Analysis of the interaction between bolt-reinforced rock and surface support in tunnels based on convergence-confinement method

To investigate the interaction of the bolt-reinforced rock and the surface support,an analytical model of the convergence-confinement type is proposed,considering the sequential installation of the fully grouted rockbolts and the surface support.The rock mass is assumed to be elastic-brittle-plastic material,obeying the linear Mohr-Coulomb criterion or the non-linear Hoek-Brown criterion.According to the strain states of the tunnel wall at bolt and surface support installation and the relative magnitude between the bolt length and the plastic depth during the whole process,six cases are categorized upon solving the problem.Each case is divided into three stages due to the different effects of the active rockbolts and the passive surface support.The fictitious pressure is introduced to quantify the threedimensional(3D)effect of the tunnel face,and thus,the actual physical location along the tunnel axis of the analytical section can be considered.By using the bolt-rock strain compatibility and the rocksurface support displacement compatibility conditions,the solutions of longitudinal tunnel displacement and the reaction pressure of surface support along the tunnel axis are obtained.The proposed analytical solutions are validated by a series of 3D numerical simulations.Extensive parametric studies are conducted to examine the effect of the typical parameters of rockbolts and surface support on the tunnel displacement and the reaction pressure of the surface support under different rock conditions.The results show that the rockbolts are more effective in controlling the tunnel displacement than the surface support,which should be installed as soon as possible with a suitable length.For tunnels excavated in weak rocks or with restricted displacement control requirements,the surface support should also be installed or closed timely with a certain stiffness.The proposed method provides a convenient alternative approach for the optimization of rockbolts and surface support at the preliminary stage of tunnel design.

Control effect and optimization scheme of combined rockboltecable support for a tunnel in horizontally layered limestone:A case study

This study focused on the mechanical behavior of a deep-buried tunnel constructed in horizontally layered limestone,and investigated the effect of a new combined rockboltecable support system on the tunnel response.The Yujingshan Tunnel,excavated through a giant karst cave,was used as a case study.Firstly,a multi-objective optimization model for the rockboltecable support was proposed by using fuzzy mathematics and multi-objective comprehensive decision-making principles.Subsequently,the parameters of the surrounding rock were calibrated by comparing the simulation results obtained by the discrete element method(DEM)with the field monitoring data to obtain an optimized support scheme based on the optimization model.Finally,the optimization scheme was applied to the karst cave section,which was divided into the B-and C-shaped sections.The distribution range of the rockboltecable support in the C-shaped section was larger than that in the B-shaped section.The field monitoring results,including tunnel crown settlement,horizontal convergence,and axial force of the rockboltecable system,were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of the optimization scheme.The maximum crown settlement and horizontal convergence were measured to be 25.9 mm and 35 mm,accounting for 0.1%and 0.2%of the tunnel height and span,respectively.Although the C-shaped section had poorer rock properties than the B-shaped section,the crown settlement and horizontal convergence in the C-shaped section ranged from 46%to 97%of those observed in the B-shaped section.The cable axial force in the Bshaped section was approximately 60%of that in the C-shaped section.The axial force in the crown rockbolt was much smaller than that in the sidewall rockbolt.Field monitoring results demonstrated that the optimized scheme effectively controlled the deformation of the layered surrounding rock,ensuring that it remained within a safe range.These results provide valuable references for the design of support systems in deep-buried tunnels situated in layered rock masses.

Face stability of shield tunnels considering a kinematically admissible velocity field of soil arching

Existing mechanism of simulating soil movement at tunnel face is generally based on the translational or rotational velocity field,which is,to some extent,different from the real soil movement in the arching zone.Numerical simulations are carried out first to investigate the characteristics of the velocity distribution at tunnel face and above tunnel vault.Then a new kinematically admissible velocity field is proposed to improve the description of the soil movement according to the results of the numerical simulation.Based on the proposed velocity field,an improved failure mechanism is constructed adopting the spatial discretization technique,which takes into account soil arching effect and plastic deformation within soil mass.Finally,the critical face pressure and the proposed mechanism are compared with the results of the numerical simulation,existing analytical studies and experimental tests to verify the accuracy and improvement of the presented method.The proposed mechanism can serve as an alternative approach for the face stability analysis.

Analytical modeling of complex contact behavior between rock mass and lining structure

Based on the nondestructive test data of operating railway tunnels in China, this paper summarizes the basic characteristics of the complex contact behavior between the rock mass and lining structure. The contact modes are classified into dense contact, local non-contact, and loose contact. Subsequently, the corresponding mechanical model for each contact mode is developed according to its mechanical characteristics using the complex variable method. In the proposed mechanical model, a special algorithm is introduced to detect whether the local non-contact zone is re-contacted. Besides, a novel conformal mapping method is also proposed to accurately calculate the mechanical response of the concrete lining. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with the finite element method(FEM). Several parameter investigations are conducted to analyze the effects of different contact modes on the rock-lining interaction. The results show that:(i) the height of the local noncontact area does not have a significant effect on the contact stress distribution if no re-contact occurs;(ii) backfill grouting can reduce the local stress concentration caused by poor contact modes;and(iii) reducing the friction coefficient of the interface can lead to a more uniform distribution of internal forces in the concrete lining.

Grouting techniques for the unfavorable geological conditions of Xiang'an subsea tunnel in China

One of the major challenges during subsea tunnel construction is to seal the potential water inflow. Thepaper presents a case study of Xiang＇an subsea tunnel in Xiamen, the first subsea tunnel in China. Duringits construction, different grades of weathered geomaterials were encountered, which was the challengingissue for this project. To deal with these unfavorable geological conditions, grouting was adoptedas an important measure for ground treatment. The grouting mechanism is first illustrated by introducinga typical grouting process. Then the site-specific grouting techniques employed in the Xiang＇ansubsea tunnel are elaborated. By using this ground reinforcement technique, the tunneling safety of theXiang＇an subsea tunnel was guaranteed. 2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution characteristics and the evolution law of excavation damage zone in the large-span transition section of high-speed railway tunnel based on microseismic monitoring

Purpose–The microseismic monitoring technique has great advantages on identifying the location,extent and the mechanism of damage process occurring in rock mass.This study aims to analyze distribution characteristics and the evolution law of excavation damage zone of surrounding rock based on microseismic monitoring data.Design/methodology/approach–In situ test using microseismic monitoring technique is carried out in the large-span transition tunnel of Badaling Great Wall Station of Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway.An intelligent microseismic monitoring system is built with symmetry monitoring point layout both on the mountain surface and inside the tunnel to achieve three-dimensional and all-round monitoring results.Findings–Microseismic events can be divided into high density area,medium density area and low density area according to the density distribution of microseismic events.The positions where the cumulative distribution frequencies of microseismic events are 60 and 80%are identified as the boundaries between high and medium density areas and between medium and low density areas,respectively.The high density area of microseismic events is regarded as the high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock,which is affected by the grade of surrounding rock and the span of tunnel.The prediction formulas for the depth of high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock at different tunnel positions are given considering these two parameters.The scale of the average moment magnitude parameters of microseismic events is adopted to describe the damage degree of surrounding rock.The strong positive correlation and multistage characteristics between the depth of excavation damage zone and deformation of surrounding rock are revealed.Based on the depth of high excavation damage zone of surrounding rock,the prestressed anchor cable(rod)is designed,and the safety of anchor cable(rod)design parameters is verified by the deformation results of surrounding rock.Originality/value–The research provides a new method to predict the surrounding rock damage zone of large-span tunnel and also provides a reference basis for design parameters of prestressed anchor cable(rod).

Shaking table test on a tunnel-group metro station in rock site under harmonic excitation

A tunnel-group metro station built in rock site is composed of a group of tunnels.Different tunnels and their interconnections can show inconsistent responses during an earthquake.This study investigates the dynamic responses of such a metro station in a rock site,by shaking table tests.The lining structures of each tunnel and surrounding rock are modeled based on the similitude law;foam concrete and gypsum are used to model the ground-structure system,keeping relative stiffness consistent with that of the prototype.A series of harmonic waves are employed as excitations,input along the transverse and longitudinal direction of the shaking table.The discrepant responses caused by the structural irregularities are revealed by measurement of acceleration and strain of the model.Site characteristics are identified by the transfer function method in white noise cases.The test results show that the acceleration response and strain response of the structure are controlled by the ground.In particular,the acceleration amplification effect at the opening section of the station hall is more significant than that at the standard section under transverse excitation;the amplification effect of the structural opening is insignificant under longitudinal excitation.

Discontinuous mechanical behaviors of existing shield tunnel with stiffness reduction at longitudinal joints

An analytical model is proposed to estimate the discontinuous mechanical behavior of an existing shield tunnel above a new tunnel. The existing shield tunnel is regarded as a Timoshenko beam with longitudinal joints. The opening and relative dislocation of the longitudinal joints can be calculated using Dirac delta functions. Compared with other approaches, our method yields results that are consistent with centrifugation test data. The effects of the stiffness reduction at the longitudinal joints (α and β), the shearing stiffness of the Timoshenko beam GA, and different additional pressure profiles on the responses of the shield tunnel are investigated. The results indicate that our proposed method is suitable for simulating the discontinuous mechanical behaviors of existing shield tunnels with longitudinal joints. The deformation and internal forces decrease as α, β, and GA increase. The bending moment and shear force are discontinuous despite slight discontinuities in the deflection, opening, and dislocation. The deflection curve is consistent with the additional pressure profile. Extensive opening, dislocation, and internal forces are induced at the location of mutation pressures. In addition, the joints allow rigid structures to behave flexibly in general, as well as allow flexible structures to exhibit locally rigid characteristics. Owing to the discontinuous characteristics, the internal forces and their abrupt changes at vulnerable sections must be monitored to ensure the structural safety of existing shield tunnels.

Long-term mechanical analysis of tunnel structures in rheological rock considering the degradation of primary lining

Rock load on lining structures increases over time for tunnels buried in rheological rock,and in addition deterioration of primary lining is common due to its structural characteristics and service environment attack,where these delayed features affect the mechanical response of tunnels.However,accounting for these delayed features in long-term stability assessment of tunnel structures is complex and has not attracted enough attention.In this paper,an analytical approach is proposed for investigating long-term mechanical response of tunnel structures in rheological rock influenced by degradation of primary lining.For this purpose,degradation of primary lining,char-acterized by decreasing concrete stiffness over time,is quantitatively described by an exponential model.The rheological characteristic of surrounding rock is simulated by the Burgers model.The time-varying solutions for rock deformation and support pressure are obtained by considering the coordinated interaction between surrounding rock and linings,and their correctness is verified by comparing them with numerical results.The results revealed that the pressure imposed on linings due to the rheological behavior of surrounding rock increases over time.As the primary lining degrades,the rheological load is transferred from primary lining to secondary lining,leading to increasing pressure on secondary lining;and a faster degradation rate of primary lining leads to greater pressure on secondary lining.Therefore,the primary lining should not be overlooked in long-term safety assessment of operation tunnels because of its role in bearing and transmitting load.Finally,the tunnel’s design and operational maintenance strategy are discussed when the delay effects of surround-ing rock and lining are taken into account.

Mechanical responses of multi-layered ground due to shallow tunneling with arbitrary ground surface load

An analytical model based on complex variable theory is proposed to investigate ground responses due to shallow tunneling in multi-layered ground with an arbitrary ground surface load.The ground layers are assumed to be linear-elastic with full-stick contact between them.To solve the proposed multi-boundary problem,a series of analytic functions is introduced to accurately express the stresses and displacements contributed by different boundaries.Based on the principle of linear-elastic superposition,the multi-boundary problem is converted into a superposition of multiple single-boundary problems.The conformal mappings of different boundaries are independent of each other,which allows the stress and displacement fields to be obtained by the sum of components from each boundary.The analytical results are validated based on numerical and in situ monitoring results.The present model is superior to the classical model for analyzing ground responses of shallow tunneling in multi-layered ground;thus,it can be used with assurance to estimate the ground movement and surface building safety of shallow tunnel constructions beneath surface buildings.Moreover,the solution for the ground stress distribution can be used to estimate the safety of a single-layer composite ground.

Scientific problems and research proposals for Sichuan–Tibet railway tunnel construction

The Sichuan–Tibet railway construction has received significant attention from both China and abroad.The new section from Ya’an to Nyingchi is about 1018.6 km long,including 69 tunnels with a total length of 841.7 km.The longest tunnel(Yigong tunnel)is 42.4 km long.The successful construction of the Sichuan–Tibet railway depends largely on tunnel construction.Due to the complex conditions,tunnel construction for the Sichuan–Tibet railway poses great challenges to the research community.This paper aims to illustrate the necessity of interdisciplinary and joint research to solve problems associated with tunnel construction that will be encountered in the immediate future and facilitate the communication and exchange of ideas between disciplines.To this end,based on a systematic analysis of the available data related to Sichuan–Tibet railway tunnels,six major aspects of the geology,environment,and engineering conditions are identified.Next,based on the engineering responses from the Sichuan–Tibet railway tunnels,potential technical problems and risk characteristics are predicted and evaluated.Further,six key scientific issues are identified and discussed based on a coupled multi-layer analysis of essential tunnel engineering issues.Finally,research directions,technical ideas,and research methods that should be carried out for this project are proposed.

Theoretical prediction of ground settlements due to shield tunneling in multi-layered soils considering process parameters

This paper conducts a theoretical analysis of ground settlements due to shield tunneling in multi-layered soils which are usually encountered in urban areas.The proposed theoretical solution which is based on the general form of the Mindlin’s solution and Loganathan-Poulos formula can comprehensively consider the in-process tunneling parameters including:unbalanced face pressure,shield-soil friction,unbalanced tail grouting pressure,unbalanced secondary grouting pressure,overloading during tunneling and the ground volume loss.The method is verified by comparing with the field data from the Qinghuayuan Tunnel Project in terms of the ground surface settlements along the longitudinal and transverse direction.Due to the local settlement or heave caused by the certain tunneling parameters,the ground surface settlements calculated using current solution along the longitudinal direction presents an irregular S-shaped curve instead of the traditional S-shaped curve.Results also find that the effect of the unbalanced secondary grouting pressure and the overloading during tunneling cannot be ignored.