Environmental effects of tunnel excavation in soft and shallow ground with EPBM: the case of Istanbul

In metro tunnel excavations, it is important to control surface settlements observed before and after excavation, which may cause damage to surface structures. Otherwise, the metro tunnel cannot perform the task expected, and the advantages of the tunnel are lost. In this study, short-term surface settlements and their effect on buildings are examined in three zones for twin tunnels, which have been excavated between the Otogar and Kirazlı 1 stations of the Istanbul Metro line, and are 5.8 km in length. Geology in the study area is composed of fill, stiff clay, dense sand, very dense sand, and hard clay, respectively, starting from the surface. Tunnels are excavated by using two Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines (EPBMs) with a 6.5 m diameter as twin tubes with 14 m distance from center to center. The EPBM in the right tube is followed about 100 m behind the other tube. Segmental lining with 1.4 m of length is currently employed as final support. The results of this study indicate that, with EPBM excavation method in shallow depths and soft grounds, the damage done to the environment prolonged project costs up to 15.8% more. In addition, tunnel conditions prolonged the project schedule to 29.3%.     

A new approach for estimating the transverse surface settlement curve for twin tunnels in shallow and soft soils

Increasing demand on infrastructures has led to increased attention to shallow soft ground tunneling methods in urbanized areas. Especially in metro tunnel excavations, it is important to control the surface settlements which are observed before and after excavation, which may cause damage to surface structures. Unlike motorway, sewage and other infrastructure tunnels, metro tunnels generally have to be excavated as twin tunnels and must have a larger diameter. Metro tunnels also have shallow depth. Due to their shallow depth, metro tunnels generally have been constructed in weak rocks or weak soils in cities. The construction of twin tunnels will generate ground movements which have the potential to cause damage to existing surface and subsurface structures. To solve this settlement problem, experts have used the Earth pressure balance machine (EPBM) and the slurry balance machine. In such excavations, especially in twin tunnels, the main challenges for constructers are estimating the maximum surface settlement, controlling the interaction of transverse surface settlement and shaping the settlement curve. Incorrect estimation of these parameters can lead to significant problems above the tunnels and in nearby structures. This paper focuses on surface settlement measurements, on the interaction of twin tunnel transverse surface settlement and on the relationship between shield parameters and transverse surface settlement for parallel tunnels using EPBM shields in clay and sand soils in shallow depth. Also, a new equation is proposed for estimating the transverse settlement curve of twin tunnels. The results from this proposed equation are compared with the results of field observations. The transverse settlement curve values obtained from the proposed equation have good agreement with the actual results for the Otogar–Kirazli metro case studies.     

软土地区双线区间盾构隧道施工对周边地表以及建筑物沉降的影响

研究盾构隧道施工对周围地面以及建筑物沉降造成的影响,是软土地区盾构隧道安全施工和正常运营的基础课题。为了分析宁波轨道交通5号线同德路站—石碶站区间双线盾构隧道施工对周边地表和建筑物的影响,本文在建立盾构隧道动态施工过程三维有限元模型的基础上,基于地表以及建筑物沉降数值模拟结果与现场监测值的对比,分析了隧道开挖对隧道周围地表沉降与建筑物沉降的影响。结果表明,掘进完成时,开挖方向沉降槽往上行线隧道方向偏移、呈现倒梯形形态,横断面影响区域为距离双线隧道轴线中心小于3倍隧道直径;上行线在下行线开挖后并不会增加地表沉降,但增大了沉降槽宽度;下行线到达前产生的沉降占最终累计沉降的67%;当盾构掘进面刚到达建筑物时、建筑物的倾斜方向与盾构掘进方向一致,当盾构掘进面离开建筑物时、建筑物将沿着盾构掘进的反方向倾斜;建筑物两侧沉降值较中部沉降值降低了83%;双线贯通后建筑物沉降呈“U”形分布,最大沉降量发生在远离隧道一侧距建筑物中心0.5 m处。     

Calculation of surface settlements caused by EPBM tunneling using artificial neural network, SVM, and Gaussian processes

Increasing demand on infrastructures increases attention to shallow soft ground tunneling methods in urbanized areas. Especially in metro tunnel excavations, due to their large diameters, it is important to control the surface settlements observed before and after excavation, which may cause damage to surface structures. In order to solve this problem, earth pressure balance machines (EPBM) and slurry balance machines have been widely used throughout the world. There are numerous empirical, analytical, and numerical analysis methods that can be used to predict surface settlements. But substantially fewer approaches have been developed for artificial neural network-based prediction methods especially in EPBM tunneling. In this study, 18 different parameters have been collected by municipal authorities from field studies pertaining to EPBM operation factors, tunnel geometric properties, and ground properties. The data source has a preprocess phase for the selection of the most effective parameters for surface settlement prediction. This paper focuses on surface settlement prediction using three different methods: artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and Gaussian processes (GP). The success of the study has decreased the error rate to 13, 12.8, and 9, respectively, which is relatively better than contemporary research.     

近间距双线大直径泥水盾构施工相互影响研究

对上海复兴东路越江公路隧道--近间距双线盾构隧道同向施工时相互影响的现场监测进行了研究。首先简要介绍了工程背景及其概况,然后介绍了为研究近间距盾构隧道相互影响而布设的监测项目,包括深层土体水平位移、地表沉降以及深层土体沉降、北线隧道三维位移、圆周变形、接缝宽度、北线隧道所受水土压力、北线隧道衬砌内力和土体中的超孔隙水压力。对监测数据进行了详细研究,得到了后建隧道推进时对地面沉降、深层土体位移变化、超孔隙水压力产生和消散、先建隧道衬砌位移、变形、内力的影响规律。从现场监测的分析结果来看,后进隧道对周围土体和先建隧道的影响是十分明显的。研究结果可以为大直径近间距双线推进的越江盾构隧道的设计和施工提供更加科学的指导。     

Prediction of settlement trough induced by tunneling in cohesive ground

Surface settlements of soil due to tunneling are caused by stress relief and subsidence due to movement of support by excavation. There are significant discrepancies between empirical solutions to predict surface settlement trough because of different interpretations and database collection by different authors. In this paper, the shape of settlement trough caused by tunneling in cohesive ground is investigated by different approaches, namely analytical solutions, empirical solutions, and numerical solutions by the finite element method. The width of settlement trough was obtained by the finite element method through establishing the change in the slope of the computed settlement profile. The finite element elastic-plastic analysis gives better predictions than the linear elastic model with satisfactory estimate for the displacement magnitude and slightly overestimated width of the surface settlement trough. The finite element method overpredicted the settlement trough width i compared with the results of Peck for soft and stiff clay, but there is an excellent agreement with Rankin’s estimation. The results show that there is a good agreement between the complex variable analysis for Z/D = 1.5, while using Z/D = 2 and 3, the curve diverges in the region faraway from the center of the tunnel.     

平行小净距盾构与CRD法黄土地铁隧道施工力学研究

西安轨道交通工程是目前首例在我国黄土地区修建的地铁隧道,一号线枣园北路站至汉城路站K12+792.744～K12+889.899区间隧道为同时满足双线正常行车和右线停车线扩大断面的功能需要,选取了左线小断面隧道为盾构法与右线大断面隧道为CRD法相结合的施工方案。针对该地铁隧道的施工过程,进行了三维动态数值模拟和施工力学分析,通过分析施工引起的地表变形、中间土体应力和围岩塑性区的特征和规律,从而研究得出CRD法与盾构法隧道先后施工相互影响的规律性成果：先行大断面隧道采取CRD法施工对后行小断面盾构隧道上方地表沉降的影响较后者对前者的影响大;后行隧道的贯通使得先行隧道开挖形成的地表变形轴线向后行隧道侧偏移了约0.5倍净距,并且地表变形的横向影响范围和地表沉降量均有增大,主要表现在靠后行隧道一侧;先行大断面隧道的开挖较后者对中间土体应力影响大,对相邻洞土体的影响在同掌子面处最为显著。结合西安地铁隧道工程实践开展的数值模拟分析研究,可为今后在黄土地区修建地铁隧道提供具有指导意义的研究成果和宝贵的工程实践经验。     

Surface settlement predictions for Istanbul Metro tunnels excavated by EPB-TBM

In this study, short-term surface settlements are predicted for twin tunnels, which are to be excavated in the chainage of 0 + 850 to 0 + 900 m between the Esenler and Kirazlı stations of the Istanbul Metro line, which is 4 km in length. The total length of the excavation line is 21.2 km between Esenler and Basaksehir. Tunnels are excavated by employing two earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that have twin tubes of 6.5 m diameter and with 14 m distance from center to center. The TBM in the right tube follows about 100 m behind the other tube. Segmental lining of 1.4 m length is currently employed as the final support. Settlement predictions are performed with finite element method by using Plaxis finite element program. Excavation, ground support and face support steps in FEM analyses are simulated as applied in the field. Predictions are performed for a typical geological zone, which is considered as critical in terms of surface settlement. Geology in the study area is composed of fill, very stiff clay, dense sand, very dense sand and hard clay, respectively, starting from the surface. In addition to finite element modeling, the surface settlements are also predicted by using semi-theoretical (semi-empirical) and analytical methods. The results indicate that the FE model predicts well the short-term surface settlements for a given volume loss value. The results of semi-theoretical and analytical methods are found to be in good agreement with the FE model. The results of predictions are compared and verified by field measurements. It is suggested that grouting of the excavation void should be performed as fast as possible after excavation of a section as a precaution against surface settlements during excavation. Face pressure of the TBMs should be closely monitored and adjusted for different zones.     

Monitoring of Three-dimensional Additional Stress and Strain in Shield Segments of Former Tunnels in the Construction of Closely-Spaced Twin Tunnels

In recent years, with the development of urbanization, the construction of closely-spaced twin tunnels is becoming more and more common. How to ensure the safety of the former tunnel during the construction of the later tunnel has become the focus of the construction of closely-spaced twin tunnels. To study the safety of the former tunnel segment structure, this paper analyzed the field monitoring data of practical engineering (the section with the minimum separation (4.5 m) between the twin tunnels from Anyuanxi station to Chunshenhu station on the Suzhou Metro Line 4 in Jiangsu, China) and obtained the dynamic change law of additional stress and strain of the former tunnel segment under the influence of the construction of later tunnel. Based on this research, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The maximum circumferential tensile stress on the segmental structures was shown to be 2.62 MPa at the horizontal position on Section S2 in the side adjacent to the later tunnel, which should be main monitored. (2) The maximum values of the vertical deformation and peripheral convergence of the segments were 16.21 and 17.39 mm, separately, both of which were less than two-thirds of the allowable deformation. Therefore, the shield tunnel deformations were within allowable limits. This research results can provide guidance for similar engineering.     

Investigation of influence of tunneling on existing building and tunnel: model tests and numerical simulations

To investigate the realistic ground behavior during tunneling, a new device has been developed. With the new device, model tests of tunnel excavation considering an existing tunnel and an existing building were carried out. Non-linear finite element analyses corresponding to the model tests were also conducted using FEMtij-2D software where an elastoplastic subloading t _ij model was used to describe the mechanical behavior of soil. Earth pressure distribution around the tunnels and ground movements during tunnel excavation depend on the distance and position between the twin tunnels. There is a significant effect of tunneling on the existing foundation of building even in the case where the tunnel is constructed in deep underground. The numerical analyses capture well the results of the model tests.     

Comparison of analytical method, 3D finite element model with experimental subsidence measurements resulting from the extension of the Milan underground

The construction of shallow tunnels induces a state of strain in the soil around the excavation that could cause damaging differential displacements in existing structures near the tunnel. In the last decades several empirical, analytical and numerical approaches have been presented by different authors in the scientific literature with a purpose toward estimating maximum surface displacements along the tunnel axis and the surface-area extension affected by deformation phenomena. This paper reports the results of a study carried out to estimate the values of the surface settlements induced by the excavation (with an EPB-S shield machine) of the new extension of line 1 of the Metropolitana Milanese, constructed in an alluvial sandy area of the Padana Plain. In particular, the purpose of this study has been to compare the vertical surface displacements monitored during the advancing excavation to the settlements estimated by using analytical and empirical formulations and by setting up a three-dimensional finite element model that could simulate, step by step, the different tunnel excavation and supporting phases.     

盾构地铁隧道穿越既有铁路桥的沉降分析

HTSS以大连地铁2号线香沙区间盾构隧道下穿铁路桥特殊地段为依托,通过三维有限元程序仿真模拟以及工程现场动态监测,研究盾构施工法对周围地层变形的影响和盾构下穿铁路桥造成的沉降特征。结果表明:盾构开挖引起的地表沉降经历了5个阶段,即初期扰动沉降、开挖面前部沉降、盾构机正上方沉降、盾构通过沉降、后期固结沉降;地表沉降整体为一个凹槽形,即隧道中心线地表沉降大,隧道两边沉降较小,按隧道横截面轴线左右对称,符合地表沉降机理,并与现场监测数据一致;距离开挖隧道越近,总体沉降位移越大,盾构开挖小于20 m时,其沉降位移沿着横向与纵向都有扩展,隧道开挖至40 m时,沉降位移主要沿着纵向扩展,横向扩展不明显;不同深度的上部土体沉降呈漏斗形,即隧道正上方沉降最大,两边沉降递减,沉降曲线基本对称,地表右侧受右线隧道开挖影响,沉降量略大于左侧;桥桩底端处于隧道拱顶上,且整个桩身处于破裂面之上,属于短桩范畴,桥桩变形主要以受土体作用而产生的竖向沉降变形为主。     

盾构施工引起的固结沉降分析

盾构在低渗透性土层中开挖,常常伴随着地表下沉,究其原因为超孔隙水压力消散引起固结沉降的结果。为对盾构施工引起土体的固结沉降进行研究,首先,根据隧道施工前后土体应力的变化值,应用Henkel超孔隙水压力理论,推导了隧道开挖引起的初始超孔隙水压力的计算公式,并采用数值分析方法,考虑了由于土体的固结引起的沉降变形。研究成果应用到上海地铁2号线,根据具体的地质条件进行理论计算分析。结果表明,隧道开挖引起的初始超孔隙水压力最大值位于隧道起拱线处,地表固结沉降预测值与实测值吻合较好。     

基于Peck公式的双线盾构引起的土体沉降预测

基于Peck公式,对双线水平平行盾构隧道施工中土体损失引起的三维土体沉降计算方法进行研究。考虑先行隧道施工对后行隧道的影响和两条隧道开挖面的不同位置,建立修正的三维Peck公式;通过分别计算先行盾构隧道和后行盾构隧道施工引起的土体沉降,叠加得到双线水平平行盾构施工引起的总的三维土体沉降。算例分析结果表明：预测值与实测值比较吻合;随着两条隧道开挖面前后距离的逼近,地面最大沉降量会逐渐增大;随着土体深度z的增大,沉降略增大、沉降槽宽度则略减小;当两条隧道轴线水平距离L较小时,地面沉降量较大,符合正态分布规律;随着L的增大,最大地面沉降量会逐渐减小,沉降曲线形状慢慢由V型转变成W型。     

A case study on the behavior of shield tunneling in sandy cobble ground

This study investigates the behavior of shield tunneling based on a complete case record of an excavation in sandy cobble ground. Both numerical and analytical analyses were conducted to estimate the surface displacement along the tunnel axis and the surface-zone affected by the shield tunneling. This paper presents the performance of the Peck method in forecasting the transversal surface settlement trough caused by the shield tunneling in a sandy cobble layer. In particular, this study has made a comparison with the vertical surface displacement monitored during the advancing excavation to the settlements estimated by using the Peck method and by conducting a three-dimensional finite element analysis. The effective measures to provide the necessary face support pressure and to reduce the formation of sinkholes and ground settlements in sandy cobble ground were also investigated and discussed.     

Study on the Influence of Close Distance Construction of Urban Tunnel on the Existing Station

In the construction of the tunnel passing through the existing structure at an ultra-close distance, the existing structure will produce obvious deformation. It is very important to understand the deformation characteristics of the existing upper structure at different positions, especially to ensure the safety of the upper structure and improve the effectiveness of tunnel construction. In this study, the double-line tunnels of Qingdao Metro Line 4 passing under the Cuobuling station were taken as the engineering background, and a detailed 3D numerical model was established. This study comprehensively considered the on-site construction process, including grouting hardening, stress release of the excavated rock mass, grouting pressure and so on. The influence of tunnel excavation on the ground settlement was compared with or without a station structure, and the result was fitted with an empirical formula. Finally, the deformation of the station structure due to the excavation of the double-line tunnels was analyzed. The results of the analysis were as follows: (1) In the presence of the station structure, the excavation of the tunnels had a significant impact on the surface settlement. (2) The settlement of the sidewall caused by the excavation of the left-line tunnel was greater than that of the right-line tunnel, and the settlement at the junction of the sidewall and the bottom plate was smaller than that at other positions of the sidewall. (3) Compared with the roof and middle slabs, the floor of the station was more susceptible to the influence of tunnel excavation. Overall, the research could provide guidance and reference for similar double-line tunnels through existing stations.

     

考虑盾构铰接作用的小半径曲线隧道开挖诱发地层沉降分析

目前针对小半径曲线隧道开挖诱发地层沉降的理论研究均将盾构机视为一个连续的整体,未考虑盾构机铰接装置带来的影响,由此不能正确评估小曲率盾构开挖路径变化带来的超挖效应等。首先,根据盾构机铰接位置以及盾构机与小曲率隧道开挖路径的几何位置关系,得到了小曲率隧道开挖过程中不同盾构铰接位置超挖量及盾构铰接角计算公式;其次,基于镜像法及Mindlin解,求解了铰接盾构施工时因超挖地层损失、盾尾地层损失、开挖面不均匀推力、盾壳不均匀摩擦力及盾尾处注浆压力等共同影响的地层沉降;最后,采用工程监测数据与理论解进行对比验证,得到较好的一致性。此外,针对隧道转弯半径、前盾长度、盾构铰接角及超挖量等进行了参数分析。分析结果表明：不考虑盾构铰接装置的影响将过高估计地层损失而导致地层沉降预测值偏大。随着转弯半径的减小,前盾长度、盾构铰接角及超挖量的增加,地层沉降增大,但其值变化均对开挖面前方沉降影响较小,对开挖面后方沉降影响较大。在开挖面后方,随着与开挖面距离的增大,当转弯半径取值较小,前盾长度、盾构铰接角及超挖量取值较大时,纵向地表沉降呈先增大后减小趋势。     

黄土隧道施工方案的数值分析

黄土隧道围岩不同开挖与支护施工方案的数值分析,对了解黄土隧洞变形破坏机理以及黄土隧洞设计施工理论具有重要意义。对黄土隧道围岩采用中壁法和双侧壁导坑法开挖各3种不同支护顺序分别进行了模拟计算,考察了各个施工工序地表最大沉降量、隧洞拱顶最大下沉量、围岩塑性区分布、衬砌单元弯矩以及岩体总应变能变化。计算结果表明,从开挖方法来说,双侧壁导坑法要优于中壁法;从支护顺序来说,滞后支护要优于及时支护。此结果可为黄土隧道工程设计施工提供参考。     

Numerical analysis of pile response to open face tunnelling in stiff clay

Three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses have been performed to study the behaviour of a single pile and 3 × 3 and 5 × 5 pile groups during open face tunnelling in stiff clay. Several governing factors, such as tunnelling-induced ground and pile settlement, axial pile force changes and shear transfer mechanism at the pile–soil interface, have been studied in detail. Tunnelling resulted in the development of pile head settlement larger than the free-field soil surface settlement. In addition, axial force distributions along the pile change substantially due to changes in the shear transfer between the pile and the soil next to the pile, which triggers tunnelling-induced tensile forces in the piles with tunnel advancement. It was found that the relative displacements and the normal stresses at the pile–soil interface drastically affected shear transfer. The extent of slip length along a pile increased as the tunnelling proceeded. The apparent allowable pile capacity was reduced by up to approximately 42% due to the development of tunnelling-induced pile head settlement. Shear stress on the pile was increased for most of the pile depth with tunnel advancement, which was associated with changes in soil stresses and ground deformation, and hence, the axial pile force was gradually reduced with tunnel advancement, indicating the development of tunnelling-induced tensile pile force. The maximum tunnelling-induced tensile force on the pile was approximately 0.33P_a, where P_a is the allowable pile capacity applied to the pile head prior to tunnel excavation. The range affected by tunnelling in the longitudinal direction may be identified as approximately −2D ∼ +(1.5–2.0D), where D is the tunnel diameter, from the pile centre (behind and ahead of the pile axis), in terms of pile settlement and axial pile force changes based on the analysis conditions assumed in the current study. Larger pile head settlements and smaller changes in axial pile forces were computed for piles that were part of groups. It has been found that the serviceability of piles experiencing adjacent tunnelling is more affected by pile settlement than by axial pile force changes, in particular for piles inside groups. The magnitude of the tunnelling-induced excess pore pressure was small and may not substantially affect pile behaviour.     

盾构隧道注浆对既有隧道影响的离心模拟研究

随着地铁网络不断完善,越来越多的新建盾构隧道近距离穿越既有隧道,然而对于盾构隧道近距离穿越既有隧道影响的研究尚不够完善。以上海典型软弱地层为背景,通过离心模型试验,研究了不同注浆率下的盾构上穿越施工对既有隧道以及周围地层的影响。选用排液法在离心场中模拟盾构施工,在不停机状态下成功模拟隧道开挖卸载、地层损失和注浆效应。分析了在不同的注浆率条件下,既有隧道在上穿越施工期和工后长期的位移、周围孔压和纵向应力的变化规律。试验结果表明,新建隧道近距离上穿越既有隧道时,隧道开挖的卸载效应等会导致既有隧道的隆起,但随着注浆率增大,既有隧道的隆起量减小。但过高注浆率对周围土体扰动较大,从而导致工后既有隧道的沉降也越大。