VSM（垂直竖井掘进机）工法具有自动化程度高、施工速度快和施工占用场地小等技术优势，是一种适合在建筑密集区间建造竖井的新型工法。然而，VSM沉井施工过程中所受外荷载、沉井结构响应等施工力学行为尚不清晰，为探究VSM沉井井壁在施工过程中的受力和结构响应规律，通过对施工过程中井壁所受外部水土荷载、结构主筋应力和管片环间压力等进行监测,获取VSM沉井井壁所受的荷载作用和结构响应规律。研究结果表明： 1）下沉过程中，竖井所受侧壁压力为膨润土泥浆压力； 2）泥浆套助沉条件下侧壁摩阻力值极小，与膨润土泥浆剪切强度接近； 3）铣挖下沉阶段，管片在内水压作用下有向外扩张的趋势特征； 4）排浆固壁成井阶段，沉井井壁结构的环向、竖向均呈现压紧响应特征。

Vertical shaft sinking machine(VSM) method has many advantages such as high automation degree, fast construction, and less construction field occupation, making it suitable for vertical shaft construction in the denselybuilt area. However, the construction mechanical behaviors such as external loads and caisson structural responses during the construction of VSM caisson are still unclear. The external soil and water loads on the shaft wall, the stress of the main reinforcement of the structure, and the pressure between the segments are monitored during construction to investigate the force and structural response law of the VSM caisson shaft wall, and the load action and structural response law of VSM caisson wall are obtained. The research reveals the following: (1) During the cassion sinking, the shaft wall bears the bentonite slurry pressure. (2) Under the condition of the slurry sleeve sinking, the shaft wall friction resistance value is extremely low, which is close to the shear strength of the bentonite slurry. (3) During milling sinking, the segment expands outward under the action of internal water pressure. (4) During slurry discharge and shaft wall formation, the shaft wall structure shows circumferentially and vertically compressive response. 