Simulation and prediction of Yancheng ground subsidence based on Bio-consolidation theory

Ground subsidence occurred in urban area may cause damage to buildings and infrastructure, affecting the overall stability and safety of the city. This paper established a three-dimensional variable parameter fully-coupled viscoelastic-plastic model of building loads and groundwater mining with ground subsidence in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province based on the theory of Bio-consolidation, introduced the viscoelastic-plastic soil constitutive model, and meanwhile took the nonlinear change of soil parameters with the state of stress into account. The results show that the groundwater level in the study area continually rises under the conditions of construction loading and groundwater extracting, with an overall rebound phenomenon. However, in the centre of the city, where the building loads are high, the amount of ground rebound is small and even slight settlement occurs, and the maximum horizontal displacement produced over 10 years is 15 mm. The results of the study can provide scientific basis for the prevention and mitigation of ground subsidence hazards in Yancheng.