To overcome the problems in design methodologies and construction control measures for the large open caisson, systematic research was conducted on the side friction calculation mode of the large open caisson. Based on the field monitoring data of lateral soil pressure on the side wall of the open caisson for the southern anchorage of the Maanshan Yangtze River Highway Bridge, the statistical result of the side friction under different buried depths of the cutting edge of the open caisson was back-analyzed; and the side friction distribution of the large open caisson was underlined. The analysis results indicate that when the buried depth of the cutting edge is smaller than a certain depth H0, the side friction linearly increases with the increase in the buffed depth. However, as the buffed depth of the cutting edge is larger than H0, the side friction shows a distribution with small at both ends and large in the middle. The top of the distribution can be regarded as a linear curve, while the bottom as a hyperbolic curve. As the buffed depth of cutting edge increases continuously, the peak value of the side friction linearly increases and the location of the peak value gradually moves down. Based on the aforementioned conclusions, a revised calculation mode of the large open caisson is presented. Then, the calculated results are compared with the field monitoring data, which verifies the feasibility of the proposed revised calculation mode.
