fixed head = 2mbgl
modelled as
DRY

6. Retaining
3. Fixed head wall is
= 8mbgl modelled with
IMPERMEABLE
interface

4. Closed
boundary 2. Fixed head
(symmetric = 2mbgl
plane)

5. Closed boundary

Figure 2: Defined hydraulic boundary conditions.

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 Output

 Figure 3 shows a typical output for groundwater head.

Figure 3: Typical groundwater head output.

 Figure 4 shows a typical output for groundwater seepage

Figure 4: Typical groundwater seepage output.

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False output

If soil above water table is NOT set to dry, Plaxis programme cannot recognize the defined fixed heads.
The following false output in Figure 5 is predicted.

Figure 5: False groundwater head output if soil above water table is NOT set to dry.

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Appendix: Plaxis input of hydraulic boundary conditions

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