Avoiding Damage Caused by Soil-structure Interaction

Book excerpt: Increasing development in the urban environment and supporting infrastructure systems has necessitated a greater use of underground space and sites that were hitherto judges to be not economically viable (e.g. because of difficult ground conditions). This presents many challenges in terms of planning, design and construction as well as the protection of existing buildings. Understanding the complex nature of soil-structure interaction and the resulting ground movements is an integral part of assessing developments involving new construction, for example tunnels and deep excavations.