Cutting shoe design for open caissons in sand: influence on vertical bearing capacity

Open caisson shafts are a widely adopted solution for range of geotechnical applications. An external ‘cutting shoe’ is common construction feature used to reduce the soil frictional resistance acting on during sinking. This forms an annular void encircling which filled with support fluid maintain excavation stability. The primary aim this paper explore influence cutting shoe geometry resulting vertical bearing in sand. Finite-element limit analysis purpose. Additional parameters considered modelling include roughness face and shoe, radius embedment depth. results show that highly dependent friction angle, illustrated using detailed failure mechanisms. also shown cause significant increase reaction large depths. By way example, recent case study UK, involving 32 m dia. caisson, highlight potential