Stability evaluation method of large cross-section tunnel considering modification of thickness-span ratio in mechanized operation

Purpose-This study aims to research the large cross-section tunnel stability evaluation method corrected after considering the thickness-span ratio.Design/methodology/approach-First,taking the Liuyuan Tunnel of Huanggang-Huangmei High-Speed Railway as an example and taking deflection of the third principal stress of the surrounding rock at a vault after tunnel excavation as the criterion,the critical buried depth of the large section tunnel was determined.Then,the strength reduction method was employed to calculate the tunnel safety factor under different rock classes and thickness-span ratios,and mathematical statistics was conducted to identify the relationships of the tunnel safety factor with the thickness-span ratio and the basic quality(BQ)index of the rock for different rock classes.Finally,the influences of thickness-span ratio,groundwater,initial stress of rock and structural attitude factors were considered to obtain the corrected BQ,based on which the stability of a large cross-section tunnel with a depth of more than 100 m during mechanized operation was analyzed.This evaluation method was then applied to Liuyuan Tunnel and Cimushan No.2 Tunnel of Chongqing Urban Expressway for verification.Findings-This study shows that under different rock classes,the tunnel safety factor is a strict power function of the thickness-span ratio,while a linear function of the BQ to some extent.It is more suitable to use the corrected BQ as a quantitative index to evaluate tunnel stability according to the actual conditions of the site.Originality/value-The existing industry standards do not consider the influence of buried depth and span in the evaluation of tunnel stability.The stability evaluation method of large section tunnel considering the correction of overburden span ratio proposed in this paper achieves higher accuracy for the stability evaluation of surrounding rock in a full or large-section mechanized excavation of double line high-speed railway tunnels.

Compact Scanning Tunneling Microscope with Large Scale Searching Capability for Mmultidisciplinary Applications

We present the design and performance of a home-built scanning tunneling microscope （STM）, which is compact （66 mm tall and 25 mm in diameter）, yet equipped with a 3D atomic precision piezoelectric motor in which the Z coarse approach relies on a high simplic-ity friction-type walker （of our own invention） driven by an axially cut piezoelectric tube. The walker is vertically inserted in a piezoelectric scanner tube （PST） with its brim laying at on the PST end as the inertial slider （driven by the PST） for the XZ （sample plane） motion. The STM is designed to be capable of searching rare microscopic targets （defects, dopants, boundaries, nano-devices, etc.） in a macroscopic sample area （square millimeters） under extreme conditions （low temperatures, strong magnetic elds, etc.） in which it ts. It gives good atomic resolution images after scanning a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite sample in air at room temperature.

Possible Nodeless Superconducting Gaps in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_(8+δ) and YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) Revealed by Cross-Sectional Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

Pairing in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors and its origin remain among the most enduring mysteries in condensed matter physics. With cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, we clearly reveal the spatial-dependence or inhomogeneity of the superconducting gap structure of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8＋δ （Bi2212） and YBa2Cu3O7-x （YBCO） along their c-axes on a scale shorter than the interlayer spacing. By tunneling into the （100） plane of a Bi2212 single crystal and a YBCO film, we observe both U-shaped tunneling spectra with extended fiat zero-conductance bottoms, and V-shaped gap structures, in different regions of each sample. On the YBCO film, tunneling into a （110） surface only reveals a U-shaped gap without any zero-bias peak. Our analysis suggests that the U-shaped gap is likely a nodeless superconducting gap. The V-shaped gap has a very small amplitude, and is likely proximity-induced by regions having the larger U-shaped gap.

Compensation excavation method control for large deformation disaster of mountain soft rock tunnel

In recent years,the mine tunneling method and the new Austrian tunneling method have been considered the main theories of tunneling approaches in China.It is difficult for the traditional technique to overcome the large deformation problems imposed by complex geological conditions of mountain soft rock tunneling.Hence,the compensation excavation method has been proposed to solve this issue under the consideration that all damage in tunneling originates from the excavation.It uses supportive strategies to counteract the excavation effects successfully.This paper provides an overview of the fundamental ideas of the compensation excavation method,methodologies,and field applications.The scientific validity and feasibility of the compensation excavation method were investigated through the practical engineering study of the Muzhailing and Changning tunnels.

Numerical modeling of large deformation and nonlinear frictional contact of excavation boundary of deep soft rock tunnel

Roadways excavated in soft rocks at great depth are difficult to be maintained due to large deformation of surrounding rocks, which greatly influences the safety and efficiency of deep resources exploitation. During the excavation process of a deep soft rock tunnel, the rock wall may be compacted due to large deformation. In this paper, the technique to address this problem by a two-dimensional (2D) finite element software, large deformation engineering analyses software (LDEAS 1.0), is provided. By using the Lagrange multiplier method, the kinematic constraint of non-penetrating condition and static constraint of Coulomb friction are introduced to the governing equations in the form of incremental displacement. The numerical example demonstrates the efficiency of this technology. Deformations of a transportation tunnel in inclined soft rock strata at the depth of 1 000 m in Qishan coal mine and a tunnel excavated to three different depths are analyzed by two models, i.e. the additive decomposition model and polar decomposition model. It can be found that the deformation of the transportation tunnel is asymmetrical due to the inclination of rock strata. For extremely soft rock, large deformation can converge only for the additive decomposition model. The deformation of surrounding rocks increases with the increase in the tunnel depth for both models. At the same depth, the deformation calculated by the additive decomposition model is smaller than that by the polar decomposition model.

Aerodynamic effects on a railway tunnel with partially changed cross-sectional area

The present study numerically explored the aerodynamic performance of a novel railway tunnel with a partially reduced cross-section.The impact of the reduction rate of the tunnel cross-section on wave transmissions was analyzed based on the three-dimensional,unsteady,compressible,and RNG k-εturbulence model.The results highlight that the reduction rate(S)most affects pressure configurations at the middle tunnel segment,followed by the enlarged segments near access,and finally the exit.The strength of the newly generated compression wave at the tunnel junction where the cross-section abruptly changes increases exponentially with the decrease of the cross-sectional area.The maximum peak-to-peak pressureΔP on the tunnel and train surface for non-uniform tunnels is reduced by 10.7%and 13.8%,respectively,compared with those of equivalent uniform tunnels.Overall,the economic analysis suggests that the aerodynamic performance of the developed tunnel prototype surpasses those conventional tunnels based on the same excavated volume.

Hyperstatic reaction method for calculations of tunnels with horseshoe-shaped cross-section under the impact of earthquakes

Tunnels are now an integral part of the infrastructure in major cities around the world. For many reasons, these tunnels have horseshoe-shaped cross-sections with round top and flat bottom. This paper presents some improvements to the use of the Hyperstatic Reaction Method-HRM for analysing tunnels with horseshoe-shaped cross-sections when these tunnels operate under the influence of earthquakes, particularly in cases when the tunnel lining is a continuous lining. The analysis used parameters of a tunnel from the Hanoi metro system, as well as parameters of the strongest earthquake that may occur in the central Hanoi area in the improved HRM and 2 D numerical methods using the ABAQUS software. On the basis of the results obtained, the paper gives conclusions about the HRM methodology when it is used to calculate tunnels that have horseshoe cross-sections operating under the influence of earthquakes.

Numerical simulation of rockburst disaster and control strategy of constant resistance and large deformation anchor cable in Gaoloushan tunnel

The Gaoloushan Tunnel in Longnan City,Gansu Province,China,frequently experiences rockburst disasters due to high in-situ stress.Managing rockburst in deep-buried tunnels remains a challenging issue.This paper employs RFPA(Rock Failure Process Analysis)software to establish a calculation model of constant resistance and large deformation(CRLD)anchorages and analyzes the effects of different support methods and pre-stress levels on rockburst.We simulate the process of tunnel rockburst disasters and find that ordinary anchor support incurs rockburst on the right arch waist and arch top,forming a V-shaped explosion pit.CRLD anchor support has several advantages in rockburst control,such as more uniform stress distribution in the surrounding rock,a uniform distribution of plastic zones,less noticeable damage to the tunnel,and effective control of the arch top displacement.The effectiveness of the CRLD anchor support under varying pre-stress conditions shows that a higher prestress results in a smaller plastic zone of the surrounding rock and arch top displacement and a lower number of acoustic emission signals,which better explains the excavation compensation effect.Moreover,adding long anchorages in the deep surrounding rock area can better control rockburst and reduce surrounding rock deformation.Based on these findings,we propose a comprehensive control system that combines long and short anchorages and provides the optimal scheme based on calculations.Therefore,by using high-prestress CRLD anchor support and the combination of long and short anchorages at critical positions,we can enhance the integrity of the surrounding rock,effectively absorb the energy released by the surrounding rock deformation,and reduce the incidence of rockburst disasters.

Does the ratio of the carpal tunnel inlet and outlet cross-sectional areas in the median nerve reflect carpal tunnel syndrome severity?

Although ultrasound measurements have been used in previous studies on carpal tunnel syndrome to visualize injury to the median nerve, whether such ultrasound data can indicate the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome remains controversial. The cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the tunnel inlet and outlet can show swelling and compression of the nerve at the carpal. We hypothesized that the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet to outlet accurately reflects the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. To test this, high-resolution ultrasound with a linear array transducer at 5–17 MHz was used to assess 77 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The results showed that the cut-off point for the inlet-to-outlet ratio was 1.14. Significant differences in the inlet-to-outlet ratio were found among patients with mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.29 between mild and more severe（moderate and severe） carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 64.7% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.52 between the moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 80.0% sensitivity and 64.7% specificity. These results suggest that the inlet-to-outlet ratio reflected the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Intelligent optimization of the structure of the large section highway tunnel based on improved immune genetic algorithm

As in the building of deep buried long tunnels,there are complicated conditions such as great deformation,high stress,multi-variables,high non-linearity and so on,the algorithm for structure optimization and its application in tunnel engineering are still in the starting stage. Along with the rapid development of highways across the country,it has become a very urgent task to be tackled to carry out the optimization design of the structure of the section of the tunnel to lessen excavation workload and to reinforce the support. Artificial intelligence demonstrates an extremely strong capability of identifying,expressing and disposing such kind of multiple variables and complicated non-linear relations. In this paper,a comprehensive consideration of the strategy of the selection and updating of the concentration and adaptability of the immune algorithm is made to replace the selection mode in the original genetic algorithm which depends simply on the adaptability value. Such an algorithm has the advantages of both the immune algorithm and the genetic algorithm,thus serving the purpose of not only enhancing the individual adaptability but maintaining the individual diversity as well. By use of the identifying function of the antigen memory,the global search capability of the immune genetic algorithm is raised,thereby avoiding the occurrence of the premature phenomenon. By optimizing the structure of the section of the Huayuan tunnel,the current excavation area and support design are adjusted. A conclusion with applicable value is arrived at. At a higher computational speed and a higher efficiency,the current method is verified to have advantages in the optimization computation of the tunnel project. This also suggests that the application of the immune genetic algorithm has a practical significance to the stability assessment and informationization design of the wall rock of the tunnel.

Stability Analysis of Large Section Rocky Tunnel Support Structure

In order to study the stress characteristics of the initial support and secondary lining of the large section tunnel and to solve the problem of secondary lining cracking during operation. Taking the large section tunnel in Zihong village, Qi County as the research object, a numerical simulation method was used to establish a finite element model of the large section tunnel. So as to simulate and analyze the stress characteristics of the support structure of this tunnel. Through the simulation of the initial support and second lining of this large section tunnel in terms of displacement, stress, plastic zone damage and anchor shaft force, the results show that as the excavation progresses, the stress and displacement on the surface of the newly excavated tunnel profile is faster, especially at the side walls and arch footings, the stress and displacement values are slightly larger than other characteristic points, but the final values are stable and converge, and are basically consistent with the field monitoring results, which indicates that this support system is basically in stable state. Therefore, during the tunnel excavation and support process, special attention should be paid to the stability of the sidewalls and footings, and the results of this study will be of great practical significance for tunnel construction and maintenance.

Dynamic evolution in mechanical characteristics of complex supporting structures during large section tunnel construction

The shallow tunnelling method(STM)often uses temporary supports to divide large section tunnels into several closed or semiclosed sections so as to share the upper load.The complex support system composed of primary and temporary supports can ensure safety during tunnel construction.Based on the large section tunnel of Beijing Subway Line 12,the mechanical characteristics of support system by the double-side-drift method(DSDM)during excavation and demolition were analyzed through numerical simulation and monitoring.The study showed that the middle cave excavation was the most critical stage of the DSDM,during which the load on the supporting structure increased significantly.The temporary vertical support bore most of the new load during middle cave excavation.During the demolition stage,the load was redistributed,which caused arch settlement and section convergence.The removal of the temporary vertical support exerted the greatest impact in this process.The lateral temporary inverted arch changed from axial compression to axial tension after the middle and lower caves were excavated.Based on the mechanical characteristics of the support system,some engineering suggestions were proposed for large section tunnel construction.These research results can provide reference for the design and construction of similar large section tunnels.

Excavation compensation theory and supplementary technology system for large deformation disasters

Given the challenges in managing large deformation disasters in energy engineering,traffic tunnel engineering,and slope engineering,the excavation compensation theory has been proposed for large deformation disasters and the supplementary technology system is developed accordingly.This theory is based on the concept that“all destructive behaviors in tunnel engineering originate from excavation.”This paper summarizes the development of the excavation compensation theory in five aspects:the“theory,”“equipment,”“technology,”the design method with large deformation mechanics,and engineering applications.First,the calculation method for compensation force has been developed based on this theory,and a comprehensive large deformation disaster control theory system is formed.Second,a negative Poisson's ratio anchor cable with high preload,large deformation,and super energy absorption characteristics has been independently developed and applied to large deformation disaster control.An intelligent tunnel monitoring and early warning cloud platform system are established for remote monitoring and early warning system of Newton force in landslide geological hazards.Third,the double gradient advance grouting technology,the two-dimensional blasting technology,and the integrated Newton force monitoring--early warning--control technology are developed for different engineering environments.Finally,some applications of this theory in China's energy,traffic tunnels,landslide,and other field projects have been analyzed,which successfully demonstrates the capability of this theory in large deformation disaster control.

CFD-Based Numerical Analysis of a Variable Cross-Section Cylinder

Using ANSYS-CFX, a general purpose fluid dynamics program, the vortex-induced vibration(VIV) of a variable cross-section cylinder is simulated under uniform current with high Reynolds numbers. Large eddy simulation(LES) is conducted for studying the fluid-structure interaction. The vortex shedding in the wake, the motion trajectories of a cylinder, the variation of drag and lift forces on the cylinder are analyzed. The results show that the vortices of variable cross-section cylinder are chaotic and are varying along the cylinder. In places where cross-sections are changing significantly, the vortices are more irregular. The motion trail of the cylinder is almost the same but irregular. The drag and lift coefficients of the cylinder are varying with the changes of diameters.

Mechanism and practice of rock control in deep large span cut holes

Deep large span cut holes are difficult to stabilize. The 7801 cut hole in the Lu'an Wuyang Mine was used as this project's background. The main factors affecting large span cut hole stability are analyzed. Pre- stressed bolting theory was used to design a roof control method for a large span roadway. By reducing the span and applying equal strength coordinated supports the rock could be stabilized. The control prin- ciples and methods are given herein along with the analysis. A double micro arch cross section roadway is defined and its use in solving the current problem is described. Beam arch theory was used to build a model of the double micro arch cross section roadway. A support reverse force model for the arch foot intersection was also derived. A support method based upon reducing the width of the large span in the cut hole is presented. These results show that the reduced span of the roadway roof plus the use of cable anchors and single supports gives an effective way to control the large span cut hole. On site monitoring showed that the reduced span support from the double micro arch cross section roadway design had a significant effect. The roadway surface displacement was small and harmful deformation of the cut hole was effectively controlled. This will ensure its long term stability.

Analytical study on pretensioned bolt-cable combined support of large cross-section tunnel

To study the mechanical responses of large cross-section tunnel reinforced by pretensioned rock bolts and anchor cables, an analytical model is proposed. Considering the interaction between rock mass and bolt-cable support, the strain softening characteristic of rock mass, the elastic-plastic characteristic of bolt-cable support, and the delay effect of installation are considered in the model. To solve the different mechanical cases of tunneling reinforced by bolt-cable support, an analytical approach has been put forward to get the solutions of stress and displacement associated with tunneling. The proposed analytical model is verified by numerical simulation. Moreover, parametric analysis is performed to study the effects of pretension force,cross-section area, length, and supporting density of bolt-cable support on tunnel reinforcement, which can provide references for determining these parameters in tunnel design. Based on the analytical model, a new Ground Response Curve(GRC)considering the reinforcement of bolt-cable support is obtained, which shows the pretension forces and the timely installation are important in bolt-cable support. In addition, the proposed model is applied to the analysis of the Great Wall Station Tunnel, a high-speed railway tunnel with a super large cross-section, which shows that the analytical model of bolt-cable support was a useful tool for preliminary design of large cross-section tunnel.

大直径水下盾构隧道水下不分散砂浆应用与效果分析

随着现代工程建设技术的发展,特殊砂浆作为一种性能优越的建筑材料,在工程中的应用越来越广泛。其中水下不分散砂浆在基岩裂隙水发育丰富、地下动水丰沛且受潮汐影响流动性强的地下工程建设中取得了较好的效果。依托广州海珠湾隧道工程大直径水下盾构隧道试验段,结合普通砂浆与水下不分散砂浆在相同环境使用下的情况,从室内试验、地质雷达扫描、地表沉降监测、管片错台、渗漏水、上浮等方面进行对比分析跟踪验证,来对水下不分散砂浆的可行性开展分析。

Numerical simulation of the effect of coupling support of bolt-mesh-anchor in deep tunnel

The mechanical effects of bolt-mesh-anchor coupling support in deep tunnels were studied by using a numerical method, based on deep tunnel coupling supporting techniques and non-linear deformation mechanical theory of rock mass at great depths.It is shown that the potential of a rigid bolt support can be efficiently activated through the coupling effect between a bolt-net support and the surrounding rock.It is found that the accumulated plastic energy in the surrounding rock can be sufficiently transformed by the coupling effect of a bolt-mesh-tray support.The strength of the surrounding rock mass can be mobilized to control the deforma-tion of the surrounding rock by a pre-stress and time-space effect of the anchor support.The high stress transformation effect can be realized by the mechanical coupling effect of the bolt-mesh-anchor support, whereby the force of the support and deformation of the surrounding rock tends to become uniform, leading to a sustained stability of the tunnel.

Grey-scale sonography and sonoelastography for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at wrist level, and is thought to be caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. There is no standard quantitative reference for the diagnosis of CTS. Greyscale sonography and sonoelastography(SEL) have been used as diagnostic tools. The most commonly agreed findings in grey-scale sonography for the diagnosis of CTS is enlargement of the median nerve cross-sectional area(CSA). Several authors have assessed additional parameters. "Delta CSA" is the difference between the proximal median nerve CSA at the pronator quadratus and the maximal CSA within the carpal tunnel. The "CSA ratio" is the ratio of CSA in the carpal tunnel to the CSA at the mid forearm. These additional parameters showed better diagnostic accuracy than CSA measurement alone. Recently, a number of studies have investigated the elasticity of the median nerve using SEL, and have shown that this also has diagnostic value, as it was significantly stiffer in CTS patients compared to healthy volunteers. In this review, we summarize the usefulness of grey-scale sonography and SEL in diagnosing CTS.

Time-dependent squeezing deformation mechanism of tunnels in layered soft-rock stratum under high geo-stress

Large squeezing deformation of layered soft rock tunnel under high geo-stress has a significant time-dependent deformation behavior.In this paper,we studied the deformation mechanism during the construction period of deep-buried softrock tunnel by means of a combination of field observations and a numerical method.First,a new classification criterion for large deformations based on the power exponent variation law between the deformation and the strength-stress ratio is proposed.Then,the initial damage tensor reflecting the bedding plane(joint)distribution and an equivalent damage evolution equation derived from the viscoplastic strain are introduced based on the geometric research method,i.e.,a new rheological damage model(RDL model)of layered soft rock is established consisting of elastic,viscous,viscoelastic,viscoplastic and plastic elements.A field test was conducted on the Maoxian tunnel in Sichuan province,southwestern China,which is in broken phyllite(layered soft rock)under high geo-stress.The tunnel has experienced large deformation due to serious squeezing pressure,thus we adopted double primary support method to overcome the supporting structure failure problems.The rheological parameters of phyllite in the Maoxian tunnel were recognized by using SA-PSO optimization,and the RDL model does a good job in describing the time-dependent deformation behavior of a layered soft-rock tunnel under high geo-stress.Thus,the RDL model was used to investigate the supporting effect and bearing mechanism of the double primary support method.Compared with the single primary support method,the surrounding rock pressure,secondary lining force,surrounding rock deformation,and the depth of the damage to the rock mass was reduced by 40%-60%after the double primary support method was used.