Effect of pipe characteristics in umbrella arch method on controlling tunneling-induced settlements in soft grounds

Recent developments in tunneling have stimulated design practitioners to more effectively utilize the underground spaces.However,tunneling at shallow depth in soft grounds gives rise to concerns associated with tunnel instability.Umbrella arch method(UAM),as a pre-reinforcement approach of tunnels in complex geological conditions,is widely used to maintain the tunnel stability.Quantitative assessment of the impacts of the entire approach and forepoling pipe features on tunnel stability remains challenging due to the complex nature of the UAM application.This study aimed to assess the effect of pipe design parameters on reinforcing the tunnels excavated in soft grounds.This practical investigation considered the actual field conditions attributed to the tunneling procedure and UAM deployment.Then,the tunneling process was modeled and the tunnel excavation-induced settlements were calculated.The post-processed results confirmed that deploying the UAM substantially reduced the tunnel crown and ground surface settlements by 76%and 42%,respectively.Investigation of various design parameters of pipes underscored the significance of incorporating the optimum value for each individual parameter into design schemes to more effectively control the settlements.Additionally,contrasting the settlement reduction rates(SRRs)for pipe design variables showed that the tunnel stability is more sensitive to the changes in the values of diameter and length,compared to values of the installation angle and center-tocenter distance of the pipes.

Parameter identification and pressure control of dynamic system in shield tunneling using least squares method

An estimation approach using least squares method was presented for identificationof model parameters of pressure control in shield tunneling.The state equation ofthe pressure control system for shield tunneling was analytically derived based on themass equilibrium principle that the entry mass of the pressure chamber from cutting headwas equal to excluding mass from the screw conveyor.The randomly observed noise wasnumerically simulated and mixed to simulated observation values of system responses.The numerical simulation shows that the state equation of the pressure control system forshield tunneling is reasonable and the proposed estimation approach is effective even ifthe random observation noise exists.The robustness of the controlling procedure is validatedby numerical simulation results.

Numerical Simulation of Surrounding Rock Deformation and Grouting Reinforcement of Cross-Fault Tunnel under Different Excavation Methods

Tunnel construction is susceptible to accidents such as loosening, deformation, collapse, and water inrush, especiallyunder complex geological conditions like dense fault areas. These accidents can cause instability and damageto the tunnel. As a result, it is essential to conduct research on tunnel construction and grouting reinforcementtechnology in fault fracture zones to address these issues and ensure the safety of tunnel excavation projects. Thisstudy utilized the Xianglushan cross-fault tunnel to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the construction, support,and reinforcement of a tunnel crossing a fault fracture zone using the three-dimensional finite element numericalmethod. The study yielded the following research conclusions: The excavation conditions of the cross-fault tunnelarray were analyzed to determine the optimal construction method for excavation while controlling deformationand stress in the surrounding rock. The middle partition method (CD method) was found to be the most suitable.Additionally, the effects of advanced reinforcement grouting on the cross-fault fracture zone tunnel were studied,and the optimal combination of grouting reinforcement range (140°) and grouting thickness (1m) was determined.The stress and deformation data obtained fromon-site monitoring of the surrounding rock was slightly lower thanthe numerical simulation results. However, the change trend of both sets of data was found to be consistent. Theseresearch findings provide technical analysis and data support for the construction and design of cross-fault tunnels.

Support design method for deep soft-rock tunnels in non-hydrostatic high in-situ stress field

Due to the long-term plate tectonic movements in southwestern China,the in-situ stress field in deep formations is complex.When passing through deep soft-rock mass under non-hydrostatic high in-situ stress field,tunnels will suffer serious asymmetric deformation.There is no available support design method for tunnels under such a situation in existing studies to clarify the support time and support stiffness.This study first analyzed the mechanical behavior of tunnels in non-hydrostatic in-situ stress field and derived the theoretical equations of the ground squeezing curve(GSC)and ground loosening curve(GLC).Then,based on the convergence confinement theory,the support design method of deep soft-rock tunnels under non-hydrostatic high in-situ stress field was established considering both squeezing and loosening pressures.In addition,this method can provide the clear support time and support stiffness of the second layer of initial support.The proposed design method was applied to the Wanhe tunnel of the China-Laos railway in China.Monitoring data indicated that the optimal support scheme had a good effect on controlling the tunnel deformation in non-hydrostatic high in-situ stress field.Field applications showed that the secondary lining could be constructed properly.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM HAND TUNNELING AND PILOT TUBE METHOD UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION METHODS

The negative effects of greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,such as climate change and global warming,have become major environmental concerns,especially for the construction industry,which is the third-highest source of GHG emissions among industrialized countries.Presently,underground utility projects are considered one of the most common types of construction,primarily due to aging infrastructure across North America and the subsequent rehabilitation of old pipelines and installation of new pipelines and facilities.Given the increasing demand being placed on the industry,the need to study airborne emissions associated with different underground construction technologies has risen,which will be helpful in selecting the most sus-tainable underground construction methods.This study investigates pollutant emis-sion from two common trenchless methods used in underground construction,hand tunneling and pilot-tube method(PTM),through their varying GHG footprint sources and emissions measured by the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).This paper analyzes a case from Edmonton,Canada,in which both PTM and hand tunneling were used by comparing the suggested indexes,including HC,CO,NO_(3) PM,CO_(2),and SO_(2).In this case study,both methods were used in the installation of a new 68-cm diameter(27 in.)clay sewer line with an overbur-den depth of 12.9 m(42 ft)and length of 60 m(197 ft).Results indicated that the amount of airborne emissions was reduced between 17%and 36%through the use of PTM compared to the traditional hand tunnelling method.

Needle-Tunneling法膜系自动设计

综述了Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ和Ｔｕｎｎｅｌｉｎｇ 法膜系自动设计的基本原理，举出它们的应用实例，并且指出一个优秀的光学膜系自动设计程序应该包括Ｎｅｅｄｌｅ 法、Ｔｕｎｎｅｌｉｎｇ 法和传统的优化方法。它们的结合和交叉使用，使我们有可能从单层膜开始设计任意光学性能的多层膜。

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.

Mountain tunnel under earthquake force:A review of possible causes of damages and restoration methods

Accurate seismic assessment and proper aseismic design of underground structures require a comprehensive understanding of seismic performance and response of underground structures under earthquake force.In order to understand the seismic behavior of tunnels during an earthquake,a wide collection of case histories has been reviewed from the available literature with respect to damage classification,to discuss the possible causes of damage,such as earthquake parameters,structural form and geological conditions.In addition,a case of Tawarayama tunnel subjected to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake is studied.Discussion on the possible influence factors aims at improving the performancebased aseismic design of tunnels.Finally,restoration design criterion and methods are presented taking Tawarayama tunnel as an example.

Assessment of strain bursting in deep tunnelling by using the finite-discrete element method

Rockbursting in deep tunnelling is a complex phenomenon posing significant challenges both at the design and construction stages of an underground excavation within hard rock masses and under high in situ stresses. While local experience, field monitoring, and informed data-rich analysis are some of the tools commonly used to manage the hazards and the associated risks, advanced numerical techniques based on discontinuum modelling have also shown potential in assisting in the assessment of rockbursting. In this study, the hybrid finite-discrete element method(FDEM) is employed to investigate the failure and fracturing processes, and the mechanisms of energy storage and rapid release resulting in bursting, as well as to assess its utility as part of the design process of underground excavations.Following the calibration of the numerical model to simulate a deep excavation in a hard, massive rock mass, discrete fracture network(DFN) geometries are integrated into the model in order to examine the impact of rock structure on rockbursting under high in situ stresses. The obtained analysis results not only highlight the importance of explicitly simulating pre-existing joints within the model, as they affect the mobilised failure mechanisms and the intensity of strain bursting phenomena, but also show how the employed joint network geometry, the field stress conditions, and their interaction influence the extent and depth of the excavation induced damage. Furthermore, a rigorous analysis of the mass and velocity of the ejected rock blocks and comparison of the obtained data with well-established semi-empirical approaches demonstrate the potential of the method to provide realistic estimates of the kinetic energy released during bursting for determining the energy support demand.

Impact of shield tunneling on adjacent spread foundation on sandy cobble strata

The section of shield tunnel of the Chengdu Metro line passes primarily through sandy cobble strata. There are many buildings with spread foundations along the lines. Shield tunnel construction will disturb the ground, causing displacement or stress to adjacent spread foundations. Based on the similarity theory, a laboratory model test of shield tunnel driving was carried out to study the influence of shield tunnel excavation on the displace ment of adjacent spread foundation. The results show that foundation closer to the tunnel has greater displacement or settlement than that further away. The horizontal dis placement is small and is influenced greatly by the cutting face. The displacement along the machine driving direction is bigger and is significantly affected by the thrust force. Settlement occurs primarily when shield machine passes close to the foundation and is the greatest at that time. Uneven settlement at the bottom of the spread foundation reaches a maximum after the excavation ends. In a numerical simulation, a particle flow model was con structed to study the impact of shield tunnel excavation on the stresses in the ground. The model showed stress con centration at the bottom of the spread foundation. With the increasing ground loss ratio, a loose area appears in the tunnel dome where the contact force dropped. Above the loose area, the contact force increases, forming an arch shaped soil area which prevents the loose area from expanding to the ground surface. The excavation also changed the pressure distribution around spread foundation.

Initial support distance of a non-circular tunnel based on convergence constraint method and integral failure criteria of rock

For deep tunnel projects,selecting an appropriate initial support distance is critical to improving the self-supporting capacity of surrounding rock.In this work,an intuitive method for determining the tunnel’s initial support distance was proposed.First,based on the convergence-confinement method,a three-dimensional analytical model was constructed by combining an analytical solution of a non-circular tunnel with the Tecplot software.Then,according to the integral failure criteria of rock,the failure tendency coefficients of hard surrounding rock were computed and the spatial distribution plots of that were constructed.On this basis,the tunnel’s key failure positions were identified,and the relationship between the failure tendency coefficient at key failure positions and their distances from the working face was established.Finally,the distance from the working face that corresponds to the critical failure tendency coefficient was taken as the optimal support distance.A practical project was used as an example,and a reasonable initial support distance was successfully determined by applying the developed method.Moreover,it is found that the stability of hard surrounding rock decreases rapidly within the range of 1.0D(D is the tunnel diameter)from the working face,and tends to be stable outside the range of 1.0D.

New Model for Environmental Impact Assessment of Tunneling Projects

Designers of infrastructure are aware that the government, owners and users become more and more concerned about negative environmental impacts of tunnels, so environmental assessment of tunnels are becoming an issue in the process of tunnel design. In this study, to assess tunnels in construction and operation phases, the matrix method, through which the “Impacting Factors” and “Environmental Components” are determined, is also outlined. The affected environment was divided into thirteen components, such as Ecology, Surface water, Air quality, etc. In this paper, matrix method was applied to evaluate the impact of tunneling in three typical tunnels and compare them with standard diagrams of Environmental Components that were derived and introduced. These tunnels were: Urban Utility tunnel in Tehran, Eurasia tunnel in Istanbul and Tsuen Wan drainage tunnel in Hong Kong. Based on the acquired results, the present paper finally concluded that among three cases, Tsuen Wan drainage tunnel affects the environment in construction phase more than others, while Eurasia tunnel effects on air quality are more significant in operation phase.

Risk identification and risk mitigation during metro station construction by enlarging shield tunnel combined with cut-and-cover method

Constructing a metro station by enlarging shield tunnels combined with a mining/cut-and-cover method provides a new method to solve the contradictions of construction time limits of shield tunnels and stations. As a new-style construction method, there are several specific risks involved in the construction process. Based on the test section of Sanyuanqiao station on Beijing metro line 10, and combined with the existing methods of risk identification at present, including a review of world-wide operational experience of similar projects, the study of generic guidance on hazards associated with the type of work being undertaken, and discussions with qualified and experienced staff from the project team, etc., the specific risks during the construction process of the metro station constructed by enlarging shield tunnels combined with the cut-and-cover method are identified. The results show that the specific risks mainly come from three construction processes which include constructing upper enclosure structures, excavating the soil between shield tunnels and demolishing shield segments. Then relevant risk mitigation measures are put forward. The results can provide references for scheme improvement and a comprehensive risk assessment of the new-style construction method.

Evaluation of new Austrian tunnelling method applied to Bolu tunnel’s weak rocks

Since the development of the new Austrian tunnelling method(NATM)in the 1960s,this technique has been applied successfully in many tunnels.However,opinions of NATM principles emerged till 2000,i.e.NATM is not a tunnelling method,but an approach covering all general principles of tunnelling.To investigate the general principles of the NATM,this study focused on tunnelling practises in the Bolu tunnel,and evaluated the conditions under which the NATM practises could be effective.The Bolu tunnel project was designed following the NATM principles.It is evident that practises adopted in this tunnel are important with respect to the NATM.In addition,it shows that the solutions to the problems encountered in this tunnel are consistent with the NATM principles.Finally,the study determines the ground types of the NATM principles and proposes associated updates.

Longitudinal integral response deformation method for the seismic analysis of a tunnel structure

For the longitudinal seismic response analysis of a tunnel structure under asynchronous earthquake excitations,a longitudinal integral response deformation method classified as a practical approach is proposed in this paper.The determinations of the structural critical moments when maximal deformations and internal forces in the longitudinal direction occur are deduced as well.When applying the proposed method,the static analysis of the free-field computation model subjected to the least favorable free-field deformation at the tunnel buried depth is performed first to calculate the equivalent input seismic loads.Then,the equivalent input seismic loads are imposed on the integral tunnel-foundation computation model to conduct the static calculation.Afterwards,the critical longitudinal seismic responses of the tunnel are obtained.The applicability of the new method is verified by comparing the seismic responses of a shield tunnel structure in Beijing,determined by the proposed procedure and by a dynamic time-history analysis under a series of obliquely incident out-of-plane and in-plane waves.The results show that the proposed method has a clear concept with high accuracy and simple progress.Meanwhile,this method provides a feasible way to determine the critical moments of the longitudinal seismic responses of a tunnel structure.Therefore,the proposed method can be effectively applied to analyze the seismic response of a long-line underground structure subjected to non-uniform excitations.

Seismic reliability analysis of shield tunnel faces under multiple failure modes by pseudo-dynamic method and response surface method

In order to investigate the stability problem of shield tunnel faces subjected to seismic loading,the pseudodynamic method(P-DM)was employed to analyze the seismic effect on the face.Two kinds of failure mechanisms of active collapse and passive extrusion were considered,and a seismic reliability model of shield tunnel faces under multifailure mode was established.The limit analysis method and the response surface method(RSM)were used together to solve the reliability of shield tunnel faces subjected to seismic action.Comparing with existing results,the results of this work are effective.The effects of seismic load and rock mass strength on the collapse pressure,extrusion pressure and reliability index were discussed,and reasonable ranges of support pressure of shield tunnel faces under seismic action were presented.This method can provide a new idea for solving the shield thrust parameter under the seismic loading.

Tunneling magnetoresistance based on a Cr/graphene/Cr magnetotunnel junction

Using the density functional theory and the nonequilibrium Green＇s function method, we studied the finite-bias quan- tum transport in a Cr/graphene/Cr magnetotunnel junction （MTJ） constructed by a single graphene layer sandwiched be- tween two semi-infinite Cr（111 ） electrodes. We found that the tunneling magnetoresistance （TMR） ratio in this MTJ reached 108%, which is close to that of a perfect spin filter. Under an external positive bias, we found that the TMR ratio remained constant at 65%, in contrast to MgO-based MTJs, the TMR ratios of which decrease with increasing bias. These results indicate that the Cr/graphene/Cr MTJ is a promising candidate for spintronics applications.

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.

Frozen curtain characteristics during excavation of submerged shallow tunnel using Freeze-Sealing Pipe-Roof method

The Freeze-Sealing Pipe-Roof(FSPR)method,which has been applied for the first time in the Gongbei Tunnel of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge,is a new approach of tunnel pre-support that allows flexible adjustment of freeze tube arrangement and can be adapted to different environmental conditions.When the FSPR method is used to construct shallow burial submerged tunnels,the frozen wall to hold back groundwater during excavation will be weakened by air and water flows inside and outside the tunnel,and its waterproof performance needs to be further investigated.In this paper,a two-dimensional numerical model of the temperature field considering excavation and moving water boundary is established based on the preliminary design scheme and in-situ conditions and is used to analyze the variation in frozen curtain properties with various active freezing times during excavation.The results show that excavation has a weakening effect on both sides of the frozen wall,with a greater effect on the inner side,and a positive temperature appears in the local area inside the jacked pipe.The concrete fill in the jacked pipe obviously improves the freezing efficiency,and the tunnel excavation after 60 days of active freezing in the interval filling mode can ensure that the frozen soil thickness at the thinnest segment exceeds 2 m,i.e.,the design requirement.In practice,the active freezing time can be extended appropriately to reduce the influence of river water flow above the tunnel.The study serves as a technical reference for the design and implementation of similar projects.

Tunneling Through Black Rings

Hawking radiation of black ring solutions to 5-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory is analyzed by use of the Parikh-Wilczek tunneling method. To get the correct tunneling amplitude and emission rate, we adopt and develop the Angheben-Nadalini-Vanzo Zerbini covariant approach to cover the effects of rotation and electronic discharge all at once, and the effect of back reaction is also taken into account. This constitutes a unified approach to the tunneling problem. Provided the first law of thermodynamics for black rings holds, the emission rate is proportional to the exponential of the change of Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. Explicit calculation for black ring temperatures agrees exactly with the results obtained via the classical surface gravity method and the quasi-local formalism.