The 12th International Conference of

International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG)

1-6 October, 2008
Goa, India

Theoretical and Observed Behavior of ‘Meter Panels’

V. T. Ganpule
M/s. V. T. Ganpule & Associates, Mumbai, India

G. S. Parab
M/s. V. T. Ganpule & Associates, Mumbai, India

V. V. Vaidya
Indian Register of Shipping, Powai, Mumbai, India

Keywords: Meter Panel, Strain Gauges, Instrumentations, Bending Moment, Basement.

ABSTRACT: The growing need of basement construction to accommodate car parking, storage and services in
the metropolitan city of Mumbai has led to a development of a new technique called as meter panel. The
proximity of the surrounding building and crowded neighborhoods prevents construction of inclined anchors so
very necessary for the stability of diaphragm walls which were earlier deployed to construct the basements. With
effect the use of diaphragm wall has become redundant. The introduction to the concept of ‘meter panels’ which
are designed as cantilever sheet piles anchored in the sub-stratum adequately to develop the necessary passive
reaction and couple provided engineering solution to an otherwise intricate problem. The paper presents the
details of construction methodology and design principles of meter panel. In view of the new methodology, it was
decided to instrument the meter panels with strain gauges placed at number of selected points of interest from
point of view of stress behavior and compare them with the theoretical values of bending moment. The
comparative study of the observed readings and the results of theoretical analysis are presented in this paper.
The study helps to understand and clarify the design methodology of earth pressures.

1 Introduction

Limited space and high demand have made the land in cities like Mumbai Delhi etc. very expensive. For last few
years the number of tall structures is on increase and consequently requirement for parking space has grown up
enormously. Tall buildings are built to optimize the ratio of floor area to land area. The planners in metropolitan
cities are therefore compelled to provide car parking facilities in the form of double basements.

The other problem faced by the metropolitan city is traffic jam due to construction of subway, guide wall on nallah
and retaining wall, where deep excavations are involved. For these deep excavations the soil retaining structures
such as retaining wall, diaphragm wall, circular touching piles and meter panel are used.

These structures are designed on basis of earth pressure distribution given by varies available theories. Many a
times the structures are idealized by making suitable assumptions, so that it can be analyzed by available
method of analysis. The stresses obtained at various locations from such analysis may not represent the actual
stresses developed. In such case the experimental analysis on model or prototype are carried out. Such work
may provide the valuable information which can lead to a rational design.

2 Meter Panel Wall

The meter panel wall comprises of rectangular piles with a capping beam at top. The panel comprises of cast in
situ reinforced concrete section of one meter long having the width as per design requirement. The width of panel
happens to be depth of cantilever and is a function of excavation depth and soil properties of retained earth. The
meter panel wall derives its support from the passive reaction offered by formation below excavation level and
the resistive counter balancing couple developed on going further deep.

2.1 The forces on meter panel wall are

2.1.1 The active earth pressure from back of wall which tries to push wall away or towards the excavated side.

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2.1.2 The passive pressure generated below dredge line which resists the movement of wall and the resistive
couple.

2.2 The following steps are used for design of meter panel wall.
2.2.1 The active earth pressure from ground level to excavation level is calculated using conventional earth
pressure theories (Coulomb’s & Rankine’s earth pressure theory).
2.2.2 Taking moment about passive force P2 (∑M@P2 = 0) to evaluate force P1.
2.2.3 The passive force P2 is worked out by ∑fx = 0.
2.2.4 The passive pressure for depth x1 and x2 is worked out as Q1 and Q2. The pressures Q1 and Q2 should
be greater than P1 and P2 respectively.
2.2.5 The meter panel section is designed for bending moment along the depth.

3 Instrumentation And Data Collection

In arranging instrumentation of a meter panel, several aspects must be considered. The use of instrumentation is
a complex process. Right from selection of appropriate tool for gathering the data as an even a small mistake
leads to failure of investigation program.

In these studies, the focus is on measurement of bending strains along the depth of laterally loaded cast in situ
retaining element such as meter panel and circular touching piles using electrical resistance strain gauge circuits
and strain recording instrument.

The rationale of obtaining and processing monitoring data is dual. First provides immediate feedback and
confidence to designer to confirm that the works are being built safely. Secondly, the field data can assemble into
comprehensive field record, which shall enable to check the validity of model. The analysis may help to define
and improve understanding, for a safe and economical design.

3.1 Procedure of Instrumented Plate:

3.1.1 The surface at which gauges have to be placed is cleaned using suitable emery paper until the surface
appears glossy.

3.1.2 Then it is cleaned with acetone to remove the rust and grease, if any, until the cotton shows no trace of
dust.

3.1.3 The strain gauge is placed over cleaned surface using cello tape. It is lifted and transferred on the
marked location. Sketch on the basis of stress behaviour.

3.1.4 The gauge is gently lifted at an angle of 45°and adhesive is applied on back of the gauge and pressure
is applied with thumb or soft rubber to avoid entrapping of air.

3.1.5 The adhesive is applied on bottom of soldering tab and then soldering tabs are placed.

3.1.6 The same procedure is repeated for installing other three gauges

3.1.7 Connections are made using red, black, yellow , and green wires as shown in figure.

3.1.8 Then a layer of enamel is applied on the gages then butyl rubber (SB tape) is put on the gages in two or
three layers without causing any damage to the strain gauges.

3.1.9 Finally one coat of V.M. tape is applied on the strain gage station in order to make the strain gage
station moisture and water resistant.

The diagrammatic representation of strain gauge installation over the plate on front and back side of the mild
steel plate is presented in the figure 1. The plates are placed along the length of pile as shown in figure 2. Each
station consisted of four strain gages on geometrically opposite face of the M.S. strip. A full Wheatstone bridge
circuit was formed at each station. Lead wires from the terminal were taken out to carry the signals to strain
indicator unit. The strip was placed in the meter panel as shown in Figure 2.

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 4 cord shielded
cable for strain
measurement

25 cm 5 mm φ drill hole

50 cm

Electrical-resistance
strain gauges of 120
Ω resistances

65 mm
M. S. Plat from Front Side M. S. Plat From back Side

Figure 1 Strain Gauge Installations on Steel Plate

The strain gage station was connected to the digital strain indicator through 10 channel balancing unit. This strain
indicator unit is capable of measuring strain before excavation and after excavation. The difference between
initial reading and reading at various excavation stages reflects strain induced along the length in the pile for that
excavation.

4 Instrumented Walls Case Study

The instrumented panel site was located at near Juhu J.V.P.D. The length of meter panel wall at project site was
approximately 200 m in length and the panel located in the middle was selected for instrumentation. The
instrumented meter panel wall section has an exposed height of 6 meter with a socketing depth of 3 meter.

The steel plates containing electrical resistance stain gauges have been welded to main reinforcement cage. The
instrumented cage is lowered and then tremie concreting is done. The wires left on top provide the access for
reading strain gauges.

The following diagram represents the earth pressure distribution from above soil properties. The principle of
cantilever sheet pile wall is use in calculation of socketing depth.

The soil profile with properties is given below.

The in situ soil has clay layer of 4 meter thickness with φ=15, c= 0.85 t/m and γ = 1.2 t/m . The clay layer is
2 3

followed by highly weathered formation called murrum in local terms having c=20 t/m , φ=20 and γ = 1.2 t/m .
2 3

From 6 meter depth weathered rocky formation c=30 t/m , φ=20 and γ = 2.4 t/m . The water table is located at
2 3

ground level.

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 4 chord cable from each strain
Strain Indicator
gauge station

E.R. Strain Gauge Station on

Soil strata 1(0-4 m) M.S. plate along the length of
pile
φ=15, c= 0.85 t/m2 Common conduit for 4
and γ = 1.2 t/m3. chord cables of each strain
gauge station
Total Excavation

Steel reinforcement
cage
Soil strata 2 (4-6m)
c=20 t/m2, φ=20
and γ = 1.2 t/m3

Soft Rock
Socket Depth

Figure 2 Layout out of Strain Gauge Instrumentation of Meter Panel

0.00m 0.18 t/m2 G.L.

2.648 m P3 =22.36 t

2
4.00 m 11 t/m

Excavation level
Q2 = 47.63<2C 6.00 m

P2 = 85.74t 6.90m

7.80 m Q1 = 52.82< 2C

8.40m P1=63.37t

9.00 m
Fig 3 Earth Pressure Diagram (Theorotical)

The Reinforcement Details for meter panel are as follows

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32 mm Φ 10 nos on tension side.
25 mm Φ 5 nos on compression side.
8 mm φ - 4-legged stirrups @ 180 c-c
Excavation side

25 Φ 5 nos

8φ 180 c-c
Stirrups

Instrumented
32 Φ 10 nos
Plate

Filled Side

Fig 4 Instrumented Meter Panel Cross section

A requirement of satisfactory design and execution of meter panel construction is that the performance of wall
should be monitored during construction to ensure that it is performing in the predicted manner, particularly in
reference to bending moment in the wall. The calculations for lever arm are shown below

4.1 Determination of depth of Neutral Axis

0.36 × 25 × 1000 × 0.3 × 425

For ku = 0.3 Ast1 = = 3178.23
0.87 × 415

Ast − Asc = 8042.48 − 2454.37 = 5588.11mm 2

5588.11
k u = 0.3 × = 0.5274 > ( K u max = 0.48)
3178.23

Thus assume K u = K u max = 0.48

⎛ 75 ⎞
ε sc = 0.0035⎜1 − ⎟ = 0.00221
⎝ 0.48 × 425 ⎠

Thus fsc = 335.63 N/mm2

0.87 f y Ast − f sc Asc

x=
0.36 f ck b

x = 231mm > xu max i.e.204mm

0.36 f ck bx u × 0.42 x u + f sc Asc d c

x=
0.36 f ck bx u + f sc Asc

0.36 × 25 × 1000 × 231 × 0.42 × 231 + 335.632 × 2454.37 × 75

x= = 90.77mm
0.36 × 25 × 1000 × 231 + 335.63 × 2454.37
∴Lever Arm = d – x = 425 – 90.77 = 334.23 mm

The theoretical bending moment and observed bending moment along the depth is tabulated under.

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Table 1 Theoretical and Observed readings
Location of Strain Area of Esteel Lever arm Observed Bending Calculated
2
Strain induced at Steel (N/mm ) (mm) Moment ( t-m) = εPlate B.M. in t-m
2
Gauge steel level (mm ) x Ast x Esteel x Lever
from G.L. (μm/m) x Ast arm x 0.1
-6
in m 10
εPlate
0 0 8042.5 2 X 105 334.23 0 0
3 175 8042.5 2 X 105 334.23 9.408 12.9825
5
5 705 8042.5 2 X 10 334.23 37.9013 52.6533
5
6 1120 8042.5 2 X 10 334.23 60.2121 75.0134
7 988 8042.5 2 X 105 334.23 53.1156 73.4853
5
8 283 8042.5 2 X 10 334.23 15.2143 26.407
5
9 0 8042.5 2 X 10 334.23 0 0

0 0
0 50 100 0 50 100

-1 -1

-2 -2

-3 -3

-4 -4

-5 -5

-6 -6

-7 -7

-8 -8

-9 -9

-10 - 10

B e nd i ng M o ment i n t m B e nd i ng M o me nt i n t m

Theoretical Bending Moment Instrumented Bending Moment

Fig 5 Comparison of Bending Moment

5 Applications in practice
The instrumentation with help of strain gauges provides useful information about behavior of retaining element
after excavation. The lateral soil pressure exert on the wall tend to cause rigid body rotation of a cantilever panel.

Meter panel
Meter panel

Rotation Plastic
Failure Hinge
Failure

A) ROTATION BODILY NO STRAINS B) SHEAR STRAINS ARE NOTED AT

ARE NOTED INTERFACE
Fig 6 Modes of Failure

This type of failure is shown in figure 6A. In this case if panel are not socketed properly and the element will
rotate bodily and no strains are noted on strain gauges. Where as the figure 6 B) shows the failure due to
overstressing of panel. In this type of failure the plastic hinge is formed at fixity (i.e. at the section of maximum
bending moment). This type of failure occurs due to inadequate design of panel. The instrumentation to enabling
element like meter panel may help in such scenario to prevent failures.

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6 Conclusions:-

On the basis of field measurements, conclusions were drawn on the flexural behavior of the cast-in-situ concrete
cantilever meter panel wall as well as versatility of the electrical- resistance strain gages for monitoring the
bending strains in these structures. Conclusions regarding the flexural behavior of Meter Panel Wall and use of
electrical –resistance strain gages for monitoring bending strains are as follows.

1. Observed bending moment through instrumentation in these supporting structures due to excavation is
matching with the theoretical bending moment profile.

2. The experimental bending moments and theoretical bending moments along the depth of the pile wall
matches reasonably with each other with variation of approx. 25 % to 40 % ( theoretical bending
moment is more )

3. Difference in experimental and theoretical bending moment magnitude is due to variation in soil
properties, inconsistent laboratory results of soil samples, change in ground water table etc. Moreover
the soil properties of retained earth are really required but the trial bores in that portion could not be
taken being located in other man’s property.

4. Magnitude of experimental bending moments as measured by strain gauges is than the theoretical
bending moments. This change may be because conservative assessment cohesion value compared to
‘C’ value than authentic value, while evaluating earth pressure thereby increasing the magnitude of
lateral earth pressure and consequently theoretical bending moments.

5. Electrical resistance strain gages each of 120 Ω resistance with full Wheatstone bridge circuit have
proved to be effective in monitoring bending strains in cast-in-situ concrete meter panel wall.

6. The field data from electrical –resistance strain gage instrumentation program was consistent
throughout the project work and hence these strain gages can be implemented in any important
structure to measure the bending strains in order to evaluate structural behavior and adequacy of the
designed section. With the proper precautions as explained in methodology

7. For determination of true neutral axis of the designed section for suture projects it is strongly
recommended that both steel faces should be instrumented, rather than just the tensile face.

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