Characterization of lateral earth pressure distribution on walls for deep excavation

A method for characterizing earth pressure on deep excavation walls was proposed using the stiffness influence factor (I_F). The aim was to establish more systematic estimation and reduce reliance on conventional empirical methods. Finite element simulations were conducted under varying excavation, wall and support configurations, and soil conditions. Initially, earth pressure was lower than at-rest pressure and increased due to stress reversal following strut installation as excavation progressed. In irregular excavations, pressure and wall deflection near re-entrant corners were minimized due to reinforcement and smaller influence area. Systems with lower stiffness, softer soils, and irregular configurations exhibited higher wall pressures. I_F was used to characterize earth pressure, and a correlation was proposed. SHAP analysis identified soil stiffness as dominant factor, followed by excavation area and wall stiffness. The earth pressure distribution along walls showed bulging pattern, and upper and lower bounds were proposed to reflect contribution of individual influencing factors.