Abstract: Through a self-made model test box, the soil arch effect and its failure mechanism among the piles of the rowed pile retaining wall in deep excavation support are studied. The experiment is calibrated and verified through the finite element simulation. Based on the assumption of a reasonable arch axis, an analytical model for the soil arch force among piles of the rowed pile retaining wall is established. The results indicate that when the soil arches among piles of the rowed pile retaining wall is damaged, cracks first appear at the bottom of the arch. As the horizontal soil pressure increases, the cracks gradually expand to the top of the arch and connect with the other half of the arch cracks. Finally, the soil among the piles in the direction of the excavation completely separates from the soil in the arch zone. As the spacing among piles increases, the maximum load that the soil arch can withstand decreases. On the premise of being able to form soil arches, the larger the pile spacing, the greater the height of the arrow when the soil arches fail. As the load increases, the height of the soil arch gradually decreases. Under the same load, the larger the pile spacing, the greater the degree of stress deflection of the soil.

Key words: Piles Driving, Deep Excavation, Soil Arching Effect, Failure Mechanism, Finite Element Simulation