Energy analysis of stability on shallow tunnels based on non-associated flow rule and non-linear failure criterion

On the basis of upper bound theorem, non-associated flow rule and non-linear failure criterion were considered together.The modified shear strength parameters of materials were obtained with the help of the tangent method. Employing the virtual power principle and strength reduction technique, the effects of dilatancy of materials, non-linear failure criterion, pore water pressure,surface loads and buried depth, on the stability of shallow tunnel were studied. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the solutions in the present work agree well with the existing results when the non-associated flow rule is reduced to the associated flow rule and the non-linear failure criterion is degenerated to the linear failure criterion. Compared with dilatancy of materials, the non-linear failure criterion exerts greater impact on the stability of shallow tunnels. The safety factor of shallow tunnels decreases and the failure surface expands outward when the dilatancy coefficient decreases. While the increase of nonlinear coefficient, the pore water pressure coefficient, the surface load and the buried depth results in the small safety factor. Therefore, the dilatancy as well as non-linear failure criterion should be taken into account in the design of shallow tunnel supporting structure. The supporting structure must be reinforced promptly to prevent potential mud from gushing or collapse accident in the areas with abundant pore water, large surface load or buried depth.

Energy analysis of stability of twin shallow tunnels based on nonlinear failure criterion

Based on nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, the analytical solutions of stability number and supporting force on twin shallow tunnels were derived using upper bound theorem of limit analysis. The optimized solutions were obtained by the technique of sequential quadratic programming. When nonlinear coefficient equals 1 and internal friction angle equals 0, the nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion degenerates into linear failure criterion. The calculated results of stability number in this work were compared with previous results, and the agreement verifies the effectiveness of the present method. Under the condition of nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, the results show that the supporting force on twin shallow tunnels obviously increases when the nonlinear coefficient, burial depth, ground load or pore water pressure coefficients increase. When the clear distance is 0.5to 1.0 times the diameter of tunnel, the supporting force of twin shallow tunnels reaches its maximum value, which means that the tunnels are the easiest to collapse. While the clear distance increases to 3.5 times the diameter of tunnel, the calculation for twin shallow tunnels can be carried out by the method for independent single shallow tunnel. Therefore, 3.5 times the diameter of tunnel serves as a critical value to determine whether twin shallow tunnels influence each other. In designing twin shallow tunnels,appropriate clear distance value must be selected according to its change rules and actual topographic conditions, meanwhile, the influences of nonlinear failure criterion of soil materials and pore water must be completely considered. During the excavation process, supporting system should be intensified at the positions of larger burial depth or ground load to avoid collapses.

Geotechnical investigations and remediation design for failure of tunnel portal section： a case study in northern Turkey

Mass movements are very common problems in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey due to its climate conditions, geological, and geomorphological characteristics. High slope angle, weathering, dense rainfalls, and anthropogenic impacts are generally reported as the most important triggering factors in the region. Following the portal slope excavations in the entrance section of Cankurtaran tunnel, located in the region, where the highly weathered andesitic tuff crops out, a circular toe failure occurred. The main target of the present study is to investigate the causes and occurrence mechanism of this failure and to determine the feasible remedial measures against it using finite element method(FEM) in four stages. These stages are slope stability analyses for pre-and postexcavation cases, and remediation design assessments for slope and tunnel. The results of the FEM-SSR analyses indicated that the insufficient initial support design and weathering of the andesitic tuffs are the main factors that caused the portal failure. After installing a rock retaining wall with jet grout columns and reinforced slope benching applications, the factor of safety increased from 0.83 to 2.80. In addition toslope stability evaluation, the Rock Mass Rating(RMR), Rock Mass Quality(Q) and New Austrian Tunneling Method(NATM) systems were also utilized as empirical methods to characterize the tunnel ground and to determine the tunnel support design. The performance of the suggested empirical support design, induced stress distributions and deformations were analyzed by means of numerical modelling. Finally, it was concluded that the recommended stabilization technique was essential for the dynamic long-term stability and prevents the effects of failure. Additionally, the FEM method gives useful and reasonably reliable results in evaluating the stability of cut slopes and tunnels excavated both in continuous and discontinuous rock masses.

Tunnel face stability and ground settlement in pressurized shield tunnelling

An analysis of the stability of large-diameter circular tunnels and ground settlement during tunnelling by a pressurized shield was presented. An innovative three-dimensional translational multi-block failure mechanism was proposed to determine the face support pressure of large-shield tunnelling. Compared with the currently available mechanisms, the proposed mechanism has two unique features:(1) the supporting pressure applied to the tunnel face is assumed to have a non-uniform rather than uniform distribution, and(2) the method takes into account the entire circular excavation face instead of merely an inscribed ellipse. Based on the discrete element method, a numerical simulation of the Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel was carried out using the Particle Flow Code in two dimensions. The immediate ground movement during excavation, as well as the behaviour of the excavation face, the shield movement, and the excavated area, was considered before modelling the excavation process.

Upper bound limit analysis of roof collapse in shallow tunnels with arbitrary cross sections under condition of seepage force

The analytical solutions for predicting the exact shape of collapse mechanisms in shallow tunnels with arbitrary excavation profiles were obtained by virtue of the upper bound theorem of limit analysis and variation principle according to Hoek-Brown failure criterion. The seepage force was included in the upper bound limit analysis, and it was computed from the gradient of excess pore pressure distribution. The seepage was regarded as a work rate of external force. The numerical results of roof collapse in square and circular tunnels with different rock parameters were derived and discussed, which proves to be valid in comparison with the previous work. The influences of different parameters on the shape of collapsing blocks were also discussed.

Failure responses of rock tunnel faces during excavation through the fault-fracture zone

It is essential to cast light on the construction risks in tunnel excavations through the fault-fracture zone(FFZ).This study adopts the material point method(MPM)to simulate the failure responses of a rock tunnel face during excavation through the FFZ.A numerical study was conducted to compare a physical model test and validate the feasibility of using the MPM in simulating tunnel face failure.One hundred ninety numerical simulation cases were constructed to represent a rock tunnel excavation project with different site con-figurations.The simulation results suggest that the cohesion and the friction angle significantly influence failure responses.The tunnel cover depth can magnify the failure responses,and the FFZ thickness significantly affects the mobilized rock mass volume when the FFZ consists of a weak rock mass.The numerical simulation results suggest three deformation patterns:face bulge,partial failure,and slide collapse.The failure responses can be characterized by stress arch,slip surface,angle of reposing,and influence range.The insights suggested by the face failure responses during excavation through the FFZ can aid field engineers in determining the scope of possible damage,and in establishing emergency measures to minimize losses if such failure occurs.

Thermography analyses of rock fracture due to excavation and overloading for tunnel in 30° inclined strata

Large-scale physical model test of 30°inclined strata was conducted to investigate the damage mechanisms during the excavation and overloading using infrared detection.The experiment results were presented with thermal images which were divided into three stages including a full face excavation stage,a staged excavation stage,and an overloading stage.The obtained results were compared with the previously reported results from horizontal,45?,60?,and vertical strata models.Infrared temperature(IRT)for 30°inclined strata model descended with multiple fluctuations during the full-face excavation.For the staged excavation,the excavation damage zone(EDZ)showed enhanced faulting-like strips as compared in the 45?,60?,and vertical models,indicating the intensified stress redistribution occurred in the adjacent rock mass.In contrast,EDZ for the horizontal strata existed in a plastic-formed manner.During the overloading,abnormal features in the thermal images were observed preceding the coalescence of the propagating cracks.The ultimate failure of the model was due primarily to the floor heave and the roof fall.