Assessing the deformation response of double-track overlapped tunnels using numerical simulation and field monitoring

The unprecedented rate of metro construction has led to a highly complex network of metro lines.Tunnels are being overlapped to an ever-increasing degree.This paper investigates the deformation response of double-track overlapped tunnels in Tianjin,China using finite element analysis(FEA)and field monitoring,considering the attributes of different tunneling forms.With respect to the upper tunneling,the results of the FEA and field monitoring showed that the maximum vertical displacements of the ground surface during the tail passage were 2.06 mm,2.25 mm and 2.39 mm obtained by the FEA,field monitoring and Peck calculation,respectively;the heaves on the vertical displacement curve were observed at 8 m(1.25D,where D is the diameter of the tunnel)away from the center of the tunnel and the curve at both sides was asymmetrical.Furthermore,the crown and bottom produce approximately0.38 mm and 1.26 mm of contraction,respectively.The results of the FEA of the upper and lower sections demonstrated that the tunneling form has an obvious influence on the deformation response of the double-track overlapped tunnel.Compared with the upper tunneling,the lower tunneling exerted significantly less influence on the deformation response,which manifested as a smaller displacement of the strata and deformation of the existing tunnel.The results of this study on overlapped tunnels can provide a reference for similar projects in the future.

Numerical analysis and field monitoring tests on shallow tunnels under weak surrounding rock

The Jianpudong No. 4 tunnel is a shallow tunnel, which belongs to Shaoshan County scenic highway in Hunan province, China and whose surrounding rock is weak. According to its characteristics, the field monitoring tests and numerical analysis were done. The mechanical characteristics of shallow tunnels under weak surrounding rock and the stress-strain rule of surrounding rock and support were analyzed. The numerical analysis results show that the settlement caused by upper bench excavating accounts for 44% of the total settlement, and the settlement caused by tunnel upper bench supporting accounts for 56% of the total settlement. The maximum axial force of shotcrete lining is 177.2 k N, which locates in hance under the secondary lining. The maximum moment of shotcrete lining is 5.08 k N·m, which locates in the arch foot. The stress curve of steel arch has three obvious stages during the tunnel construction. The maximum axial force of steel arch is 297.4 k N, which locates in tunnel vault. The axial forces of steel arch are respectively 23.5 k N and-21.8 k N, which is influenced by eccentric compression of shallow tunnel and locates in hance. The results show that there is larger earth pressure in tunnel vault which is most unfavorable position of steel arch. Therefore, the advance support should be strengthened in tunnel vault during construction process.

Analytical approach and field monitoring for mechanical behaviors of pipe roof reinforcement

Considering the delay effect of initial lining and revising the Winkler elastic foundation model,an analytical approach based on Pasternak elastic foundation beam theory for pipe roof reinforcement was put forward. With the example of a certain tunnel excavation,the comparison of the values of longitudinal strain of reinforcing pipe between field monitoring and analytical approach was made. The results indicate that Pasternak model,which considers a more realistic hypothesis in the elastic soil than Winkler model,gives more accurate calculation and agrees better with the result of field monitoring. The difference of calculation results between these two models is about 7%,and Pasternak model is proved to be a better way to study the reinforcement mechanism and improve design practice. The calculation results also reveal that the reinforcing pipes act as levers,which increases longitudinal load transfer to an unexcavated area,and consequently decreases deformation and increases face stability.

Field monitoring of railroad embankment vibration responses in seasonally frozen regions

To investigate the vibration characteristics of a railway subgrade in different seasons, three field experiments were carried out in the seasonally frozen Daqing area of China during spring, smnmer, and winter. The vibration characteristics and attenuation rates of the subgrade induced by passing trains were investigated, and the influences of the season, train speed, train type, train load, and number of train compartments are described in this paper. The results show that： （1） near the rail track the vibration in the vertical direction was more significant than in the lateral and longitudinal directions, and as the distance from the railway track increased, the acceleration amplitudes and the attenuation rates all decreased in all three directions; （2） the acceleration amplitudes and at- tenuation rates decreased in the three different study seasons as the distance from the railway track increased, and the attenuation rates in the freezing period were the largest; and （3） the acceleration amplitude induced by a freight train was greater than that by a passenger train, and the subgrade vibration increased with increasing passenger train speeds when the number of train compart- ments was similar. These results have great significance for enhanced understanding of the characteristics of wain-induced vibra- tion embankment response in seasonally frozen regions, and provide essential field monitoring data on train-induced vibrations in order to improve the performance criteria of railroading in seasonally frozen regions.

Field monitoring of differential frost heave in widened highway subgrade

In cold regions,the widened subgrade could produce uneven frost heave that is detrimental to the pavement.This study investigates the differential frost heave characteristics in a widened subgrade.The field monitoring system mainly consists of temperature,moisture,and displacement sensors and distributed optical fiber cables for strain measurement.The monitoring results show that the cooling period in the subgrade is longer than the warming period.Water content in the subgrade changes significantly within 0−2 m below the subgrade surface but stabilizes within 2−5 m.The maximum frost heave occurs from February to March.In comparison,the existing subgrade has a longer freezing period and larger heave value,caused by the higher density and water content inside.Water in the existing subgrade migrates into the new one after widening,leading to frost heave reduction in the existing subgrade.Simultaneously,the traffic loads result in the consolidation of the new subgrade,thus reducing the heave value in the second year.In the third year,the water supply from the existing subgrade facilitates the frost heave in the new subgrade.The tensile strain distributions obtained by the distributed optical fiber cables show that the maximum differential frost heave occurs at the joint between the existing and new subgrades.The differential frost heave gradually stabilizes after three years.Finally,an improved frost heave prediction model is developed based on the segregation potential concept and monitoring results.

Numerical Simulation and Field Monitoring Analysis for Deep Foundation Pit Construction of Subway Station

To investigate the effect of deep foundation pit excavation on the stability of retaining structure, a subway stationin the city of Jinan was selected as a project, and a FLAC3D-based three dimensional model was developed fornumerical simulation. The horizontal displacement of the retaining structure, the axial force of the support, andthe vertical displacement of the column were studied and compared to the collected data from the field. The findingsindicate that when the foundation pit is excavated, the maximum deformation of the retaining structure progressivelydecreases from the top, the distortion of the retaining structure gradually rises, and the final maximumdeformation is around 17 meters deep. In each layer of support, the largest axial force support is located in thefirst reinforced concrete support;the uplift of the pit bottom caused by soil unloading plays a primary role in thevertical displacement of the column, and the column exhibits an upward trend under all construction conditions.When compared to the measured data, the generated findings are comparable and the fluctuation trend is extremelyconsistent. The findings of this article may give technical direction for the development of subway stationswith a comparable engineering basis.

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.

Proposal of a Method to Easily Understand Rainfall Infiltration in Railway Embankments

Slope failures due to heavy or prolonged rain have been occurring frequently in Japan in recent years.In railway embankments,even small-scale surface collapse can result in track deformation.Currently,train operation during rainy periods is regulated according to empirical rules based on rainfall and disaster history.However,the validity of operation regulations is lacking because the rainfall infiltration circumstances inside the slope are unknown.We have been attempting to understand rainfall infiltration in railway embankments by applying a method of predicting surface collapse from observations of volumetric water content in the soil.We used previous field monitoring and model experiments to propose a method for easily understanding the state of rainfall infiltration in the surface layer of an embankment using the relative history of volumetric water content at different depths.In this study,we applied this simple determination method to railway embankments with different topography and geological environments to demonstrate the versatility of the method.

Deformation mechanism and collapse treatment of the rock surrounding a shallow tunnel based on on-site monitoring

When tunnels are constructed at shallow depths in areas with poor geological conditions,such as portal sections,valleys and hillsides in regions with granitic bedrock,considerable excavation-induced deformation of the surrounding rock may occur,potentially resulting in tunnel collapses.The main reason for these problems is the lack of understanding of the deformation mechanism and evolution of the soft granitic rock surrounding the tunnel and the adoption of inappropriate construction technology and methods.This article analyzes the deformation mechanism of the rock surrounding a shallow tunnel based on in situ monitoring data as a case study and suggests that certain measures should be taken to effectively control the deformation of the surrounding rock and to minimize the potential for tunnel collapse.The results show that the deformation of the granitic soil surrounding the tunnel can be divided into three stages:the rapid deformation stage,the slow deformation stage and the stabilization stage.Appropriate construction methods should be carefully selected to ensure safety during tunnel excavation in the first stage.To avoid secondary disasters caused by tunnel collapses,three treatment measures may be implemented as part of safety management:enhancing the monitoring of the surrounding rock deformation,adjusting the construction methods and optimizing the support systems.In particular,accurate monitoring data and timely information feedback play a vital role in tunnel construction.Therefore,engineers with considerable engineering experience and professional knowledge are needed to analyze the monitoring data and make accurate predictions of tunnel deformation to ensure that reasonable measures are taken in the process of shallow tunnel excavation.

Field observations of debris-flow initiation processes on sediment deposits in a previous deep-seated landslide site

Although information regarding the initiation processes of debris flows is important for the development of mitigation measures,field data regarding these processes are scarce.We conducted field observations of debris-flow initiation processes in the upper Ichinosawa catchment of the Ohya landslide,central Japan.On 19 June 2012,our videocamera monitoring systems recorded the moment of debris-flow initiation on channel deposits(nine surges) and talus slopes(eight surges).The initiation mechanisms of these surges were classified into three types by analyzing the video images: erosion by the surface flow,movement of deposits as a mass,and upward development of the fluid area.The first type was associated with the progress of surface flow from the upper stream on unsaturated channel deposits.The second type was likely caused by an increase in the pore water pressure associated with the rising in the groundwater level in channel deposits;a continuous water supply from the upper stream by the surface flow might have induced this saturation.The third type was associated with changes in the downstream topography caused by erosion.The flow velocity of most surges was less than 3 m s^(-1) and they usually stopped within 100 m from the initiation point.Surges with abundant pore fluid had a higher flow velocity(about 3- 5 m s^(-1)) and could travel for alonger duration.Our observations indicate that the surface flow plays an important role in the initiation of debris flows on channel deposits and talus slopes.

Structural Stress Monitoring and FEM Analysis of the Cutting Operation of the Main Bracket of A Semi-Submersible Platform

For a semi-submersible platform in repair, the eight old main brackets which connect columns with pontoons need to be replaced by new ones. In order to ensure the safety of the cutting operation of the old main bracket and calculate the initial stress condition of new main bracket, the structural stress monitoring of eight key spots is carried out, and then the calibrated finite element model is established according to the field monitoring results. Before cutting the main bracket and all associated structures, eight rectangular rosettes were installed, and a tailored cutting scheme was proposed to release the initial stress, in which the main bracket and associated column and pontoon plates were partly cut. During the cutting procedure, the strains of the monitoring spots were measured, and then the structural stress of the monitored spots were obtained. The stress variation characteristics at different spots during the initial cutting operation were shown and the initial stress condition of the monitored spots was figured out. The loading and support conditions of the semi-submersible platform were calibrated based on the measured initial stress condition, which made the finite element model more credible. The stress condition with the main bracket and associated structures being entirely cut out is analyzed by the Finite Element Method (FEM), which demonstrates the cutting operation to be safe and feasible. In addition, the calibrated finite element model can be used to calculate the initial stress condition of the new main bracket, which will be very helpful for the long-term stress monitoring on the main bracket.

Lateral abutment pressure distribution and evolution in wide pillars under the first mining effect

The wide pillars are generally popular due to the high productivity and efficiency in Northwest China.The distribution of lateral abutment pressure in coal pillars is important for mining safety.To reveal the effect of the first mining on the lateral abutment pressure distribution and evolution in wide pillars,an in-situ experiment,theoretical analysis and numerical simulation were performed.First,the field monitoring of lateral abutment pressure was conducted from the perspective of time and space in the Chahasu Coal Mine,Huangling No.2 Coal Mine and Lingdong Coal Mine during the first mining.Based on the field monitoring stress,a theoretical model was proposed to reveal the lateral abutment pressure distribution.The methodology was demonstrated through a case study.Aiming at the distribution mechanism,a numerical experiment was conducted through the finite-discrete element method(FDEM).Last,field observations of borehole fractures were performed to further study the damage distribution.In addition,two types of lateral abutment pressure evolution with mining advance were discussed.Suggestions on the stress monitoring layout were proposed as well.The results could provide foundations for strata control and disaster prevention in wide pillars in underground coal mines.

Effects of solar radiation and fine roots on suction of Amorpha fruticose-vegetated soil

The thickness of shallow landslides is generally less than 2 m,which is of the same order of magnitude as the growth range of vegetation roots.Vegetation roots can improve the stability of shallow soil through mechanical and hydraulic effects.Therefore,the landslide process is closely related to the plant roots growing on the slope surface.Plant roots play a dominant role in the regulation of soil suction through solar radiation induced transpiration.However,little is known about the correlation between cumulative solar radiation and soil suction.Moreover,the specific effects of fine roots on the suction distribution are not clear in most previous studies.In this study,a vegetated soil of a drought-tolerant and water-tolerant shrub,namely Amorpha fruticose,was adopted.The suction and volumetric water content of bare and vegetated soils were monitored under natural conditions for 4 months.The results demonstrate that there is a nearly linear relationship between cumulative solar radiation and suction ranging from zero to 100 kPa.Regarding the modeling of the soil-plant-atmosphere interactions,this relationship could serve a significant role in calculating the root water uptake under given solar radiation conditions.In addition,higher suctions were observed at the lower layer of the vegetated soil than those at the middle layer,which is different from the results of vegetated soil from previous investigations.This is due to the fact that the root area index(RAI)of fine roots at the lower layer is twice that of the middle layer.Importantly,the higher concentration of fine roots at the lower layer of vegetated soil sample resembles the root distribution of shrub near the soil-bedrock interface on shallow bedrock landslides.The fine roots would increase soil suction through transpiration,and hence reduce the permeability and increase shear strength of landslides.Eventually,these new findings serve as a preliminary step on the evaluation of the stability of this common type of landslides.

Deformation Characteristics of Loess Landslide along the Contact between Loess and Neocene Red Mudstone

The loess landslide along the contact between loess and Neogene red mudstone (NRM) is one of those that have occurred extensively and frequently in loess areas of China. To better understand the mechanism of this type of landslides, a distressed loess slope being subjected to deformation along the loess-NRM contact was comprehensively investigated through approaches of field monitoring and laboratory physical modeling. Field observation and physical modeling shows that the slope deformation will experience two distinct processes: 1) laterally retrogressive and vertically progressive propagation, which was initiated by falling of the slope head; and 2) retrogressively separate mass sliding along the weak basal zone of the loess-NRM contact with minor sliding along the paleosols within the loess. Shear failure of the loess-NRM contact may initiate in the middle section, followed by a progressive propagation towards the slope toe and inner slope. Analysis reveals that the deformation characteristics of the distressed slope are largely constrained by slope topography, the unique structure, physical and mechanical properties of loess and paleosols, and occurrence and nature of the loess-NRM contact. Rainfall has significantly influence on the deformation characteristics of the slope through its interaction with the loess and soil of the loess-NRM contact. Additionally, improper style and intensity of cutting on the slope greatly enhance and accelerate the deformation course of the slope.

Discovery of a wild,genetically pure Chinese giant salamander creates new conservation opportunities

Effective conservation of threatened biota relies on accurate assessments and scientific guidance.As an unfortunate example,Chinese giant salamanders(Andrias,CGS)remain critically endangered in nature.Misguided conservation efforts,e.g.,commercial propagation and releasing of millions of likely non-indigenous or interspecific hybrids,have further compromised conservation initiatives.Limited information on wild populations of CGS poses a significant conservation challenge.Following 18-month long field monitoring,we now report the discovery of a wild population of CGS in a closed nature reserve in Jiangxi Province,China.Genomic assessments reveal its genetic distinctiveness and do not detect genetic admixture with other species.Based on morphological and molecular evidences,we describe this CGS as a new species Andrias jiangxiensis sp.nov.This is the only known species of CGS today with a genetically pure,reproducing,in situ population.This discovery emphasizes the important role that closed nature reserves play in protecting species,and the necessity of integrating long-term field monitoring and genetic assessments.It sets a new pathway for discovering and conserving endangered species,especially for those biotas that are similarly being extirpated by anthropogenic translocations and overexploitation.

A modified soil water content measurement technique using actively heated fiber optic sensor

Soil water content measurement is critical in practical engineering.The actively heated fiber Bragg grating optic sensor(FBGS)has great potential of multi-point measurement for soil water content measurement in field.In this study,the effect of heating time on the measurement accuracy is discussed,and modifications are made for actively heated fiber optic(AHFO)sensors.The results demonstrate that if an integration data analysis method is used,the accuracy and reliability of soil water content measurement with AHFO sensors will be improved.Both a short fiber length and a short-term heating pattern are effective and can help to reduce soil disturbance.With the proposed integration method,a short heating time is guaranteed for measuring the soil water content.Such improvements will reduce the thermal disturbance to soil sample and improve the reliability of measurement.

Instability energy mechanism of super-large section crossing chambers in deep coal mines

The stress concentration and failure at chamber intersections in coal mine are intense,especially in deepburied,super-large section conditions.In this paper,the plastic radius of super-large section chamber under unequal pressure was corrected on the basis of the size effect.Then,stress and failure evolution of intersections under different crossing angles and equivalent angular bisectors were revealed.Furthermore,2 trajectory curves of failure and stress were analytically expressed,which divided the intersection into 5 influencing zones in the light of stress superposition degree.After determining instability trigger point and instability path,instability energy criterion of intersection can be obtained as K>1,which means that the external energy is greater than the sum of energy consumed by surrounding rock instability and supporting structure failure.Taking coal-gangue separation system of Longgu Coal Mine as example,it was found that there was instability risk under original parameters.For long-term stability,an optimization design method was proposed by considering safety factor,and optimal support scheme was obtained.Field monitoring showed intersections deformations were relatively small with the maximum of 125 mm,which verified the rationality of theoretical analysis.This study provides guidance for the stability control of the intersections under the same or similar conditions.

Soil-atmosphere interaction in earth structures

The soil-atmosphere interaction was investigated through laboratory testing,field monitoring and numerical monitoring.In the laboratory,the soil water evaporation mechanisms were studied using an environmental chamber equipped with a large number of sensors for controlling both the air parameters and soil parameters.Both sand and clay were considered.In case of sand,a dry layer could be formed during evaporation in the near surface zone where the suction corresponded to the residual volumetric water content.The evaporative surface was situated at a depth where the soil temperature was the lowest.In case of clay,soil cracking occurred,changing the evaporative surface from one-dimensional to three-dimensional nature.The suctionbased evaporation model was adapted to take these phenomena into account by adopting a function of dry layer evolution in the case of sand and by adopting a surface crack ratio and a retative humidity ratio in the case of clay.In the field,the volumetric water content,and the suction as well as the runoff were monitored for an embankment constructed with lime/cement treated soils.It appeared that using precipitation data only did not allow a correct description of the variations of volumetric water content and suction inside the soils,the consideration of water evaporation being essential.It was possible to use a correlation between precipiration and runoff.The hydraulic conductivity was found to be a key parameter controlling the variations of volumetric water content and suction.For the numerical modelling,a fully coupled thermohydraulic model was developed,allowing analyzing the changes in temperature,volumetric water content and suction of soil,with the upper boundary conditions at the interface between soil and atmosphere determined using meteorological data.Comparison between simulations and measurements showed the performance of such numerical approach.

Comparative evaluation of concrete sand-control fences used for railway protection in strong wind areas

Concrete-plate fences have been widely adopted for windblown sand control and mitigation along railways.However,the inclination angles of inserting the concrete plate with respect to the vertical direction,i.e.,straight or obliquely inserted concrete plates(SIP or OIP),significantly influence the efficiency of sand-control.This study performs a comparative evaluation of the SIP and OIP sand-control fences using wind tunnel testing and field monitoring data collected from the Lanzhou–Wulumuqi High-Speed Railway Project.The results show that the fence’s ability to reduce the wind speed and the sand-retaining efficiency gradually weakens with the increasing wind speed.Compared with the SIP fence,the OIP fence has a better wind speed reduction capability,stronger ability to capture fine particles below the top of the fence;it is more efficient for sand-retaining and induces stronger eddy intensity.Generally,the wind tunnel test and field monitoring results are consistent,whereas wind tunnel tests incline to overestimate wind speed reduction and sand-control efficiency.The study also finds that the aeolian sand accumulated around the fence can weaken the protection efficiency,and hence cleaning the aeolian sand accumulated around the fence should be done periodically to ensure the designed functions.

Applying a fish expert system for ranking the biological effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the rockfish Sebastiscus marmoratus in the Maowei Sea,China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)pollution,particularly in coastal environments,is a global concern.In this study,the biomonitoring and ranking effects of PAHs in the rockfish Sebastiscus marmoratus were determined in the Maowei Sea,China.The results showed that the concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs detected in the surface seawater were moderate compared with those in other coastal areas worldwide,and the possible sources were rapid industrialization and urbanization combined with atmospheric deposition and runoff.Nested analysis of variance(ANOVA)suggested significant differences in the hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase(EROD)activities and phenanthrene-derived metabolites in bile between the port area and the oyster farming area.The fish expert system(FES)was applied to evaluate the biological effects of PAHs on fish.The FES data demonstrated that the biological effect levels of Site S1(level III,medium stress)were higher than those of the other sampling sites(level II,low stress).