Given the structural features and engineering geological conditions of north anchorage large cylindrical caisson of Wuhan Parrot Cay Yangtze River bridges

combining with in-situ monitored data of some key points

three dimensional calculation modes of FEM are established with software ADINA to analyze stress and deformation of caisson structures and its adjacent diaphragm wall. The stress distribution and deformation of the structures are studied during the caisson sinking and its bottom sealing. The effects of caisson sinking on adjacent high-rise buildings and bank structures are also analyzed comparatively. The research results show that: the principal stress of diaphragm wall increases with the increasing of sinking depth

and its deformation appears mainly in its top and bottom after the caisson bottom sealing

the tension stress would be higher at its structure cutting edge

the middle of cross wall

the joints of cross wall and inner face of caisson well. The corresponding settlement of adjacent soil around the caisson increases with the increasing of sinking length as well. Settlements of monitored points from calculation agree well with measured data after bottom sealing

and the former is generally less than the latter. The differences between them are from -1.22 mm to -0.88 mm at the key points of adjacent high-rise buildings

and those at the key points near the Yangtze River bank are from -1.27 mm to 0.64 mm. The calculation model will provide a guide for settlement control during the caisson sinking.