Application Strategies of Shotcrete Anchor Support Technology in Highway Bridge and Tunnel Engineering

This article analyzes the application strategies of shotcrete anchor support technology using a highway bridge-tunnel construction project as an example.The article covers various strategies,including support plan formulation,mortar shotcrete anchor construction,grid steel frame construction,steel mesh construction,and concrete support construction.This analysis aims to provide a guideline for those interested in applying this technology and improving the quality and safety of highway bridges and tunnels construction.

Analysis on the Characteristics and Laws of Tunnel Hydraulic Inrush in Karst Area

As highways are extended to deep mountains,high altitudes,and special geological conditions,tunnel construction becomes more and more challenging,especially the construction of tunnels in karst areas.Due to the particularity of the regional geological structure,karst is well developed in the southwest of our country,especially at areas where the problem of tunnel water inrush in karst areas is more prominent.To further ensure the safe construction and operation of tunnels,the characteristics of tunnels in karst areas is analyzed in this article.

Scaling and clogging treatment of aging tunnel drainage pipes in karst areas using eco-friendly acid agent

In karst areas,the drainage pipes of aging tunnels are prone to be clogged by precipitated carbonates,resulting in lining cracking and tunnel leaking.As a result,not only the driving safety will be deteriorated,but also the water pressure on the lining might also be elevated significantly.For the structural stability and service lifespan of old tunnels,it is of great importance to remove these precipitated carbonates in time.Traditional treatment methods are often destructive to some extent or not efficient enough.This study aims to experimentally develop an eco-friendly acid-based chemical cleaning method to remove carbonate precipitations efficiently.The proposed chemical cleaning agent is an aqueous solution with strong acidity,consisting of sulfamic acid,water,and additives.The factors affecting the cleaning efficiency include the acid solubility,temperature and flow rate of the cleaning agent,as well as additives.Elevating the solution temperature to 50
C or a flow rate of no less than 0.2 m/s can improve cleaning efficiency.Although the salt effect cannot work,1 wt%of polymaleic acid as a surfactant could further promote the cleaning rate.The cleaning efficiency will increase with the flow rate in a power function.The relatively low flow rate that improves the cleaning rate considerably can avoid highpressure-induced mechanical damage to tunnel drainpipes.The waste could be easily treated to acceptable levels using commercial sewage treatment products and can also be recycled in agriculture.With the chemical cleaning,the water pressure at the arch springing of the lining will reduce with the increased radius of transverse drainpipes in a power function.The proposed acid-based cleaning method,which is highly efficient,non-or low-destructive to aging tunnels,sufficiently safe for humans,and friendly enough to the environment,will offer a promising alternative to remove the precipitated carbonates in tunnel drainpipes efficiently.

Study on Mechanism of Water Inrush of Karst Tunnels

Water inrush,which is one of the challenging issues and hot topics in the tunneling industry,is very easy to occur during the construction of karst tunnels.The mechanism of water inrush of karst tunnels is discussed and analyzed in the paper:the water inrush of karst tunnels is generally divided into three steps,i.e.,the forming of the hazard source,the forming of the water inrush passage and the failure of the anti-inrush rock mass.The failure of the anti-inrush rock mass of karst tunnels are classified into 5 types,i.e.,the integral tensile-shear failure,the hydraulic fracturing,the infiltration induced sliding of the filling medium,the loss of key blocks and the comprehensive water inrush mode.The failure mechanism is studied on basis of typical cases and by means of numerical simulation or theoretical analysis.Conclusion is drawn that most of the water inrushes in actual tunneling are comprehensive water inrushes,which are the comprehensive results of the interrelation and interaction of various water inrush types,and that different types of water inrushes have related continuity and progressive evolution relationships under certain conditions.

Collapse analysis of tunnel floor in karst area based on Hoek-Brown rock media

Collapse shape of tunnel floor in Hoek-Brown rock media is investigated with the functional catastrophe theory. The stability of rock system in tunnel floor, which is determined by thickness, half collapse width, half length of cave and detaching curve, has great secure and economic significance in practical engineering. To investigate the failure mechanisms and the outline of detaching block, a reliable damage model is presumed by making reference to the limit analysis theory. The analytical solutions of detaching curve, half collapse width on tunnel floor and the critical and maximum values of collapse thickness are derived based on Hoek-Brown criterion and functional catastrophe theory. The result shows that 0.5 is a most probable condition for instability, and the shape of detaching curve is a part of parabola. It is reasonable by comparing with previous theory and analogous experiments. The effects of major factors on thickness and half collapse width are further discussed. Numerical calculations and parametric analysis are carried out to illustrate the effects of different parameters on the mechanism, which is significant to the stability analysis of tunnel floor in rock media.

Energy analysis of rock plug thickness in karst tunnels based on non-associated flow rule and nonlinear failure criterion

The geological hazards, such as water inrush and mud outburst, are easily induced by the high water pressure caverns ahead of a karst tunnel face. Therefore, it is a pivotal issue to determine the reserved thickness of rock plug during the construction of tunnels. The limit analysis principle is employed to analyze the safe thickness from the point of energy dissipation, and the nonlinear and non-associated characteristics of geotechnical materials are both considered. On the basis of a plane failure pattern of rock plug, the expressions of detaching curve and rock plug thickness are derived. The effect of each parameter on the safe thickness of rock plug is discussed in detail, which interprets the corresponding failure scope of rock plug. The obtained results indicate that the thickness of rock plug is highly influenced by the nonlinear dilatancy coefficient and the nonlinear coefficient. The proposed method is validated by a comparison of the calculated results with those of the engineering project of the "526 karst cavern" of Yunwushan tunnel. This proposed method can provide reference basis for the design and excavation of karst tunnels in the future.

Surface Geophysical Methods used to Verify the Karst Geological Structure in the Built-up Area:A Case Study of Specific Engineering-Geological Conditions

This article presents a research study of complex limestone karst engineering-geological conditions in the municipality Valaskanear Banska Bystrica in Slovakia.The aim of the study is to demonstrate the impossibility of spatial identification of cave spaces using surface geophysical methods due to the specific engineering-geological conditions of a thick surface layer of anthropogenic fill containing highly heterogeneous anthropogenic material.Its maximum thickness is 3 m.Another specificific condition of the study area is its location in the built-up area,due to which the applicability of geophysical methods was limited.The article contains methodological recommendations to be used in analogous geological conditions with karst structures topped with anthropogenic fill,which complicates the identification of cave spaces.The recommended solution herein is the identification of the cave system using underground mapping of the karst and its projection onto the surface for which surface geophysical methods have been combined.

Engineering-Geological Problems in the Moravian Karst,Czech Republic

The Moravian karst belongs to one of the famous karst regions in Central Europe. It is situated in Moravia in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. According to the geology it is of Devonian age and the main rocks are of different types of limestones. The process of karstification is still active. They are many caves with rich stalagmites and stalactites and the Macocha abyss, the depth of which is 138.5 m. The underground Punkva River flows through the main part of the karst, forming beautiful underground lakes. Typical karst phenomena, such as sinkholes and deep canyons, may be observed on the surface of the terrain. Because of the karstification, water erosion and frost weathering, many steep unstable slopes and walls originated. To solve the stability from a geotechnical point of view is not easy. This requests a special engineering-geological knowledge and experience.

Application Strategy of NDT Technology in Tunnel Engineering Quality Inspection

Nondestructive testing(NDT)is an advanced and commonly used technique in tunnel engineering quality inspection.To achieve good application of nondestructive testing technology,its main application in tunnel engineering quality inspection strategy is analyzed,including the significance of applying nondestructive testing technology in tunnel engineering quality inspection,the main nondestructive testing technology applied in tunnel engineering quality test analysis,and the analysis of nondestructive testing technology of tunnel engineering quality inspection strategy.The analyses in this paper are done in hopes of providing scientific reference for the utilization of NDT technology and the improvement of tunnel engineering quality.

Safety thickness analysis of tunnel floor in karst region based on catastrophe theory

Based on the tunnel shape, span and depth, the previous elliptical plate model and clamped beam model were modified.The modified model was applied to different situations. For the elliptical plate model, the water effects were considered. For the clamped beam model, water and horizontal stress were considered. Corresponding potential functions and cusp catastrophe models of rock system were established based on the catastrophe theory. The expressions of critical safety thickness were derived with necessary and sufficient conditions. The method was applied to the practical engineering. Some parameters related to the stability were discussed. The results show that elastic modulus and thickness are advantageous to the floor stability, and that the load, span,horizontal stress and water are disadvantageous to the floor stability.

Minimum safe thickness of rock plug in karst tunnel according to upper bound theorem

High pressure and water-bearing caverns ahead of a karst tunnel face tend to cause geological disasters, such as water and mud bursts. So, the determination of safe thickness of the reserved rock plug is a key technical problem to be solved for karst tunnel construction. Based on the Hoek-Brown nonlinear failure criterion, the minimum safe thickness of rock plug was investigated in the light of the limit analysis theory. On the basis of the proposed failure mode, the expression of the minimum thickness for rock plug was obtained by means of upper bound theorem in combination with variational principle. The calculation results show the influence of each parameter on safe thickness and reveal the damage range of rock plug. The proposed method is verified by comparing the results with those of the drain cavern of Maluqing Tunnel. The research shows that with the increase of compressive strength and tensile strength as well as constant A of Hoek-Brown criterion, the safe thickness decreases, whereas with the increase of cavern pressure, tunnel diameter, and constant B from Hoek-Brown criterion, the safe thickness increases. Besides, the tensile strength, or constants A and B affect the shear failure angle of rock plug structure, but other parameters do not. In conclusion, the proposed method can predict the minimum safe thickness of rock plug, and is useful for water burst study and prevention measures of tunnels constructed in high-risk karst regions.

Detection and treatment of water inflow in karst tunnel：A case study in Daba tunnel

In a karst tunnel, fissures or cracks that are filled with weathered materials are a type of potential water outlet as they are easily triggered and converted into groundwater outlets under the influence of high groundwater pressure. A terrible water inrush caused by potential water outlets can seriously hinder the project construction. Potential water outlets and water sources that surrounding the tunnel must be detected before water inflow can be treated. This paper provides a successful case of the detection and treatment of water inflow in a karst tunnel and proposes a potential water outlet detection(PWOD) method in which heavy rainfall(>50 mm/d) is considered a trigger for a potential water outlet. The Daba tunnel located in Hunan province, China, has been constructed in a karst stratum where the rock mass has been weathered intensely by the influence of two faults. Heavy rain triggered some potential water outlets, causing a serious water inrush. The PWOD method was applied in this project for the treatment of water inflow, and six potential water outlets in total were identified through three heavy rains. Meanwhile, a geophysical prospecting technique was also used to detect water sources. The connections between water outlets and water sources were identified with a 3-D graphic that included all of them. According to the distribution of water outlets and water sources, the detection area was divided into three sections and separately treated by curtain grouting.

Application of TSD tunnel seismic prediction system in karst area

TSD is one of the classical methods of tunnel seismic prediction based on higher accuracy multi-wave multi-component seismology.The working principle of the TSD and an application example of the TSD on tunnel prediction in Chongqing are introduced in this paper.This system has two ports for speed signal and acceleration signal,and the equipment is more portable and easy to use.According to the application results we can conclude that the TSD prediction system is accurate and it has the wide application prospect in tunnel seismic detection.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a typical karst spring system based on time series analysis in northern China

In order to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of the karst aquifers in northern China,time series analyses(correlation and spectral analysis in addition with hydrograph recession analysis)are applied on Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring in Jinan karst spring system,a typical karst spring system in northern China.Results show that the auto-correlation coefficient of spring water level reaches the value of 0.2 after 123 days and 117 days for Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring,respectively.The regulation time obtained from the simple spectral density function in the same period is 187 days and 175 days for Baotu Spring and Heihu Spring.The auto-correlation coefficient of spring water level reaches the value of 0.2 in 34-82 days,and regulation time ranges among 40-59 days for every single hydrological year.The delay time between precipitation and spring water level obtained from cross correlation function is around 56 days for the period of 2012-2019,and varies among 30-79 days for every single hydrological year.In addition,the spectral bands in cross amplitude functions and gain functions are small with 0.02,and the values in the coherence functions are small.All these behaviors illustrate that Jinan karst spring system has a strong memory effect,large storage capacity,noticeable regulation effect,and time series analysis is a useful tool for studying the hydrodynamic characteristics of karst spring system in northern China.

Applying a modified conduit flow process to understand conduit-matrix exchange of a karst aquifer

Due to the high heterogeneity and complexity of water flow movement for multiple karst water-bearing mediums,the evaluation,effective development,and utilization of karst water resources are significantly limited.Matrix flow is usually laminar,whereas conduit flow is usually turbulent.The driving mechanisms of water exchange that occur between the karst conduit and its adjacent matrix are not well understood.This paper investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics and the mechanism of flow exchange in dual water-bearing mediums(conduit and matrix)of karst aquifers through laboratory experimentation and numerical simulation.A karst aquifer consisting of a matrix network and a conduit was proposed,and the relationship between the water exchange flux and hydraulic head differences generated from the laboratory experiments was analyzed.Two modes of experimental tests were performed with different fixed water level boundaries in the laboratory karst aquifer.The results indicate that the water exchange capacity was proportional to the square root of hydraulic head differences.The linear exchange term in the conduit flow process(CFP)source program was modified according to experimental results.The modified CFP and the original CFP model experimental data results were compared,and it was found that the modified CFP model had better fitting effects.These results showed that the water exchange mechanism between conduit and matrix is very important for solid-liquid interface reaction,water resource evaluation,and understanding of karst hydrodynamic behavior.

Large-scale model test study on the water pressure resistance of construction joints of karst tunnel linings

Model tests and numerical calculations were adopted based on the New Yuanliangshan tunnel project to investigate the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints in high-pressure and water-rich karst tunnels.A large-scale model test was designed and conducted,innovatively transforming the external water pressure of the lining construction joint into internal water pressure.The effects of the embedded position and waterstop type on the water pressure resistance of the construction joint were analyzed,and the reliability of the model test was verified via numerical calculations.The results show that using waterstops can significantly improve the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints.The water pressure resistance of the lining construction joint is positively correlated with the lining thickness and embedded depth of the waterstop.In addition,the type of waterstop significantly influences the water pressure resistance of lining construction joints.The test results show that the water pressure resistance of the embedded transverse reinforced waterstop is similar to that of the steel plate waterstop,and both have more advantages than the rubber waterstop.The water pressure resistance of the construction joint determined via numerical calculations is similar to the model test results,indicating that the model test results have high accuracy and reliability.This study provides a reference for similar projects and has wide applications.

Mechanism of high-preload support based on the NPR anchor cable in layered soft rock tunnels

The control of large deformation problems in layered soft rock tunnels needs to solve urgently.The roof problem is particularly severe among the deformation issues in tunnels.This study first analyzes the asymmetric deformation modes in layered soft rock tunnels with large deformations.Subsequently,we construct a mechanical model under ideal conditions for controlling the roof of layered soft rock tunnels through high preload with the support of NPR anchor cables.The prominent roles of long and short NPR anchor cables in the support system are also analyzed.The results indicate the significance of high preload in controlling the roof of layered soft rock tunnels.The short NPR anchor cables effectively improve the integrity of the stratified soft rock layers,while the long NPR anchor cables effectively mobilize the self-bearing capacity of deep-stable rock layers.Finally,the high-preload support method with NPR anchor cables is validated to have a good effect on controlling large deformations in layered soft rock tunnels through field monitoring data.

Application of geophysical methods in fine detection of urban concealed karst:A case study of Wuhan City,China

The construction of modern livable cities faces challenges in karst areas,including ground collapse and engineering problems.Wuhan,with a population of 13.74×10^(6) and approximately 1161 km^(2)of soluble rocks in the urban area of 8569.15 km^(2),predominantly consists of concealed karst areas where occasional ground collapse events occur,posing significant threats to underground engineering projects.To address these challenges,a comprehensive geological survey was conducted in Wuhan,focusing on major karstrelated issues.Geophysical methods offer advantages over drilling in detecting concealed karst areas due to their efficiency,non-destructiveness,and flexibility.This paper reviewed the karst geological characteristics in Wuhan and the geophysical exploration methods for karst,selected eight effective geophysical methods for field experimentation,evaluated their suitability,and proposed method combinations for different karst scenarios.The results show that different geophysical methods have varying applicability for karst detection in Wuhan,and combining multiple methods enhances detection effectiveness.The specific recommendations for method combinations provided in this study serve as a valuable reference for karst detection in Wuhan.

Stability analysis on tunnels with karst caves using the distinct lattice spring model

The effects of karst caves on tunnel stability were numerically investigated using the distinct lattice spring model(DLSM).The DLSM was validated by investigating the mechanical behavior of Brazilian discs with various sizes of central circular holes.Then,the effects of karst cave on U-shaped tunnel were investigated under various karst caves positions(top,bottom,and right side of the tunnel),tunnelcave distances(0.5-4 times the radius of the tunnel arc),and cave shapes(circular,rectangular flat,and rectangular vertical caves).The failure processes of the tunnel under those various conditions were analyzed and both the failure process and the final failure patterns of the tunnel were discussed.Numerical simulation demonstrated that karst caves around the tunnel could weaken the stability of the tunnel,indicating tunnel-cave distance effects.The closer the cave to the tunnel,the weaker the tunnel under loading.This effect was not significant when the tunnel-cave distance(d)was larger than three times the tunnel arc radius(R).In addition,the final failure pattern of the tunnel and its surrounding rock mass were dependent on both the position and the size of the cave.The larger the cave,the weaker the tunnel and its surrounding rock mass.Furthermore,compared with those cases with top and bottom caves,the tunnel with a right side cave had more impacts on tunnel stability.The main research finding could help engineers carry out stability analysis on tunnels in karst areas and take effective measures to enhance tunnel stability.

A Comparative Study on Hydrodynamics and Hydrochemistry Coupled Simulations of Drainage Pipe Crystallization Blockage in Karst Tunnels

Drainage pipe system is the requisite component of the traffic tunnels in Karst area.To reveal the dynamic process of crystallization blockage in drainage pipes,a novel hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry coupled simulation model was developed for calculating the deposition rate of CaCO_(3) fouling in pipeline surface.Sediments adhering to the pipe walls involve a deformable domain with moving geometric boundaries,and moving mesh and level set methods are proposed for simulation of for tunnel turbulence and crystallization fouling process.The simulation results are compared with the experimental results showing similar trend.The effects of temperature,flow velocity,and solution concentration on crystallization blockage were analyzed by comparative simulation studies.The simulation results show that:(1)the moving mesh method simulated nozzle shrinkage caused by crystalline deposition,without accounting for geometric topology shape changes.However,the level set method tracked the moving topology and thus can simulate the process of complete blockage;(2)the flow velocity in the longitudinal pipe generally exceeded that in the transverse pipe,and the CaCO_(3) crystal concentration in the transverse pipe eclipsed that in the longitudinal pipe,which meant crystallization blockages primarily occurred in the transverse pipe;(3)the temperature and concentration correlated positively with the crystallization rate,while the crystal precipitation value decreases with the increasing of inlet flow velocity increases.This study advances a hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry coupled crystallization blockage model to provide technical support for the early identification of crystallizationinduced pipe blockage in the drainage system in karst tunnel sites.